Life in the Greenhouse

Global warming is an event that will affect many people and animals all over the world. Humans will be affected the most due to global warming due to things like temperature increase. Many people believe that global warming began since the industrial revolution during the 18th century. During this time heat-trapping gases began to load in the atmosphere, gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. Global warming will have many negative consequences to humans, animals, and even plants.

In the article Life in the Greenhouse by Micheal D. Lemonick, Lemonick shows that’s if we don’t stop treating our planet like trash it will have many consequences. Global warming will cause worldwide temperatures to increase more than 1°F. This may not seem like a lot but considering that only 9°F end the last ice age, so just a 1 degree increase can have an effect on humans and the threat of global warming. Glaciers from mountain tops are disappearing. Coral reefs are dying off, and droughts are becoming common in Asia and Africa. The artic permafrost is starting to melt. Plants and animals are even beginning to be affected. They are shifting their range pole ward and to high altitudes. Migration patterns for animals like polar bears, and butterflies are being disrupted. Climate zones are shifting dramatically; central Canada is feeling more like Illinois, and Georgia more like Guatemala. “Some scientists believe that the climate will reach a “tipping point” (Which is a point at which even a tiny additional increase would throw the system into violent change)”. This increase will have many affects on humans.

The effects of global warming will throw human lifestyles. Agriculture would be thrown into turmoil. Public heath could suffer. Rising seas could contaminate water supplies with salt. Stronger sunlight and warmer temperature could cause respiratory illness. Hot spells would be come more frequent leading to heat related deaths. Warmer temperatures would widen the range of disease carrying rodents and mosquitoes.