Global Waming

Global Warming

Table of Contents Page

What is Global Warming 4

How Does It Affect Me 4

What Can We Do To Make It Better 5

Why I Am Interested In Global Warming 6

Should We Be Concerned 6

Has This Ever Happened Before 6

The End Result 7

Works Cited 8

What is Global Warming

Global warming has begun to see much more publicity in recent years. Studied by scientists since the Industrial Revolution, it is the increase in warm temperatures near the Earth’s surface. It affects all of us. Scientists can determine that our climate is changing; however, it is not known how quickly global warming will occur or the exact changes that will happen. Each person has the ability to make Earth a better place. There are many changes that we could make. Each person should ask themselves, what we can do to make it better.

Global warming has always had an elusive approach. Any person asked would say they do know what global warming is, and yet, detail would show there are many factors unknown. This is why global warming interests me. I wanted to learn more about it, and when I did, I realized each of us needs to be concerned. Has global warming ever happened before? Our climate changes constantly, but the real concern is the rate in which the climate has changed. This is a subject that everyone needs to be educated on.

How Does it Affect Me

The EPA has done many studies on the health of people in regards to climate. They have looked at temperature effects, extreme events, the air quality, and climate responsive diseases. In regards to temperature, my climate has a direct effect on my dog and household. Within the last week, we had a warm front come in, and temperatures went from the 20s to the 60s for 2 days. These 2 days caused a large amount of ticks to be present in the woods, and many spiders and bugs to be present in my home. Ticks and mosquitoes most often carry diseases, of which would not affect my family had the warm front not moved in. We are already seeing a hotter summer and less cold during the winters.

The US has been fortunate that we do not have such a problem with climate control, in opposition to the rainforest areas and extreme heat areas. However, “the IPCC concluded that vector-borne diseases, including malaria and dengue fever, may expand their ranges in the Unites States and may develop in Canada.” (IPCC, 2001) This affects all of us, since in today’s world, travel is very easy, and diseases spread quickly over continents.

Our air quality is also another important factor that affects me. Due to the warming of the climate, many disorders of the respiratory system will increase because of the air pollution. We are looking at a world wide problem as the climate gets warmer. The possible outcomes of temperature changes, extreme temperature and climate changes, and air quality affect everyone.

What Can We Do To Make It Better

Our government has acknowledged that this is a growing problem and their plans to improve the situation. Policy has been written, and goals have been set. They are moving in the right direction. Their goals are creating awareness and gaining international cooperation, slowing down the emission of gases, and using federal agencies and the private sector to enhance technology, science, and the institutions in which we use. What steps they have taken have given many tax credits to energy efficient homes, cars, and improvements.

Many states and localities have also gotten involved to reduce gas emissions. Pennsylvania has seen a large increase in precipitation over the last 15 years, and recognizes this as a problem of climate change and global warming. There are resources provided that gives the individual person ways to reduce their own emissions. Small things as changing the light bulbs in your house will reduce emissions. There are also discounts if your house has certain greenhouse features. The sites provided with tips on how to improve emissions are great. I have learned many small tips that I intend to pass on to reduce both myself and my family’s gas emissions.

Why I Am Interested In Global Warming

Global warming has always been at the back of my mind. I would hear information and rumors of its existence, but I was never sure what was false