Cat Snook

Mr. Millar

Gov/Econ

1 November 2018

Global Climate Change

Climate change affects every single living thing on earth and can be life

threatening for everyone. What is climate change exactly? Climate change is the cause

of global warming of the earth's temperature by only two to six degrees all over the

world and the amount of greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere. This

temperature flex can cause multiple natural disasters that will endanger lives by the

thousands. Climate change is a significant issue for future generations because of

wildlife extinction, stronger hurricanes, sea level rise, and an ice free Arctic.

Wildlife extinction has been happening for many years due to many reasons but

the most common reason is climate change. Because the temperatures are rising,

animals “in the world’s most naturally rich areas, such as the Amazon and the

Galapagos, could face local extinction by the turn of the century due to climate change if

carbon emissions continue to rise unchecked.” (World Wildlife Fund, 1). So at least 25%

of the animals in the jungles and forests have a greater risk for becoming extinct in less

than a century. The temperature increase will throw off and increase dangerous impacts

on the biodiversity of the ecosystems animals depend on in order to live. Specific

animals that are at risk of going extinct according to scientists calculations at The Global
Education Project include Koalas, Ringed Seals, Shenandoah Salamanders, Polar

Bears, Whooping Cranes, Black Footed Albatross, Bicknell's Thrush, Tufted Puffin,

Adelie Penguin, Beluga, Bramble Cay Melomys, American Pikas, Leatherback Sea

Turtles, Narwhals, Rusty Patched Bumble Bees, Monarch Butterflies, Sockeye Salmon,

Staghorn Coral, Common Clownfish, Emperor Penguins, Western Glacier Stoneflies,

Ivory Gulls, and the Arctic Fox. Many other species of animals could be threatened not

just the animals listed above. Animals and humans will be faced with “Hotter days,

longer periods of drought, and more intense storms are becoming the new normal, and

species around the world are already feeling the effects.” (World Wildlife Fund, 2). says

the lead specialist for climate, communities, and wildlife at World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

She’s explaining to us that the summers will get longer and hotter and we will be at

more risks of stronger storms that could be life threatening to many all over the globe.

Stronger hurricanes and storms can do massive damage to cities and destroy

important ecosystems that many living things depend on. Hurricanes are a spiraling

storm that can get to the size of 500 miles and can produce wind speeds of up to 190

miles per hours accompanied by heavy rains. Hurricanes form when the conditions are

just right and they are correct ocean temperatures that are higher than 79 degrees, a

convergence/divergence which are preexisting thunderstorms, off the equator, deep

convection which are tall formation of clouds, and a low wind shear which is high winds.

The most notable storms recorded in history include Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane

Nargis, and Hurricane Mitch. These hurricanes caused tons of damage and flooding in

Florida, Burma, and in the Honduran Coast. If there is global warming going on, the
hurricanes will get bigger, more powerful, more destructive, and will develop more often

than ever recorded in history. The Geophysical Fluids Dynamics Laboratory has

analyzed the effect of greenhouse gases on the warming influence on Atlantic

hurricanes over the last few years and found that “it is likely that greenhouse warming

will cause hurricanes in the coming century to be more intense globally and have higher

rainfall rates than present-day hurricanes.” (Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory,

C/5). They are giving us a warning that the worst has yet to come and that the storms

will worsen over the next fews years. When hurricanes hit they can create floods,

especially when the sea level is not what it normally should be.

Sea levels are affected by climate change just like everything else and can have

many damaging effects. The cause of sea level rise is due to warming oceans, melting

land ice, and rising temperatures all cause by global warming. Temperatures are rising

due to the heat trapping gases created by the increased global average temperatures

by 1.4 degrees fahrenheit since the 1880’s. When the ocean temperatures warm the

sea water expands and when the ice melts it also adds water to the ever growing ocean

levels. There are hotspots throughout the world that are more vulnerable to the

increased sea level but the two areas that will be affected is the East Coast and the Gulf

of Mexico.Scientists from the Union of Concerned Scientists predict that by the year

2050 the new average sea level will from anywhere from four inches to twenty four

inches above the sea levels we see today. They highlighted that “The choices we make

today will determine how high sea level rises this century, how fast it occurs, and how

much time we have to protect our communities.” (Union Of Concerned Scientists, Fact
4). They are telling us we can control the fate of the future generations that will inhabit

the earth and we can control how long we have to prepare to protect ourselves from the

inevitable.

An ice free arctic will become a reality due to the rising temperatures all over the

world. During the last half a century there has been a 75% decrease of the ice that

covers the arctic. Normally the average ten to twelve feet of ice and at some points

there are ridges of ice that extend over 150 down below the depths of the ocean.

Predictions were made and it is believed that there could be an ice free arctic in

September of 2040. When there is an ice free arctic, the “carbon budget” will decrease

by 34.7%. But if the ice free arctic arrives sooner, around the 2020’s or 2030’s, then the

“carbon budget” could be down to zero and could slip into the negatives. A “carbon

budget” is the amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted safely under a certain

amount of time. The scientists a Yale Environment 360 had this to say about the melting

arctic ice “The top of the world is turning from white to blue in summer as the ice that

has long covered the north polar seas melts away. This monumental change is

triggering a cascade of effects that will amplify global warming and could destabilize the

global climate system.” (Yale Environment 360, quote 1). They mean that the

consequences of having no ice could ruin the whole global climate system and the

consequences would be catastrophic to all human and animal kind.

Climate change can affect future generations because of the wildlife extinctions,

stronger and more frequent hurricanes, rising sea levels, and the arctic becoming ice

free. All of these have a huge effect on the planet and can risk the survival of the planet.
If we do something about this ever growing issue we will be able to control the idea of

having a future on Earth and if everyone with thrive or struggle to survive. If we stand by

and do nothing we will have nothing in the end.