Velazquez Ruiz 1

Adrianne C. Velázquez Ruiz

English 3

5 December 2018

Global Warming's Dangers

As global warming is one of the main causes of natural disasters such as hurricanes, it

can indirectly and directly affect many places, such as Puerto Rico. Hurricane Maria is the worst

natural disaster that has ever hit Puerto Rico. The hurricane harmed it's woodland and even

affected many species' habitat but specifically the Puerto Rican Amazon ("Scientists work to

save Puerto Rican parrots that were nearly wiped out by Hurricane Maria"). The complete

disregard in the effects of global warming is negatively affecting agriculture and resources in

Puerto Rico but it must get better.

Global warming has many direct and indirect effects on Puerto Rico's well being.

Global warming is directly linked in altering the intensity and frequency of natural disasters,

such as hurricanes. The ​Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory​ ran tests that prove that "recent

late 21st century projections of hurricane activity continue to support the notion of increased

intensity (~4%) and near-storm rainfall rates (~10-15%) for the Atlantic Basin". Global warming

has been indirectly linked in the effect of Puerto Rico's current electricity, health care system and

resources that are continuously devastated by Hurricanes that have been made stronger, faster

and more frequent by global warming ("The Shame in Puerto Rico").

Hurricanes have severely damaged farmland and crops in Puerto Rico. Without the help

of Danielle Colby, native Iowan, Puerto Ricans would not have been able to attain food or water

for their families after Hurricane Maria damaged their land (Carter). Scientists say that the
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release of gases, such as carbon dioxide, can increase the lack of rain in locations that are

typically arid such as Puerto Rico's forests. This damage occurs by heating up the planet when

the greenhouse effect is created (gases such as carbon dioxide get stuck when they are released

into the atmosphere), making this island on the Caribbean warmer. Princeton University

scientists say that in future years, hurricanes will continue to become more destructive and

powerful and precipitation will continue to increase due to the significant rise in temperature

("Global warming and hurricanes").

The Earth's climate differs from year to year but despite popular belief, the recent

fluctuations in global temperatures are out of natural bounds. According to the article "Climate

Change: How do we know?", "increased levels of greenhouse gases must cause the Earth to

warm". Gas emissions from the utilization of oil, coal and natural gas worldwide have risen

1.4% in 2017 which must be stopped to deter from serious global warming issues (Plumer). The

increase in global temperatures is directly linked to wildfires and the rise in ocean temperatures

which affect the strength and intensity of hurricanes ("Global warming and climate change").

The research done disproves the belief that global warming is not real. According to the

NASA Goddard Institute for Scientific Studies​ (GISS), "the Earth's average temperature has risen

more than 1 degree Fahrenheit (0.8 degrees Celsius) over the last century". Temperatures

through the years always vary but the average recorded depicts that it has increased. Many

resources are used to figure out past temperatures. Trees can be used to give evidence of

temperatures from hundreds or even thousands of years ago by looking at the rings that form

around them, thicker rings can mean that the year was warm and damp. Scientists are also able to

find out past temperatures by taking core samples of Earth's polar ice sheets. Small bubbles that
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contain past atmospheres are caught in the ice sheets, making it easier for scientists to tell the

amount of greenhouse gases that were released as well as what types were most used. These

resources are used to support the notion that greenhouse emissions, that are caused by human

activities, are the major source of global warming and that the increase in temperature is not

within an average range of growth ("Global Warming Faq"). If nothing is done to avert the

progression of global warming, many organisms/animals will die, coastal areas will become

engulfed in water and heat waves will become much stronger (Harris).

Global warming is a massive problem and it must be stopped. To stop or reduce global

warming laws or agreements with other countries must be put into place. These laws would be

used to curve the amount of greenhouse emissions being let go into the atmosphere. Countries

could put a clean energy economy into place. A clean energy economy is when a country begins

to use cheaper, more efficient and reliable technology to improve the economy and increase the

health of society and the environment. People as wholes could help by trying to limit their

carbon footprint. People could switch to using renewable energy, commuting to work,

line-drying clothes or even planting a garden in their backyard. These are some of many plans or

lifestyles people could put into place to limit the amount of greenhouse gases being released into

the atmosphere. There are many ways to reduce the effect of global warming but it is up to the

people to care enough to make a change.

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Works Cited

Board, The Editorial. "The Shame in Puerto Rico." ​The New York Times​, 4 June 2018, p.

A22(L).​Global Issues in Context​,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A541263908/GIC?u=rale84535&sid=GIC&xid=03b7

e183. Accessed 26 November 2018.

Carter, Chris. "Iowan Works to Help Sustain Puerto Rico Agricultural Industry after

Back-to-Back Hurricanes." ​KWQC - Content - News,​

www.kwqc.com/content/news/Iowan-works-to-help-sustain-Puerto-Rico-agricultural-ind

Ustry-after-back-to-back-hurricanes-500549821.html​. Accessed 26 November 2018.

"Climate Change Evidence: How Do We Know?" ​NASA​, NASA, 21 Sept. 2018,

https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/​. Accessed 4 November 2018.

Climate Change ProCon.org "Is Human Activity Primarily Responsible for Global Climate

Change​?" .​ ​climatechange.procon.org/​. Accessed 29 November 2018.

Global Warming and Climate Change." ​Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection​, Gale, 2018.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context,​

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/PC3010999211/OVIC?u=rale84535&sid=OVIC&xid

=7a337496​. Accessed 28 November 2018.

"Global Warming and Hurricanes" ​Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Sept. 20,

2018, ​ ​https://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/global-warming-and-hurricanes/​.

Accessed 26 November 2018.

Harris, Lauren, "Farmers 'must make rapid changes to prevent climate damage'." ​Farmers
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Weekly,​ 12 Oct. 2018. ​Agriculture Collection​,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A557915113/PPAG?u=rale84535&sid=PPAG&xid=

09775423​. Accessed 28 November 2018.

NASA/GISS, Chart courtesy. "Is Global Warming Real?" ​National Geographic​, National

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www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/global-warming-real/.

Accessed 4 December 2018.

Plumer, Brad. "Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rose Last Year. Here Are the Top 5 Reasons." ​The

New York Times​, The New York Times, 22 Mar. 2018,

www.nytimes.com/2018/03/22/climate/global-energy-demand.html​. Accessed 4

December 2018.

Schwartz, John "'Like a Terror Movie': How Climate Change will cause more simultaneous

disasters" ​The New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/19/climate/climate-disasters.html​. Accessed 26

November 2018.

“Scientists Work to Save Wild Puerto Rican Parrot after Maria.” ​FOX2now.Com​,

FOX2now.Com, 20 Nov. 2018,

fox2now.com/2018/11/19/scientists-work-to-save-wild-puerto-rican-parrot-after-maria/​.

Accessed 4 December 2018.

“Top 10 Things You Can Do about Climate Change.” ​David Suzuki Foundation,​

davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/top-10-ways-can-stop-climate-change/​. Accessed 4

December 2018.