The Effects of Climate Change by Sadia Zaman The earths climate since the last ice age, after

periods of fluctuations and a mini ice age between 1500 and 1800, has increased by 5C. Climate change is a natural process, and temperature rises always happen. Since the last ice age climate change has been majorly influenced by natural factors such as the suns radiation (an increase in radiation levels, due to sunspots, leads to a hotter climate), changes in greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide is released through natural processes such as respiration and volcano eruptions) and changes of the earths orbit, Milankovitch cycles, and tilt over several million years (this alters the amount of radiation received from the sun). However, after the industrial revolution there has been a significant increase in the rate of global warming. Over the past 50 years the average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in history; the past 9 years have all been along the warmest 25 years on record. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, are the main cause of global warming as they cause The Greenhouse Effect. Greenhouse gases reflect radiation reflected from the surface of the earth back onto it and therefore increasing its temperature by stopping it from being lost into space. They have atmospheric lifetimes of decades to centuries. The natural greenhouse effect is beneficial, as without it earth would be an average of 33 degrees Celsius colder and therefore most life wouldnt be able to survive. However, humans have increased the concentration of these gases into the atmosphere, and therefore increased in the average global temperature. The concentration of CO2 has increased from 280 parts per million to 389 parts per million in the last 150 years. A few anthropologic causes of increased levels of greenhouse gases include: The burning of fossil fuels Fossil fuels (oil, coal and gas) are the organic remains of prehistoric plants and animals. When burnt, fossil fuels help to provide many things such as electricity, heating, industries and fuel for transport. Burning coal produces more carbon dioxide than burning oil or gas. The development and therefore industrialisation of densely populated countries such as India and China means that there will be a higher demand for electricity and an increase in the sales of cars. Transport requires the combustion of petrol and diesel which, when burnt, release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In 2011, 18 million cars were sold in China alone, which will inevitably increase the CO2 emissions. Carbon dioxide levels could be as high as 970 parts per million by 2100. Meat production In particular the western world, the consumption of beef has increased. There are approximately 1.5 billion cattle on the planet. Cows produce methane, a more heat absorbent gas than carbon dioxide. An increase in demand means an increase in stock; the production of the meat itself requires both the clearing of land for growing animal feed and the use of enormous fossil fuel-powered machines in the production, processing and transportation of this feed. Deforestation Trees act as carbon sinks because they take in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. Deforestation, which is the removal of plants and trees, to build factories and homes (bigger populations) would increase the levels of Co2 in the atmosphere. The main sources of deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest are human settlement

and development of the land. From 1991 to 2000, the total area of Amazon Rainforest cleared rose from 415,000 to 587,000 km; a total area equal to 84 percent the area of Africa. Most of this lost forest has been replaced with pasture for cattle, which produces methane. Impacts of Global Warming Sea levels will rise from melting ice and snow in the Polar Regions. The albedo effect occurs when the diminishing snow and ice, because of warmer temperatures, leaves behind an increase in global climate because theres not as much sunlight reflected back to the earth. This is an after effect of the greenhouse effect. Scientists predict there will be an increase in sea levels worldwide due to the melting of two massive ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland. The Antarctic is losing as much as 36 cubic miles of ice a year, while the Arctics ice cap is declining by as much as 9 percent per decade. The North Pole could be entirely ice free by the summer of 2012, at this rate. Polar bears, emperor penguins and snow owls could all become extinct because of melting ice and the disruption of their habitat. These rising sea levels could displace many more people around the world-people from the Maldives are already searching for new home. Its predicted by the UN International Panel that a rise of 58 cm by next century may leave 1192 islands submerged. The severity of storms such as hurricanes and cyclones is increasing, because of rising ocean temperatures. A change in sea temperature also makes it uninhabitable for some organisms, and could lead to their extinction in that area. For example, in the Maldives a rise of just 2C could completely wipe out coral reefs, if sustained for two weeks. In a worst case scenario, coral populations will collapse by 2100 due to increased temperatures and ocean acidification. The bleaching of corals from small but prolonged rises in sea temperature is a severe danger for ocean ecosystems, and many other species in the oceans rely on coral reefs for their survival. The situation is made even worse when tidal surges are more frequent and intense because of the rising ocean temperatures, leading to potential flooding and therefore displacement and damage to peoples homes. There is also the possibility that if the flooding occurs on agricultural land, the salt water on the vegetation will negatively affect the food production. According to recent research, there is a 90% chance that 3 billion people worldwide will have to choose between moving their families to milder climes and going hungry due to climate change within 100 years. Water supplies and droughts are predicted to become a big problem in the future. Shortages in future are likely to threaten food production, reduce sanitation, and hinder economic development and damage ecosystems.Guardian:Global warming causes 300,000 deaths a year. Already the UK is facing a drought that would take 4-5 months of continuous rainfall to clear. More than 12 million people in the Sahel region are facing a serious food crisis later this year. The situation will only get worse, if we do not do anything to prevent global temperature rises. Its predicted that US temperatures could be up to as much as 3 to 9 degrees higher by the end of this century. A study found that more than 1,100 counties will face higher risks of water shortages by mid-century as the result of global warming. More than 400 of these counties will face extremely high risks of water shortages. Very simple things like taking public transport, turning off your lights, recycling help-recycling an aluminium can saves enough energy to power your tv for 3 hours. Its crucial to consider that although we may not feel we are directly affected by global warming at the moment, many others are suffering. If we carry on as if there will be no consequences for our actions, the shocking facts and figures may come true. The time to act is now, before its too late. What are you doing to save your planet?