As mentioned above, global warming also has great effect on crops and weather conditions around the world. The northern hemisphere contains more land area than the southern hemisphere, and conversely, a lower percentage of the world's oceans. Since oceans absorb more heat than land areas, it is not surprising that most climate models predict faster heating over the northern hemisphere than the global average. In addition, models predict faster temperature increases at higher latitudes. If global warming trends continue, high temperatures everywhere in the US may reduce US agricultural productivity.
Northern continental areas are projected to have drier summer soils, due in part to earlier snow melts in the spring, and hotter, more cloudless summers, causing extensive evaporation of ground moisture. In addition, if the inland areas of the northern hemisphere are expected to receive less moisture, then, lake and river levels will be lower. Some reports predict the level of the Great Lakes will drop between 2 and 8 feet. River flows in the western US may be very vulnerable to increase temperatures expected as result of the greenhouse effect.
Damage from rising seas is an effect of global warming. Buildings and roads close to the water could be flooded and they could suffer damage from hurricanes and tropical storms. There are good physical reasons to suggest that more intense storms (hurricanes) could result from global warming. Warmer oceans cause more intense storms. Experts believe that global warming could increase the intensity of hurricanes by over 50 percent. Damage caused by future hurricanes to populated areas will be more severe over time since higher sea levels are predicted for the next century. In addition, as the sea rises, beach erosion takes place, particularly on steep banks. Wetlands are lost as sea levels rise. Another serious problem is the threat of salt water intruding into underground fresh water reserves in coastal areas.
Speaking of coastal areas, according to the EPA, over the last century the average temperature in Columbia, SC has increased by 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall precipitation has risen by 20%. The climate in SC is expected to change even more over the next century but that is the least of our worries. Higher temperatures increase the number of deaths due to heatstroke and other heat- related illnesses while at the same time the warmer the weather and climate, the easier to spread diseases.
In northwestern South Carolina, lower stream flows, lake levels and groundwater levels could effect the availability of water to industrial, municipal and recreational activities, thus affecting the agriculture because more and more groundwater would have to be used thus increasing the chance of saltwater getting into the ground water and so on… so were pretty much screwed. South Carolina is unique in that it is dominated by an ecosystem that provides an important habitat for many endangered and threatened species, of which I will not get into because this is Chem.16 and not Bio.16, nevertheless, the rise of the sea-level under a changed climate could effect and threaten SC’s low lying coastal ecosystem and reduce and danger geography and wildlife habitats of South Carolina.
