As mentioned previously, global warming is caused mainly by human activities and particularly by transport, chemical industry and producing energy. Further complications stem from population gradually liquidating the rainforests, which are the main natural absorbers of carbon dioxide. A further contribution to problems is also a refusal of certain countries to ratify Kyoto agreement, an agreement to reduce emissions.
As a result, gases gathered in the atmosphere form a layer around our planet which functions as a greenhouse thus warming the planet. There are several implications emanating from this. First of all, the temperatures rise considerably. According to statistics in last two hundred years the temperatures increased by 0.6 degrees (Velhora, 2004).
This led to a further series of interlocked issues e.g. melting and retreating glaciers and rising sea levels. Large areas of ice help to control the world’s temperature by reflecting the sun’s rays. However, reduction of ice sheets exposes more areas of water, which absorbs the heath from the sun reducing areas of ice still further (Johnston, 2005). In addition, rising sea levels also led to an excessive erosion of cliffs (Hall, 2005).
Climate change also affected the species distribution. Due to the warming certain insects and plants expand their range (Hall, 2005) thus reducing the space of other species. As a consequence of spring coming earlier trees are blooming earlier as well as earlier nesting birds risking that the chicks will hatch before their usual food supply is available (Henderson, 2005).
Considering what further effects a global warming might have it is crucial to take appropriate actions to improve the current state. These should involve informing the wide public about the potential climate change and describing how even an individual can contribute towards improvement by avoiding the misuse of energy in the households and recycling. Extremely beneficial would also be use of renewable energy, such as solar, geothermal, tidal or wind power. However, it needs to be carefully considered what ways of obtaining energy would be appropriate for certain parts of world. To achieve the best results it also essential that every country will follow the Kyoto agreement to regulate the further emissions.
References:
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Henderson, T. and Hall, J. (2005) ‘We’re cooking up major problems’. The Journal, Newcastle, March 21st , pg. 5 [online] at http://www.lexis-nexis.com/professional/ April 3rd
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Velhora, F. (2004) Globalni oteplovani je jiste. [online] at http://www.klima.ecn.cz/index.htm April 4th
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Hall, J. (2005) ‘Will your home be lost under the sea?’ The Journal, Newcastle, March 18th , pg. 18 [online] at http://www.lexis-nexis.com/professional/ April 3rd
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Johnston, I. (2005) ‘Gulf stream could be ‘switched off’. The Scotsman, March 9th , pg.13 [online] at http://www.lexis-nexis.com/professional/ April 3rd
