The impact of global warming on the ecosystem and the human race
Introduction
Over the course of history, the earth has changed in a number of ways. Research indicates that in the last 650 thousand years, there have been 7 cycles of change across the globe, which represent an increase and decrease in different activities, mainly due to the abrupt end of the past ice age in about 7,000 years – marking the start of the present climate era (that has ushered in human civilization) (Herath, 2011). The majority of climate change is caused by minute differences in Earth's orbit, which results in a change in the amount of solar energy that the planet can absorb.
The existing scientific evidence that is related to the warming of the climate system is considered unequivocal. The present trend in global warming is considered highly significant due to the fact that the majority of it is considered to be highly likely to be induced by human activities and occurs at a rate that is considerably unprecedented in the past 1,300 years. Technological advancements such as earth-orbiting satellites and others have helped scientists to clearly see the big picture, allowing them to gather different kinds of information in relation to the earth and the climate as a reference to the global shifts (Time for Change, n.d.). The huge volume of data that has been gathered over the last year does indicate that the rate of global warming is on the rise, with expected negative impacts on both humans and the ecosystem.
In the mid-19th century, the heat-trapping aspects of carbon dioxide and other gases were clearly demonstrated. This demonstration relates to their ability to affect the transfer of infrared energy via the atmosphere, which is the scientific fundamental for the majority of the instruments that are used by NASA. Thus, there is no doubt that the increase in the level of GHG will bring about warning of the earth in response. The ice cores extracted from Greenland, tropical mountain, and Antarctica glaciers are also clear indicators that the earth's ecosystem has been undergoing unprecedented changes (Wollstein, n.d.).Thus, global warming is a big issue for the human race and its ecosystem, with negative impacts on the overall sustainability of the entire human race. Some of these issues are those discussed below.
The impact of global warming on the ecosystem and the human race
There are numerous issues that global warming is bringing about for the human race and the entire ecosystem. The majority of them pose a direct challenge to the sustainability of the human race. Some of these issues are those discussed below.
Rising sea levels
As a result of continued global warming, the global sea level rose by about 17 centimeters in the past century. In any case, the rate of such rise in the last decade has nearly doubled that of the previous century (NASA, n.d.).This is significant for both the ecosystem and the human race. The rise in sea levels is a direct threat to aquatic life because it increases sea currents, pushing these aquatic life beyond their ecosystem and forcing them into territory where their survival is in doubt.Furthermore, it puts trade at risk because areas that were easily canoed are no longer considered danger zones, forcing a halt to trade (which effectively means a halt to the benefits obtained from such trade) (Herath, 2011).The rise in sea level is also a big risk to the human race as it causes overflowing of the sea, which results in both small and big floods depending on the level of such a rise.
The flood, without much doubt, endangers the human race as it has been found to flush out both crops and houses. That is, humans either have no food (crops destroyed by floods) or no shelter (houses destroyed by floods), or a combination of the two.Thus, the increase in sea level is a big issue for the sustainability of the human race. In the course of sea overflowing, dangerous animals (such as sharks, water snakes, and crocodiles) are also flushed into neighborhoods, and there are numerous accounts of such related attacks and deaths from such attacks. Thus, this is a big issue for the sustainability of the human race as it puts it through various pressures and dangers.
The global temperature is rising.
Three major reconstructions of global surface temperature were performed, and they did show that the earth has been warming since 1880, with the 1970s seeing the majority of this warming; the 20 warmest years have occurred since 1981, and the ten warmest years have occurred in the last decade (NASA, n.d.).The 2000s did witness a decline in solar output (which subsequently resulted in a decline in solar minimum between the periods of 2007 to 2009), but there has been a continued increase in the surface temperature (NASA, n.d.).
The effect of these issues is that increasing temperatures are forcing some parts of the world to heat up and thus reduce the overall productivity of such parts. Some river line areas, for example, have been observed to dry up as temperatures rise.This drying up does reduce the potential of such areas to bring about higher productivity levels (pushing the residents into more plague and starvation due to poor yield) (Wollstein, n.d.). The animals that exist in these areas have also been pushed to their extension due to the wide forest fires that occur as a result of these issues. Adding salt to injury, many parts of Asia (such as India and Pakistan) have witnessed such tremendous heat in recent years that people have had to find water taps to cool off during the day. This has also forced many to remain indoors, reducing their productivity levels and overall efficiency of output. This increase in heat is also linked to a surge in deaths in both endangered species and humans. Basically, the rise in both temperature and sea levels works together in the sense that areas that were previously hot are now hotter than usual, while the areas that witnessed rain are now being flooded. Thus, combining these two together in order to create some leverage is actually impossible.
warming oceans
According to discoveries, the ocean does absorb the majority of the surging heat that has been witnessed in recent years, and the same finding indicates that the top 700 meters (which is about 2,300 feet) of the oceans have warmed up to 0.302 degrees Fahrenheit since 1969 (NASA, n.d.).
The increase in the temperature of the oceans is a big issue for the aquatic life that lives within these levels. Some animals (e.g., certain species of commercial fish) require a very cold water system to thrive. Thus, the increasing level of ocean temperature is endangering the existence of these species and the overall sustainability of the human race—as a decline in their production will also bring about a decline in available quantities for consumption (The Union of Concerned Scientists, n.d.). Fish represent the highest source of omega 3 and other fatty acids. Thus, their decline is a big issue for the health of humanity.
Shrinking ice sheets
In accordance with findings, there has been a decline in the ice sheets of the Antarctic and Greenland regions, and these declines are very massive. The data that was obtained from NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment does indicate 150 to 250 cubic kilometers of ice sheets have been lost in Greenland per annum in the course of 2002 to 2006, while the same period has also witnessed a loss of about 152 cubic kilometers in the Antarctic region as well (NASA, n.d.).
This is a very big issue. The main cause of these losses is the high temperatures that are melting the ice sheets off. There are numerous animals (such as the Antarctic bear) that depend on these ice sheets for survival. Their loss is a major issue for their sustainability because migrating them to a different environment that does not provide the benefits they gain from icy areas will undoubtedly endanger their existence (The Union of Concerned Scientists, n.d.). the human race, this is also a big issue in the sense that it increases sea levels, leading to damage, floods, and low crop yields.
Conclusion
In the above little discussion, a number of key points have been generated as it relates to the negative impact of global warming on both the environment and the human race. The issue clearly endangers the sustainability of the human race in the sense that it pours numerous pressures on humanity (Herath, 2011). As a result of global warming, there has been an increase in global temperature, rising sea levels, shrinking ice sheets, and ocean warming. These issues decrease the sustainability of the ecosystem that depends on these for survival, with a resulting decrease in the sustainability of the human race due to poor crop and animal yields. Thus, it is important that the issue of global warming be considered critically across all spheres of life in order to limit its impact on the environment and humanity (Time for Change, n.d.). If this issue is not critically considered, it is expected that it will continue to cause risk and could lead to another holocaust that will definitely threaten human civilization.
References
Herath, A. K. (2011, 10/5) The Climate Change Debate: Man vs. Nature. Live Science: http://www.livescience.com/16388-climate-change-debate-man-nature.html
NASA (n.d.). Climate change: How do we know? NASA data: http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
The union of concerned scientists (n.d.). How Do We Know That Humans Are the Major Cause of Global Warming? The Union of Concerned Scientists: http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/science/human-contribution-to-gw-faq.html
Time for Change. (n.d.). The main cause of global warming. Retrieved from Time for Change: http://timeforchange.org/main-cause-of-global-warming-solutions
Wollstein, J. B. (n.d.). GLOBAL WARMING: MYTHS AND REALITY. Retrieved from DRLWilson: http://drlwilson.com/Articles/GLOBAL%20WARMING.htm
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