Consequences of Global Warming

9Sophia Jerome

Coach Murray

Science, 3

18 January 2017

Consequences of Global Warming

        The rise in earth’s surface temperature as a consequence of greenhouse effect is called global warming. The greenhouse effect is when greenhouse gases and other pollutants absorb heat from the sun and it radiates back. This causes an increase in heat. Some people may think that heat is good and beneficial but really there are so many consequences and effects that global warming has on geography, economy, weather, and our wellbeing. Such as more frequent and severe weather and dirtier air, higher death rate and higher wildlife extinction rates, and more acidic oceans and higher sea levels. So you see, Global warming poses many consequences to our geography, economy, weather, and our wellbeing.

        Global warming has many consequences, one of them being more frequent and sever weather. Increases in temperatures are worsening many types of disasters such as storms, heat waves, floods, and droughts. This may not seem like a big deal, but these disasters are taking a toll on the economy. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in 2015 alone there were ten major weather disasters that cost at least one billion dollars in losses. Not only is this a danger to our economy and weather, it is a danger to our wellbeing. With all the droughts, floods, and heat storms our warming atmosphere holds, this creates more moisture. This is a risk to public health and safety. Drought conditions hamper access to clean drinking water, fuel wildfires, and result in dust storms, extreme heat, and flash flooding. If we are not suffering of the world being to dry we are going to suffer from it being to wet, as well as warm. Being wet as well as warm is going to cause many more food-borne illnesses, water-borne illnesses, and disease-carrying insects such as mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. Not only is global warming causing many weather problems, it is also causing problems with our air. According to the NRDC, “Rising temperatures also worsen air pollution by increasing ground level ozone, which is created when pollution from cars, factories, and other sources react to sunlight and heat.” (Denchak 1)  Dirtier air is going to have more people going to the hospital. It will especially worsen the affects in those who have asthma, or pulmonary or cardiac disease. It will also spread pollen easier making allergies worse for people and heighten the risk of fevers due to their allergies. Severe weather and dirtier air pose as real threats to our planet as well as us.

        Also, higher death rates and higher animal extinction rates will go up dramatically. The rising heat is a threat, especially to children, the elderly, and low-income communities. There fore this is a consequence to our weather, wellbeing, and also our economy. As the heat gets into ridiculous temperatures more people want their air conditioning on. As everyone knows, it’s expensive. So when the heat goes up so will your air conditioning bill. Those who are in low-income places will have a harder time with that. Therefore it is a consequence of global warming. Not only that, but this extreme heat will cause more hospital visits because of people suffering from heat-exacerbated, life-threatening illnesses such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and cardiovascular and kidney diseases. According to the Senior Journal, this heat kills more than hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and lightning combined. Not only does this affect humans, but also our wildlife. As the heat melts the ice caps many animals that live in the artic regions will either be killed or have to relocate. If they relocate to a warmer place it will be dangerous for them, therefore causing them to die faster, which leads to higher extinction rates. In a 2015 study by the Science Advances, they show that vertebrate species “are disappearing 114 times faster than they should be, a phenomenon that has been linked to climate change, pollution, and deforestation.” Climate change is the biggest cause of animal extinction, because it causes the animals to change their seasonal behaviors and traditional migration patterns. Global warming is causing animals to migrate at different times because the heat is getting so out of control. So you have it, global warming is the culprit for higher death rates and animal extinction rates.