Global Climate Change
Anya Ortakales
What are global warming and global climate change?
Global warming is when the earth heats up to warmer temperatures than usual, due to greenhouse gasses that are made up of harmful substances, such as carbon dioxide and methane. Global climate change is when there is a change in weather patterns, rising in the sea level, and different impacts on wildlife, human lifestyle, and animal's habitats and food over the course of many years because of the earth's temperatures rising.
What is the fundamental cause of these problems?
Emissions come from burning fossil fuels, or coal, oil, and gas, and are released into the air from cars, factories, smokestacks, and many other sources. Burning such fuels create more emissions of carbon dioxide. Methane and carbon dioxide are greenhouse gasses that trap heat energy from the sun, where the heat will stay near the earth to keep the earth warm. If there are too many greenhouse gasses, there is too much heat, causing global warming.
Car emissions
What are some consequences of global climate change?
Because of the temperatures rising, glaciers in places like Antarctica start to melt, causing sea levels to rise. Storms would be more powerful and coastlines disappear under the water due to the higher sea levels. Farms could dry out, causing food shortages. Animal's habitats would be ruined, such as the polar bear's habitat. With the glaciers melting, the polar bear's habitat is nearly gone. Winters in colder areas of the world are shorter as the earth gets hotter.
What can you do to help reduce carbon emissions?
Growing fruits, vegetables, and trees are a good way to start helping the environment. Plants help clear the air of carbon dioxide and make it cleaner for us to breathe and live in. Using fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs last longer and use less electricity. Also unplugging and turning off televisions, computers, lights, and any other electricity source when you do not need them contributes to the environment's health. Riding bikes instead of cars reduces the carbon dioxide emissions being released into the air. Use less plastic by drinking tap water rather than drinking from water bottles, recycling, and buying a reusable shopping bag instead of using a plastic grocery bag. Conserving water also helps the environment, by turning off water when it is not needed.