Climate Change Essay, Research Paper
Weather changes all the time. The average pattern of weather, called climate, usually stays pretty much the same for centuries if it is left to itself. However, the earth is not being left alone. People are taking actions that can change the earth and its climate in significant ways. Carbon dioxide is the main culprit. The single human activity that is most likely to have a large impact on the climate is the burning of “fossil fuels” such as coal, oil and gas. These fuels contain carbon. Burning them makes carbon dioxide gas. Since the early 1800s, when people began burning large amounts of coal and oil, the amount of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere has increased by nearly 30%, and average global temperature appears to have risen between 1. and 2.F.
Carbon dioxide gas traps solar heat in the atmosphere, partly in the same way as glass traps solar heat in a sunroom or a greenhouse. For this reason, carbon dioxide is called a “greenhouse gas.” As more carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere, solar heat has more trouble getting out. The result is that, if everything else stayed unchanged, the average temperature of the atmosphere would increase. As people burn more fossil fuel for energy they add more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. If this goes on long enough, the average temperature of the atmosphere will almost certainly increase.
Most scientists believe that if significant climate change occurs it will take place gradually over a period of many decades. If change is gradual, the overall economic impact on wealthy countries such as the United States will probably be modest although some regions or groups may experience large costs and others may experience large benefits. After all, American society already exists very successfully in Alaska, Arizona, and Florida and these states span a range of climates much wider than any predicted changes. Farmers would have to adjust their crops, and in some cases, farming regions and other land use patterns would shift. Some water supply systems would have to be modified. Low coastal areas would have to make adjustments. But, our society regularly makes changes to adapt to natural and man-made fluctuations. It could probably handle these additional changes without much trouble, although nationally the total costs could add up to many billions of dollars.
While many of the impacts of climate change would be negative, some might be positive. Heating costs in northern areas might decline, agricultural productivity in places such as Canada, Scandinavia and northern Japan might be improved, and the amount of sunlight available for grain crops might increase as the regions where they grow shifts further north. Of course, not all northern regions would benefit. Some northern soils are not suitable for agriculture, some areas of permanently frozen ground (permafrost) might become large impassable bogs, and various insect pests and diseases might move north.
Several economists have tried to estimate the overall economic cost of climate change for the United States. For the sorts of gradual changes being predicted over the next century, they estimate costs in the vicinity of a quarter of one percent per year of GDP (gross domestic product). Such calculations are, of course, very uncertain.
There is some chance that climate change will be abrupt, perhaps brought on by a sudden shift in the general pattern of ocean circulation. If that happens, the economic costs to wealthy countries like the United States could be very large. Much new investment might be needed in a very short period of time. Agricultural and water systems might not easily be modified in just a few years, especially if uncertainty makes planning difficult. Most scientists believe that such catastrophic change is unlikely, but not impossible.
Global Impacts:
An international group of agricultural researchers used climate projections from three climate models (GCMs) to project regional climate changes at 112 locations in 18 countries under the assumption that the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere had doubled. Average global temperature increased about 8.F (4.5.C). Regional agricultural experts projected the yields of wheat, corn, soybeans, and rice at each location. An economic model was then used to estimate patterns of world food prices and trade. Assuming that farmers employ simple adaptation practices, such as changing planting times and seed varieties to match the changed local climates, they estimate global food output to be unaffected for the case of one climate model, and to drop by 2% and 6% respectively for the other two climate models studied. The developing world is hit harder than the developed world. Including the effects of comparative costs in world trade, developed country output is predicted to rise between 4 and 14% and developing country output to fall by 9 to 12%. World food prices go up. The number of people at risk of hunger (due to higher prices) probably also goes up, perhaps by 50%. This analysis assumed that no major changes, such as construction of new irrigation projects, are undertaken. If such changes are included, the agricultural impact on all but the poorest developing countries probably becomes very small
Другие работы по теме:
The Biggest Environmental Problem Essay Research Paper
The Biggest Environmental Problem The environmental problem that must be considered as the biggest, is the Global Warming. Temperature is slowly increasing all over the world. To understand this better it is also important to explain the greenhouse effect.
Poems Essay Research Paper SnowAs the soft
Poems Essay, Research Paper Snow As the soft snow covers the earth like a blanket A supreme calmness comes over me Though the weather is cold i feel it not For the warmth of my heart is burning like a furnace
Does Treating Metal Reduce The Effects Of
Weathering In A California Climate? Essay, Research Paper Does treating metal reduce the effects of weathering in a California climate? This experiment deals with the elements of weather against metal; wind, rain, solar radiation, oxidation (uniting a substance with oxygen), and heat (the presence and absence of).
Vernon Thaxter Essay Research Paper Vernon Thaxter
Vernon Thaxter Essay, Research Paper Vernon Thaxter is a very confused, yet intelligent man. In the beginning of the story, we become familiar with the character of Vernon due to all the small talk and gossip in Zephyr about the fact that he walks around in his birthday suit, no matter the weather or ocasion.
Christopher Columbus American Hero Or Portuguese Idiot
Essay, Research Paper As the vessel bounces lazily across the waves, a man sitting amidships on the crow’s nest cries out. “Land, Ho!” he says in a state of dumbfounded excitement. After almost a year at sea, their fateful voyage was reaching a conclusion. A stately man walks out of the cabin and surveys the situation.
Communication Climate Essay Research Paper I have
Communication Climate Essay, Research Paper I have found that the communication climate at the company I have worked for the last seven years is a combination of bureaucratic, human and system theories.
Ethan Frome Essay Research Paper Ethan fromeE
Ethan Frome Essay, Research Paper Ethan frome E s s a y There is a close relationship between the seasons and the characters actions and moods in Ethan From. Whenever there is a change in the atmosphere, the climate changes as well, making it an important foreseer of the novels plot.
Climate Essay Research Paper ClimateClimate has profound
Climate Essay, Research Paper Climate Climate has profound effects on us, and the world in which we live. In turn we as humans, and many other global factors contribute to our climate. Almost everything in our lives somehow impacts or is impacted by climate.
Droughts Essay Research Paper Drought condition of
Droughts Essay, Research Paper Drought, condition of abnormally dry weather within a geographic region where some rain might usually be expected. A drought is thus quite different from a dry climate which designates a region that is normally, or at least seasonally, dry.
Grass Essay Research Paper GrassI always like
Grass Essay, Research Paper Grass I always like to watch the grass grow, in summer is pretty green, but in winter is pretty ugly, and you could see really the difference, is because of the weather hot and cold. Now the grass is ugly is like brown, but in summer is very pretty and I al
Global Warming Essay Research Paper My position
Global Warming Essay, Research Paper My position on global warming is that despite the media’s claim of a rising climate, in reality there is no cause for concern. Inane reports regarding global warming are yuppie-tree-hugger propaganda. The information defending their case is misleading and inaccurate.
Global Warming Essay Research Paper Introduction to
Global Warming Essay, Research Paper Introduction to Global Warming Climate change is neither new nor unusual. Throughout the history of the earth, the average surface temperature, climate and greenhouse gas concentrations have changed, sometimes gradually other times quite sharply. During the past 10,000 years the earth has been in an interglacial period with a fairly stable climate, surface temperature, and greenhouse gas concentration1.
Climate Change And World Food Supply Essay
, Research Paper The world needs to think of how the climate is changing the food supply of the earth. The climate is doing some really bad things to the earth. The atmosphere is
Innovation
– Building And Sustaining Essay, Research Paper Building and Sustaining Innovation Innovation is a better thing to do, or a batter way to do it, that increases an organizations ability to achieve its goals. This does not mean change for change?s sake. Innovation has also been defined as Creativity + Change.
Change Essay Research Paper Change as changing
Change Essay, Research Paper Change as changing times and techology…………….. People often use these terms without realizing that word CHANGE has neither a denotation nor a connotation of advancement,improvement or progress; a change can take place at any direction: forward, backward, up and downward!
Lady Of Shalott Essay Research Paper FALLFor
Lady Of Shalott Essay, Research Paper FALL For me the fall is an exhilarating time of year. A time of change, an in-between period of muddled and varied weather. For others who view fall as a short time before a dreary winter, fall takes on a less colorful face. Alfred Lord Tennyson uses fall metaphorically throughout “The Lady of Shalott” to illustrate how the Lady of Shalott’s life (or lack thereof) progresses.
Weather Modification Essay Research Paper Weather ModificationHistoryWeather
Weather Modification Essay, Research Paper Weather Modification History Weather Modification was founding 1946 by Vincent Schaefer who was attempting to find a way to induce artificial clouds to produce precipitation in a cold cloud chamber ( modified freezer). The experiment done with a block of dry ice in the freezer was a success when his colleague Bernard Vonnegut found a chemical, silver iodide, that is almost like ice in its molecular structure, but can be carried and applied more easily.
Another Canada Essay Research Paper When people
Another Canada Essay, Research Paper When people think of Canada and then compare it to the United States of America, they always tend to think it is similar. At least I did until I started this project. I always
Gilgamesh Essay Research Paper Gilgamesh Essay over
Gilgamesh Essay, Research Paper Gilgamesh Essay over The Epic of Gilgamesh The main character in the book The Epic of Gilgamesh is Gilgamesh himself. Throughout the book, many things cause Gilgamesh to change. First, the quest for immortality after the death of Enkidu shows that Gilgamesh has changed. Gilgamesh has gone from arrogant to scared.
Sahara Desert Essay Research Paper The Sahara
Sahara Desert Essay, Research Paper The Sahara Desert is the world?s largest desert area. It extends from the Africa?s Atlantic Ocean side to the Red Sea and consists of the countries
Global Warming Effects Essay Research Paper How
Global Warming Effects Essay, Research Paper How the World is changing due to the effects caused by Global Warming The reason for this topic is our increasingly changing climate. Every year our climate
Psychology Essay Research Paper Psychology is the
Psychology Essay, Research Paper Psychology is the study of human behavior, how we think, feel and act. Psychologists study both normal and abnormal behavior to understand it. Psychologists also try to use what we learn from that study to help people change aspects of their behavior that they want to change.
El Nino Essay Research Paper The story
El Nino Essay, Research Paper The story of El Ni?o begins on the eastern margins of the Pacific Ocean. For centuries, Peruvian fishermen have known that the usually cold and nutrient rich waters from time to time become exceptionally warm, accompanied by collapsing fish stocks. At the same time, torrential rain and flooding of the rivers of the Andes occur.
Counselors Essay Research Paper Counselors
Counselors Essay, Research Paper Counselors Clients often come to counselors to change their lives in some way, such as to become more assertive. As likely, clients seek counseling as a result of
Canada Essay Research Paper Canada is a
Canada Essay, Research Paper Canada is a land of great diversity and variety. With a population of 28 000 and the second largest country in the world, it has many cultural, physical and climatic differences.
Global Warning Essay Research Paper As the
Global Warning Essay, Research Paper As the world’s expanding population burns large quantities of fossil fuels and simultaneously cuts down large expanses of forests worldwide, the concentrations of CO2 and other greenhouse gases are building up in the atmosphere. “The green house effect is the (imperfect) analogy used to explain the atmospheric phenomenon that keeps our planet warm enough to sustain life.” There is mounting evidence that this shift in Earth’s atmosphere will lead to global changes and potentially major climatic disruptions .
Hope Essay Research Paper Hope What do
Hope Essay, Research Paper Hope: What do you guys hope for? I hope that the Dodgers win. I hope I do okay on the finals. I hope the teacher doesn^?t catch me. You
Today s weather and my attitude to it
Weather is a thing that worries everybody. When people meet they like to talk about today’s weather and the weather forecast for the next day. Many our decisions and plans depend upon weather. In accordance with weather we often plan our weekends. If a weather forecast promises a clear and warm day, the best way to spend it is to have a picnic.