Global Warming

By: Riley Sievers

Global warming is a very important issue effecting most people in our

world either directly or indirectly. The causes of this problem are often
argued over by scientists and others. Most people blame climate change on
human activity, yet some contend that humans aren't the ones that cause
the problem and that it is natural to the environment. One article that
supports the side of human activity being the root of the issue says, "Flaring
of waste natural gas from industrial oil fields in the Northern Hemisphere is a
potential source of significant amounts of nitrogen dioxide and black carbon
to the Arctic, according to a new NASA study." This statement proves that
man's use of natural resources without limit or restraint has ignited the
harmful greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere that
negatively affect the environment by heating the Arctic. On CNN Student
News, it was also brought out how humans are a major cause of global
warming due to the unusually large amount of carbon being emitted into the
air. Another article also brought out that natural sources cannot account for
the greatest amount of harmful gases released into the air. Humans are
obviously the main source of the problem of climate change in the Arctic.
Global warming is a very critical matter that needs to be eradicated.
One article explained, "CO2 survives in the atmosphere for a long timeup
to many centuriesso its heat-trapping effects are compounded over time.
Of the many heat-trapping gases, CO2 puts us at the greatest risk of
irreversible changes if it continues to accumulate unabated in the
atmosphereas it is likely to do if the global economy remains dependent on
fossil fuels for its energy needs. To put this in perspective, the carbon we put
in the atmosphere today will literally determine not only our climate future
but that of future generations as well." This argument shows that the effects
of global warming wont only influence us now or for a short amount of time;
the effects will last for centuries and hurt many generations to come.
Another reason to take action now, is that species of animals are becoming
endangered. Many studies on this matter have shown that polar bears have
been forced to swim for longer distances to find shelter. How does this relate
to global warming? Well, polar bears need ice and glaciers to live in their
normal habitat, and the CO2 being released into the air and warming up the
lower atmosphere has melted ice and glaciers in the north and south poles.
This shows that this problem is not to be taken lightly. If we dont act soon,

our earth may be ruined which not only negatively affects us, but also the
wildlife around us.
(Graph on next page)

This graph shows the large increase in temperatures over the past
hundred or so years compared to the temperatures of the past centuries.
(Credit: Climate.gov)

LA AKS:

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(SS AKS on next page)

SS AKS:
7SS.D.43:

heat from desert increasing from global warming

7SS.D.44:

Cultures and people are influenced by the environmental issues in the area
affecting where they choose to live.

7SS.C.32:

32.c

Desertlike conditions caused by increasing temperatures.

7SS.C.33:

33.a explain how the characteristics in the Sahara, Sahel, savanna, and
tropical rainforest affect where people live, the type of work they do, and how
they travel (Which is affected by environmental issues.)

7SS.E.52:

In the Gobi and Taklimakan Desert, heat will increase due to global warming.

7SS.E.53:

53.a: describe the impact climate and location has on population distribution
in Southern and Eastern Asia

7SS.A.1:
Use cardinal directions

7SS.A.11:

Compare maps of the same place at the same place at different points in
time and from different perspectives to determine changes, identify trends,
and generalize about human activities