GLOBAL WARMING & CLIMATE

CHANGING
Oral Presentation.

Alberto Snchez Serrate

Adv 2B

Advanced 2B

Alberto Snchez Serrate

GLOBAL WARMING AND CLIMATE CHANGE

The greenhouse effect and global warming are issues that are talked about by geologists
all the time. The greenhouse effect is a natural process that keeps the earth at temperatures that
are livable. Energy from the sun warms the earth when its heat rays are absorbed by greenhouse
gasses and become trapped in the atmosphere. Some of the most common greenhouse gasses are
water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane. If there were no greenhouse gasses, very few rays
would be absorbed and the earth would be extremely cold. When too many rays are absorbed, the
earth atmosphere starts to warm, which leads to global warming. Global warming can lead to
many problems that affects the environment in which we live. Even though climate change is partially
caused by the natural cycles of Earth, humans are still a major part of it. Greenhouse gases, such as
carbon dioxide, absorb and emit heat in the atmosphere, keeping Earth warm enough to support life.
However, human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, are adding large amounts of greenhouse gases
to the atmosphere. Earth must get rid of energy at the same rate it receives energy. More greenhouse
gases mean that more heat is being held in the atmosphere, which in turn makes temperatures higher.
All the greenhouse gases people have added to the atmosphere are making temperatures rise faster
than they are supposed to, which will cause a multitude of problems that will offset the balance of the
global
ecosystem.
In the future, climate change will affect people worldwide. To start with, there will be increased health
risks. Rising temperatures will cause longer and more common heat waves, which result in more heatrelated injuries and deaths. Rising sea levels will cause flooding and increase standing water, which can
serve as breeding grounds for malaria and other parasites. Floods will also increase coastal erosion, and
destroy peoples homes. This includes New York, Florida, and other coastal states. Rising sea levels will
flood coastal areas like Florida, New York, and New Orleans. Thousands of people will be displaced, and
coastal erosion will accelerate. Additionally, higher temperatures will cause problems. Longer and more
intense heat waves will cause heat-related injuries. Freshwater availability worldwide is dwindling due
to higher evaporation rates, which means that the planet is losing a vital resource. By the middle of the
21st century, water supplies in already dry regions are estimated to decrease by 10 to 30 percent. Food
supplies are also at risk, as it is harder to grow crops in environmental conditions altered by climate
change. According to the EPA, American corn production could be reduced by 10 to 30 percent if the
temperature
rises
3.6
degrees
Fahrenheit.
Measures to stop climate change need to be taken now, because we will experience its effects during
our lifetimes. Since it has not affected us very much yet, not very many people are aware of it. We need
to raise awareness now, because once we see its effects, it will be too late. We still have time. The
majority of climate scientists agree that we can avoid the worst impacts of climate change if we stabilize
greenhouse gas levels around 450-550 ppm. Greenhouse gas levels are currently around 380 ppm, so we
do not have very much time to stabilize them. In order to avoid causing irreversible damage to Earth,
scientists have concluded that emissions need to peak in 2015, then decline by 50 percent by 2050. This
is something that must be accomplished within a couple years. Obviously, climate change is an urgent
issue
that
needs
to
be
addressed
now.

Advanced 2B

Alberto Snchez Serrate

Despite the fact that climate change is progressing, there are still ways that it can be slowed down. To
start with, the government should work to raise awareness about global warming, and what people can
do to help. Most people know about climate change, but they do not realize what will happen if nothing
is done. They also may not realize that they can make a difference by doing little things, like recycling. In
addition, the government should offer tax benefits for people who use clean energy. Fossil fuels, such as
oil and coal, are the largest sources of carbon emission, and phasing them out would significantly reduce
the human impact on the environment. Offering tax benefits promote use of clean energy, but will still
allow people to choose to use fossil fuels.