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Scientists admit it is difficult to fix specific weather patterns to global warming as there are simply too many factors involved. For one, it recently became known that the fallen leaves of trees also produce methane gas and scientist are scrambling to include this factor into the global warming equation. However, observations of natural phenomena has allowed a glimpse of what the future may hold for us if the rise in temperature brought about by global warming will continue:
1. Glacial Retreat.
A glacier is a large, slow-moving river of ice found in the Polar Regions and in high elevations. They are the largest reserves of fresh water on earth. The retreat or thinning of glaciers since 1850 has largely affected the Himalayas, Alps, Rockies, Cascade, and Southern Andes.
2. Arctic shrinkage.
There’s been a marked reduction in Arctic sea ice and the Greenland ice sheet. Experts project that the Arctic sea will again be free of ice before 2015, after more than 700,000 years. The Arctic ice acts like a giant mirror, reflecting sunshine back into space. Their loss means more radiant energy will be absorbed by the ocean.
3. Sea level rise.
Since 18,000 years (period of the last ice age) until 3,000 years ago, the seas have risen approximately 130 meters. From 3,000 years ago until the start of the 19th century, the level remained fairly constant. Then it was found that a sea level rise of 195 millimeters occurred from January 1870 to December of 2004. At this rate, it is estimated that the seas will rise 0.28 meters to 0.34 meters from 1990 to 2100. The rise will not result in an apocalyptic waterworld but it is more than enough to drown most low-lying plains in knee-deep water. Global warming contributes to sea-level rise in two ways, thermal expansion of water and melting of the ice and glaciers.
4. Extreme weather events.
The World Meteorological Organization and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have linked global warming to the increasing number of extreme weather events, particularly category 4 and category 5 hurricanes. They are somehow related to increasing temperatures.
5. Species Extinctions.
Like what I stated in the post on Global Warming 5 facts, a number of species will become extinct due the changes brought about by global warming. Delicate ecosystems like coral reefs will be the first to die off.
6. Increase or shift in range of disease vectors.
Epidemiologists predict the spread of Malaria and Dengue fever. The vectors or carriers of these diseases are mosquitoes (anopheles for malaria and tiger for dengue). Mosquitoes love warm and moist places.
7. Reductions in the ozone layer.
The Earth’s ozone layer absorbs 97-99% of the sun’s high frequency ultraviolet light. UV light is potentially damaging to life. Scientist announced on August 2, 2003 that ozone depletion may be slowing down due to the ban on CFC. They are afraid though that increasing temperature may thin the layer.
8. Lowering of ocean pH.
The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide. Increasing concentration of the gas in the atmosphere will also increase the seas absorbed CO2, thereby lowering its pH and turning it acidic (acidification). Between 1751 and 1994 surface ocean pH is estimated to have decreased from approximately 8.179 to 8.104. Acidification will affect organism that construct or produce shells (both as a cover and within, as a frame).
9. Economic loses.
The Stern report suggest that adverse weather condition may reduce global gross domestic product by 1% and a worst-case scenario estimates global per capita consumption falling by 20%. This report has been both criticized (for it’s methodology) and lauded (for attempting to quantify the economic risk from global warming).
10. Threat to global security.
Global warming can result to competition for resources between countries, mass migration from the worst affected areas, and challenges to the cohesion of major states threatened by the rise in sea levels. All of these may lead to armed conflict
Nurture nature for our future!
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15 comments ↓
and you cannot even choose one lesser from the others…
Nice site and very interesting read. We are seeing a few things that must be global warming in action. Birds are moving further north for one. This is also the warmest February on record up here. That is nice in one way but it will also mean the water in the lakes will be low.
@ narissa
Hello..
True, but we can hit 10 birds with one stone by decreasing carbon emission and, as individuals, reducing our carbon footprint.
@ Vic
Hi!
Took you a long time to get here.
That polar bear article of yours, it’s definitely connected with global warming, they’re having a hard time in their normal range and have been observe going further South. The white ones have been in the limelight lately because we know them and humans don’t mix well. 
Most of the effects you list are being observed, no doubt about it. There is growing concern over a decline in bee and frog populations. Frogs are a natural control to insect populations, in particular mosquitoes. As you know mosquitoes transmit the deadly disease malaria. Bees are extremely important to food production. If, heaven forbid, those animals disappear from the earth, it would be extremely bad for us. And some oceans are indeed becoming more acidic, killing off coral in some parts of the world. However, some glaciers are in fact growing. The Hubbard glacier in Alaska has been growing and advancing despite global warming. The Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand has been advancing at a rate of 3 meters a day. Why these glaciers defy the warming trend I do not know. But clearly this is anomalous to the theory.
Growing Glaciers
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-001-03/fs-001.03.pdf
Frog Extinction
http://frogmatters.wordpress.com/2008/01/
Hi davinci!
That’s some interesting facts you have, especially those glaciers. Perhaps they are only a few isolated cases? I’ll be sure to check keep tab on Hubbard and Franz Josef. It’s best to keep an open mind.
Besides what we are seeking is a solution, not doom. So if we are wrong about global warming, we actually have nothing to lose.
Even scientists accede that some pieces doesn’t, like carbon sinks also produce methane.
Sadly, lots of people don’t care about all these because they are making money out of killing the planet…
@ nicursor
A huge reason why we have to sift through all the info available and decide for ourselves. A lot of businesses have jumped into the environment and organic bandwagons to make a killing. They also have unlimited resources for lobbying.
Thanks for dropping by and adding TN to the DoFollow list. We have provided a backlink here==> http://www.treasurenature.com/links/web-resources/
A lot of people I know don’t necessarily believe in global warming or believe the effects are significant. However, my reply to them is, whether you believe in these facts presented to you or not, what is the harm in doing better things for the environment every single day. If you can make the environment a safer and cleaner place, whether or not you believe in global warming, there is no doubt that you are helping in some kind of way for something.
lol
Exactly my point too. There’s no harm in trying to make this planet a better place for everyone.
There are other benefits as well in planting trees or curbing fossil fuel consumption.
This is sad.
Thanks for dropping by.
sounds creepy.. thanks for sharing this :smile:
You’re welcome. Thanks for dropping by too.
The Franz Josef glacier may be growing in NZ, but there are plenty of other glaciers there that have shrunk as well.
NZ has also been affected by rising sea levels, as they offered citizenship to all residents of Tuvalu, an island chain to the north east of NZ that is one of the lowest-lying countries in the world. As such most of their land has already disappeared, and now most people have abandoned it to go to New Zealand.
Hi!
That’s sad, really. A whole nation losing their country to the sea. Global warming may just be a point for discussion by others, for some it’s a reality.
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