Environmental Effects of Global Warming in Florida - Research Paper Example

Task Environmental effects of global warming in Florida Global warming has been an increasingly discussed issue in many global environmental conferences. The effects of global warming within the environment have been devastating and even threatened the destruction of different ecosystems. Such destructions further threaten the existence of various animals inhabiting the environments being faced by the challenge. This research seeks to explore the various notable environmental effects of the global warming phenomenon within the state of Florida. The article analyses the various effects of global warming among different environments, focusing on Florida. The research explores the various environmental effects of global warming in Florida. Many of the environmental effects recorded, occur upon the oceans, while extreme weather conditions present significant effects in the inland environment. The data was collected through online archival research and interviews with individuals working in environment related field and who possess significant knowledge of the environmental effects of global warming. Introduction Global warming has been defined as the continuous increase in average temperatures on the earth’s surface. Throughout a long time, there have been major social concerns for the effects of global warming. The phenomenon has produced different effects upon environments within various locations, globally. This manuscript seeks to look at the environmental effects of this phenomenon within the area of Florida. Through undertaking this research the various environmental effects of global warming within the state will become clearly understood. The experiences within other states will be reviewed through the research. The research will become essential in seeking to provide solutions to the adverse effects presented to the environment by global warming, upon the state of Florida. This exploratory research will seek to gather information regarding environmental effects of global warming in Florida. The information will be gathered through review of existing environmental publication, exploration of the region and interviews with some interest group members within the state. The average temperatures across the world have been observed to rise over a long period of time. These rising temperatures have continuously presented various effects upon the environment and other social systems across the world. Greenhouse gasses have been identified as presenting the biggest challenge in contributing towards global warming (Weart). Physical effects include the increased occurrence of extreme weather cases, which have been observed. These include hurricanes, among other destructive weather conditions, which have been associated with global warming. Oceans have also been identified as becoming more acidified by the absorption of gases causing global warming (Shaffer, Olsen, and Pedersen, p107). The temperature rise has also been observed within the oceans. The state of Florida has an extensive coastline, and the global warming effects from the oceans could be available (Natural Resources Defense Council). Elevated carbon dioxide levels within the atmosphere have been associated with reduction of food production. The farmland have become negatively affected by these aspects of global warming leading to reduced harvest, which could potentially cause hunger among populations residing in affected areas (Dai, p50). Different regions have been classified as being differently vulnerable to various environmental effects of global warming, observed across the world. Changing ocean currents have been associated with the common occurrence of typhoons within the Asian region of the world. Such effects can also affect other regions across the globe. Some social systems remain extremely sensitive to climatic changes, as they present adverse effects upon such systems (Schneider et al., p790). Sectors like tourism and agriculture become easily affected, and remain extremely vulnerable to the environmental effects of global warming. The environment has been identified as a fundamental component of the social system, which faces continuous threats from different factors. While some have direct impact upon the short time, other present slow gradual adverse effects of environmental degradation. Global warming remains one of the factors presenting gradual long-term environmental effects. Environmental effects caused by global warming have been increasingly studies and associated with some adverse environmental consequences(Botkin et al., 230). These include the degradation of biodiversity of the environment, which threatens to extinct many organisms existing within the environments. The vital role played by these organisms in balancing the ecosystems could be destroyed resulting in adverse environmental imbalance. Understanding the environmental effects of global warming remains the beginning point towards comprehensive mitigation of the phenomenon from the sources. Importance of the study The findings of this research will be fundamental to the following stakeholders The government – as the policy maker, the government will be provided with essential information regarding the adverse environmental effects of global warming within the state. Using the findings of the research, the government can effectively implement development strategies to mitigate the effects. Environmental interest groups – these groups will be provided with essential information to enhance their understanding of the environmental effects of the global warming phenomenon in the state. Florida residents – the residents will be informed about the effects of global warming enhancing their knowledge regarding the effects. Through this the residents will understand their role in seeking to provide remedies to the adverse effects will impact their daily lives. Research design This research is an exploratory study seeking to gather information on the environmental effects of global warming in the state of Florida. For the purposes of this research, global warming refers to the continuous increase in average temperatures on the earth’s surface. This definition identifies the element of global temperature increase as being a phenomenon which has occurred over a prolonged period and still continues to occur. The environmental effects of this phenomenon are the direct and indirect consequences, of the phenomenon, upon the ecosystem. These effects affect the environment as well as the organisms residing within the environments, consequently creating environmental crisis within the ecosystem. It is hypothesized that global warming effects could have environmental effects in Florida. The research seeks to explore the environmental effects of the global warming phenomenon within the state of Florida. Methods Different information collection methods have been utilized in studying the effects of global warming upon the environment in Florida. These methods are all exploratory methods which seek to enhance the knowledge database, regarding the effects of global warming upon the environment in Florida. The following information gathering methods were utilized for the study. Reports These refer to reports generated by other researchers and organizations which have been recorded in connection to the effects of global warming within the state of Florida. Since the research deals with an already existing problem, secondary research from other materials becomes essential in providing critical data, which could help support the findings of the research. These researches provided essential guides in establishing leads towards identifying the adverse effects occurring upon the environment within Florida. Researches which have been undertaken by other individuals as well as environmental organizations have essential background information regarding the topic under research. These researches were essential in the development of the research hypothesis as well as during the establishments of results. The researchers utilized the information gathered from these researches in identifying the major environmental challenges presented by global warming. These researches provided guidelines to the researchers in understanding some of the effects which could be recorded within this research. Online archival research This type of information gathering method involves retrieving information from online archival records. These records are contained within institutional archive repositories or custodian organizations, charged with ensuring the safe storage of such archival information. The websites of these institutions, and other environmental organizations provided immensely valuable information regarding global warming effects. These researches will seek to provide information regarding the native environment of various regions within the state(The Amy H Remley Foundation). This information will be essential in analyzing the transformations which have been experienced upon the environment over a long duration. The researchers specifically focused on the changes which were attributed to global warming factors. Understanding the native environment remains essential in gaining fundamental knowledge on the environmental discrepancies within the various regions. The notable differences were fundamental in establishing the resulting effects of global warming upon the environments, since the effects have been established as resulting in significant environmental changes. While many factors could influence the probability of environmental changes, only natural causes were included within the study in seeking to establish the effects of global warming upon the environment. Interviews These are face to face discussions with individuals identified by the researcher as having the capacity to provide information regarding the subject under study. In selecting the participants, for this research non-probability, sampling technique was utilized. The researcher used convenience sampling to select the participants according to the researcher’s requirements. This involved individuals who were readily available and easy to reach. In seeking to avoid possibility of bias, the researcher selected professors within the field of environmental science. Despite being convenience sampling, the individuals selected have immense knowledge within the sector of environmental science, and their input became essential in assisting the researcher identify the environmental effects of global warming. The participants were all professors from of environmental science at Tampa University. The researcher is a student at Tampa University hence could conveniently reach these professors and undertake a face to face interview. Results The findings of this research confirm the hypothesis that global warming effects have affected the environment in Florida. Many of the environmental effects remain features which can be observed and experienced by the populations. Droughts, and increased extreme weather cases are some of the environmental effects established from the research. After conducting the research through online archival research and subsequent interviews, the researcher gained significant information regarding environmental effects of global warming in the state of Florida. While many such effects might exist elsewhere, the effects presented within this report represent the findings of this research. These results were achieved through online archival research and interviews with the environmental science professors. Coral reef Florida boasts of the third largest coral reef in the world, which plays a fundamental role in the aquatic ecosystem within the state. There are approximately over 6000 coral reefs off Florida’s keys. These coral reefs have been adversely affected by the global warming effects. The Biscayne National Park consists of a unique aquatic ecosystem which is essential for the survival of tourism within the region. The living corals within this region have been extensively affected by global warming which has resulted in the death of about a third of the entire coral. Figure 1 Map of south Florida, including the Florida Keys which host the coral reef and Biscayne Bay, location of the Biscayne National Park (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services) Marine life Many of the animals inhabiting the regions surrounding the coral reefs, including fish have drastically reduced over the last 10 years. The regions have become protected from fishing since the fish population has reduced over the past decade. Figure 2 fish in the Florida Keys attract tourists Sea level As sea temperatures increase, thermal expansion of water has resulted in rise in sea level. The state of Florida has a long coastline and the population has been affected by these rises. The sea level is approximated to have risen by 8 inches since 1880. This rise has immensely affected the underground freshwater aquifer, which provides drinking water to Florida residents between Palm Beach County and Florida Keys. The rising sea level threatens to contaminate the freshwater aquifer, and the residents of Palm Beach and the surrounding areas might find it hard to get fresh-water. As the water levels continue to rise, the regions become prone to floods, incidents which have been quite common within the regions surrounding the ocean. This phenomenon results from water becoming difficult to drain into the ocean because of the high sea levels. Short-term changes in the sea level have been identified as a fundamental cause of the periodic flooding commonly observed within the Florida region(Bindoff and Willebrand). Please, add 3-4 sentences in this paragraph. Extreme weather conditions The occurrence of extreme weather conditions like hurricanes and storms are caused by global warming upon the environmental. These conditions commonly have devastating destructive effects on the environmental and have been on the rise following global warming. The number of storms which have affected Florida over the within the last decade is approximately just above 50. The last decade recorded the highest number of storms. The chart below shows the number of recorded storms in Florida over the past six decades Figure 3 recorded storms in Florida over the last six decades (National Hurricane Center) Droughts These have been identified as some of the common effects of the global warming which results in low crop yield within many regions. Longer dry spells have been experienced through the state of Florida. The rivers and springs in Florida have been immensely affected by droughts and sometimes dry up during the dry season. The weather conditions have been commonly marked by heavy rainfalls and long durations of dry spells. These have worsened food production as well as the ecosystems supported by water from rivers and springs within the state. Figure 4. A drying river in Florida Discussions The coral reef on Florida has been immensely affected by global warming as the rising temperatures kill most of the living corals. Coral reefs thrive within a specified range of temperatures and increase or decrease in temperate could destroy them(Pandolfi et al., 420). The stress resulting from increased temperature or ultraviolet light cause discoloring of the algae leaving them white. This phenomenon is known as coral bleaching, whose effects include the destruction of the beautiful, multicolored coral. Slight changes in temperature cause this bleaching to occur, and continued bleaching results in the ultimate death of the coral. Another result of global warming has been the ocean acidification which also poses immense danger to the corals, thriving along the reefs of Florida. As the carbon concentration increases through global warming, the oceans absorb much of the carbon and become increasingly acidified. Acidification results in reduced levels of calcium carbonate which is the building component of the exoskeleton of the coral. Figure 5 annual temperature in Florida since 1890 (Global Warming Science) Much of the marine life depend the temperatures and water for survival. The effects of global warming in the oceans include rising temperatures as well as water levels. Rising temperatures result in death of plants which provide food for the animals inhabiting the areas(Natural Resources Defense Council). The reduced number of corals has resulted in reduction of the animals which depend on the coral for food. Rising sea levels submerge the plants into deeper levels resulting in destruction, consequently causing the animals to lack food(Church and White, 7). The animals also find it uncomfortable to live within higher temperatures, which result in migration of some species. The greatest danger to marine life occurs to living things which cannot move, and migrate. These animals and plants must endure un-conducive conditions which mostly result in death. The continued death of marine inhabitants threatens the aquatic ecosystem through extinction of some species Other than marine life, other animals and ecosystems are also threatened by the extreme weather conditions which occur across the state. Storms and hurricanes cause immense destruction to plants and other habitats, where animals live. While people can be evacuated following warnings from the meteorological department, animals and plants cannot be evacuated. They mostly have to endure these harsh conditions and survive luckily. Heavy downpours have been fundamental in causing massive erosion in many agricultural lands(Wang, Hagen, and Alizad). The erosion commonly carries away the fertile soils which enhance agricultural activities, making many farmlands become increasingly unproductive. Uprooting of trees and destruction of others by strong winds has significantly contributed to reduction of the forest cover in Florida. These extreme weather conditions have destructive effects upon the environment, as they kill animals and destroy plants. Warmer temperatures have been associated with causing increased evaporation of water from large water masses and warmer air as a result holds more water vapor. These factors have been fundamental in the subsequent heavy downpours experienced in recent times. Combined with rising levels of sea water, the draining of water into the oceans becomes difficult; consequently resulting in flooding, following heavy downpour. In January 2014, heavy rains were recorded in Palm Beach County in Florida, which has been commonly affected by such rains (Fleshler, Reid, and Attiyya). The rains resulted in destructive floods which caused closure of highways and schools as well. Heavy rains commonly cause destructions on the environment by destroying plants and killing animals and humans a well. Despite heavy rains becoming a common phenomenon within the state, the rains are commonly followed by lengthy dry spells. Following heavy downpours comes lengthy periods of dry seasons, which when combined by the warmer temperature, result in drought. Droughts have become notable as rivers, which never used to dry, dry-up during the dry season. The dry seasons sometimes result in complete dying of plants which provide support to the ecosystem. When wild fires occur during the dry season the effects become devastating. The high temperatures and dry plants contribute to the quick spreading of these fires and immense difficulty in controlling the fires. Many of the natural fire disasters which have been recorded within the state of Florida occur during the dry seasons. Limitations of the study The researcher utilized online research in gathering much of the information and interviews as well. The online research presents information from other researches which have been undertaken on a similar topic within the region. Much of the information contained remains historical information, which should be updated. Undertaking a field study of the environment could increase the reliability of the findings contained within this research. This would also present updated information regarding the environmental conditions in Florida, which have resulted from global warming effects. Many researches undertaken in regard to global warming have identified climatic change as the fundamental results of the global warming effects (McCright and Dunlap, 158). This research presents analysis of the effects of global warming with focus on the environment, which plays a fundamental role is sustaining other climatic conditions. The environmental effects of global warming have direct impact on the individuals residing within the state. Conclusions The continuous rise in average global temperatures has produced different impacts within various regions across the world. Since it is a global phenomenon, the effects will be felt from all locations globally, despite the causes being from different locations. The state of Florida has not been exempted from the devastating effects of global warming upon the environment. Some devastating environmental effects of global warming have been observed within the oceans as the acidity and water level rises from increased environmental temperatures. The rising temperatures have caused the destruction of a significant percentage of the coral reef in Florida. The coral reef in Florida is the third largest in the world and has been significantly threatened by this phenomenon. This coral provides food for numerous animals residing in the ocean, and these animals have also been threatened with extinction following the death of coral. Other phenomena, like drought, have also increased drastically in the state of Florida. Extreme weather conditions have produced physical destruction of the natural environment within the inland areas of the state. The destruction of the environment presents immense risk to animals which reside within these environments. Many animals are being faced with the threat of extinction following environmental conditions becoming un-conducive for their existence (Wang, Hagen, and Alizad, 129). The threat of extinction becomes further stressed by the worsening of the conditions and prevalence of the causative agents of the global warming. In seeking to provide sustainable solutions to these effects, the causes must become effectively addressed, to mitigate the continuity of global warming. Much of the global warming effects present direct environmental concerns, while presenting indirect impact to a limited extent. Undertaking field-research studies could provide further information regarding the effects of the global warming phenomenon on the environment in Florida. References Bindoff, Nathaniel L., and Jürgen Willebrand. Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007. Cambridge: N. p., 2007. Botkin, Daniel B. et al. “Forecasting the Effects of Global Warming on Biodiversity.” Bioscience 57.3 (2007): 227–236. Print. Church, John A., and Neil J. White. “A 20th Century Acceleration in Global Sea‐level Rise.” Geophysical research letters 33.1 (2006): n. pag. Print. Dai, A. “Drought under Global Warming: A Review.” Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change 2 (2011): 45–65. Print. Fleshler, David, Andy Reid, and Anthony Attiyya. “Torrential Rain Causes Severe Flooding in Palm Beach County.” Sun Sentinel. N. p., 2014. Web. 14 Feb. 2014. Global Warming Science. “Florida, USA.” Global Warming. N. p., 2010. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. McCright, Aaron M., and Riley E. Dunlap. “The Politicization of Climate Change and Polarization in the American Public’s Views of Global Warming, 2001–2010.” The Sociological Quarterly 52.2 (2011): 155–194. Print. National Hurricane Center. Chronological List of All Continental United States Hurricanes: 1851-2011. Washington, D.C: N. p., 2012. Print. Natural Resources Defense Council. “Feeling the Heat in Florida.” Global Warming on the Local Level. N. p., 2010. Web. 31 Jan. 2014. Pandolfi, John M. et al. “Projecting Coral Reef Futures under Global Warming and Ocean Acidification.” Science 333.6041 (2011): 418–422. Print. Schneider, Stephen H. et al. Assessing Key Vulnerabilities and the Risk from Climate Change. Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge: N. p., 2007. Shaffer, G., S. M. Olsen, and J. O. P Pedersen. “Long-Term Ocean Oxygen Depletion in Response to Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Fossil Fuels.” Nature Geoscience 2.2 (2009): 105–109. Print. The Amy H Remley Foundation. “Restore the Waters.” Impact on Florida. N. p., 2013. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. Wang, Dingbao, Scott C. Hagen, and Karim Alizad. “Climate Change Impact and Uncertainty Analysis of Extreme Rainfall Events in the Apalachicola River Basin, Florida.” Journal of Hydrology 480 (2013): 125–135. Print. Weart, Spencer. “The Carbon Dioxide Greenhouse Effect.” The Discovery of Global Warming. N. p., 2013. Web. 31 Jan. 2014.  Read More