What Are the Consequences of Global Warming On Wildlife - Assignment Example

Global Warming” (Image results at: www.masternewmedia.org/news/2006/11/20/global) Global Warming is an overall increase in temperature of the planet consequently leading to climatic changes. These changes are due to heat trapped by various green house gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and ozone. It refers to the slow changes that took place with the beginning of industrialization and technological emissions. These emissions are depreciating the natural quality of atmosphere causing changes in global weather patterns. These changes have adequate disastrous potential to bring environmental imbalance. It is therefore global warming is alarming for the planet. It is clear that the temperature of the Earth has increased by 1°F ever since 1900 and it is increasing at much rapid pace since 1970. This increase in the temperature of the planet is called Global Warming. Normal greenhouse gases allow only sunlight and hold back other hazardous radiations from reaching the Earth’s surface. An increase in temperature is due to release of various gases called as green house gases which encompass smokestacks, vehicles, fossil fuels, appending to the standard Earth’s greenhouse effect. Researchers have estimated that if this rise in temperature will continue it is going to have devastating impact on climate patterns resulting in drifts, melting of glaciers and elevation in the sea level (Web. Climate changes). Answers to Research Question: Argument 1: Global Warming has changed habitats of animal and plants. Due to increase in temperature, ecosystems are disturbed. Animals of colder habitats are suffering a lot. Studies highlight that nearly 2,000 plants and animal species are shifting their habitat towards poles with the speed of 3.8 miles per decade, while the species of alpine regions are moving vertically with a speed of 20 feet per decade. Some polar bears are dying due to drowning as with melting of snow they have to swim greater distances to reach ice floes. Due to global warming, Bermuda’s mangrove forests are now vanishing. Animals residing in Coastal areas of California are making a move towards North. Moreover, in the last 25 years, the population of Penguins has reduced by 33 percent. Oceans are becoming more acidic because of greater concentration of carbon dioxide is getting dissolved in ocean water. This is affecting calcium carbonate shells of animals and also affecting the coral reefs which affect the ocean ecosystem. It is predicted that if the temperature of the earth will increase by 3.6º F, 97 percent of the coral reefs would disappear (Web. “Consequences of Global Warming on Wildlife”). Although there is a change in the climatic condition because of increase in the greenhouse gases, efforts should be in the direction to minimize the impact of these greenhouse gases by not using commodities which are responsible for the greenhouse gases. Argument 2: Plant and animal species are facing danger and extinction. Due to increase in temperature and shifting habitat of animals, most of the species are becoming endangered, i.e. they are under the risk of disappearance or extinction. A few of these species are Great Horseshoe Bat- Britain has 18 species of this animal but all are under threat of extinction. The reason is destruction of appropriate rooting sites, changes in the use of land, spray of insecticides also snatch away the insects these bats feed on. Longhead Turtle of Black sea, Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean are being killed due to meat and shell. Beaches are being used by humans and turtles find it difficult to lay eggs. Increasing temperature of sand plays a role in gender determination in turtle as a result female population is increasing due to elevation in temperature. Jackass Penguin- The only African Penguin, it is the most prevalent sea-bird of Africa. Increase in water and acid content of the ocean due to greater dissolved carbon dioxide is causing scarcity of food as a result birds are being killed (Web. “Animals In Danger of Extinction”). Population of mosquitoes is increasing with increase in planet’s temperature, humidity, the conditions promoting their proliferation. Virus species like ebola, hanta and machupo are on rise as they are capable of surviving at an elevated temperature. Deforestation is causing extinction of species due to depreciation in forest area, by now world has lost golden toad, harlequin frog of Costa Rica, various species of plant and animal world are on the verge of extinction, tiger is eradicating at much faster pace as their skin and bones are being utilized for manufacturing pain killers. Not only land ecology is getting affected but with the elevation in temperature marine life is also deteriorating. Species which are sensitive to temperature alterations will soon be eradicated; coral reefs are one of the sensitive ones. It is not only affecting the survival of the inhabitants but also affect the behavior of organisms making them more aggressive. Reports from scientist keep on pondering human beings but still no concrete measure could be formulated to prevent global warming. Recent studies show that tundra is in threat along with Greenland where 32 glacial earthquakes occurred at Richter scale of 4.6 to 5.1, a mark of destabilization of the planet. Recently Indonesia faced earthquake of Richter scale 8.4. Catastrophes are on rise red dust was witnessed by people of Australia and USA, hurricane Katrina is an example! Human race is witnessing a global emergency and climate emergency making global warming an International issue of concern (Web. “Global Warming”; Web. “Climate Changes”). Although, human intervention is one of the major reasons for the extinction of animals, the animals can be saved from this situation by adopting certain environment friendly methods and preventing the planet form getting warmer. However, certain step such as The Montreal Protocol is implemented to safeguard living organisms from dangers. Argument 3: Amount of forest is lost each year by Global warming. Forests cover 31 percent of the total land surface of the world. Due to increase in industrialization, urbanization and food requirement of the human beings, forests are being exploited or destroyed to convert the forest land into fields or concrete area of buildings (Adams, 2012). Global warming is changing the intensity of radiations falling on the planet’s surface causing heat waves, tornados and hurricanes. Global warming is affecting agriculture yields, flow of streams, and an augmentation in disease causing agents, as microbial population can thrive well at an elevated temperature (Web. “Global Warming”; Web. “Climate Changes”). With the advent of industrialization and to meet the escalating demands of growing population, more industries are being set up for the production of finished goods and job opportunities. For all these set ups together with residential requirements; forests are constantly depreciating. Deforestation is on rise to create space for these set ups and to procure fuel by burning wood, plants are depreciating and therefore lesser number of plants are available to take up carbon-dioxide, again contributing to Global Warming (Web. “Global Warming”). Forests bring rain and control the temperature of the planet. However, reduction in the forest area would directly influence the temperature of the earth and survival of all the animals as directly or indirectly all the ecosystems are dependent on the forests. Argument 4: Humans efforts to conserve animal and plants from climate change Scientists and researchers are putting constant efforts to make people aware about their planet and about their own existence. The situation is alarming, rise in the Earth’s temperature alters the ecology of the planet, it affects the pattern of rainfall by elevated sea level, and deforestation leads to climatic changes either heavy rainfall causing floods or less rainfall leading to drought. The Montreal Protocol is implemented to reduce the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and to prevent the ozone layer from depletion. Ozone layer was getting depleted due to the presence of CFCs. However, as a result of this the massive reduction in the CFCs was observed and thereby prevention of the ozone from depletion was made a success. Numerous countries are taking steps to prevent animals and plants from extinction. Various plantation programs are being organized to promote planting of trees. 5th June is celebrated as the World Environment Day to protect the environment from danger. Although these efforts are going on but little could be done actually, animals are witnessing constant changes in the environment and majority of the animals are not able to adapt themselves to the changing conditions and therefore they are dying because of poor adjustment with the changing nature and their habitat. The global warming led to the melting of ice deposits thereby raising the level of water in many areas causing flood along with expansion of deserts leading to severe conditions of drought and famines resulting in death of human beings. Moreover, due to floods, hurricanes and droughts, human beings also witnessed many harmful diseases such as malaria, pandemics, and epidemic which hindered the lifestyle of the society as well as the world. In addition, many species of plants or animals disappeared from the history due to varying environmental conditions (Web. “The Cause of Global Warming”). In recent times, many organizations and associations both at national and international levels are contributing for the innovation and development of modern technologies and strategies so as to prevent earth from the catastrophic effects of global warming (Web. “21st Century Science & Technology”). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is one of the foremost international organizations working for the evaluation of climatic change. It is developed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to offer the world with a clear scientific view about the state of the climate and its probable environmental and socio-economic impacts on the world. Observing the efforts of IPCC, the UN General Assembly also certified its actions along with WMO and UNEP (Web. “Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Organization”). The IPCC is a scientific intergovernmental organization which mainly aims to provide a detailed view about the factors responsible for the climatic changes and its impact on the life of human beings. IPCCs Task Force of Inventories (TFI) wished to analyze the facts regarding the Emission Factor Database (EFDB). The EFDB is a recognized library, which can be used to examine the emission factors as well as other parameters with various background documentation or technical orientations so that it can be used for calculating the estimated emissions and removals of greenhouse gases in the environment. Along with EFDB, IPCC also invented new software to evaluate the estimation of these gases which would be valuable for the future examination and assessment (Web. “Renewable Energy and Climate Change. Renewable Energy As An Option To Mitigate Climate Change”). Moreover, the former IPCC Chairman, Mr. Bob Watson and Bureau member Mr. David Wratt also decided for the preparation of ‘Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation’ (SRREN), for the improvement of climatic changes. The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) described that fossil fuels provided about 85% of the total primary energy in 2004, which is quite significant. Furthermore, the ignition of fossil fuels accounted for about 56.6% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (which include CO2) in 2004. Thus, globally, it is expected that RE amounted to 12.9% of the total 492 EJ of primary energy supply in 2008. The largest RE supplier is biomass (10.2%), as well as the majority of the biomass fuel is used in traditional cooking and heating purposes in developing countries. Apart from this, hydropower is the other important source which represented about 2.3%, and other RE sources accounted for 0.4% in 2008. Moreover, in 2008, RE added around 19% of global electricity supply, bio-fuels added 2% of global road transport fuel supply, and traditional biomass (17%), modern biomass (8%), solar thermal and geothermal energy (2%) together fuelled 27% of the entire global requirement for heat. Hence, it can be depicted that the RE is one of the primary energy sources which varies considerably from one country to the other. Thus, RE contribution might enhance the future growth and development of human life thereby diminishing the issue of global warming (Web. “Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories”). Works Cited Adams, E. “Forest Cover”. 31 August 2012. Web 2 December 2014. . “Animals In Danger of Extinction”. N.d. Web. 2 December 2014. “Climate changes”. n.d. Web. 2 December 2014. . “Consequences of Global Warming on Wildlife”. n.d. Web. 2 December 2014. . “Global Warming”. n.d. Web. 2 December 2014. . “The Cause of Global Warming”. n.d. Web. 2 December 2014. . “Impact of Global Warming on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Possible Countermeasures in Japan”. Report on Research and Development in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 23. 2007. Print “Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Organization”. n.d. Web. 2 December 2014. . “21st Century Science & Technology”. n.d. Web. 2 December 2014. “Renewable Energy and Climate Change. Renewable Energy As An Option To Mitigate Climate Change”. n.d. Web. 2 December 2014. . Read More