Global Warming in America - Term Paper Example

Abstract

Global Warming is a current issue that has been debated over and over not only here in the United States but also abroad. Science has provided that most of the change in weather patterns especially when it comes to extreme heat is due to global warming. Recently within four weeks, The United States had witnessed three hurricanes something that should have happened in a time frame of about fifteen years. The storms left in their wake death and destruction and to date, Puerto Rico is yet to recover completely. And it’s because of the changes in these trends that there have been speculations and scientific study of the changes could be in fact due to global warming. However there are a lot of people who think that Global Warming or even Climate change is a hoax cooked up by certain individuals in order to find political relevance, the truth is that more people both in the United States and around the world have woken up to the idea that there is in fact global warming and its consequence of human action and its effects may not be good at all for human beings.

Introduction

The United States has already started feeling the effects of global warming. And science predicts that this will be even much worse unless action is taken in order to curtail the level of emissions that the United States is releasing into the atmosphere as it is one of the key reasons why we are in the situation that we are in when it comes to climate change. In United States average temperatures have already risen 2F and its projected to increase another 7-11F in the next 50 years. Therefore it’s imperative that the United States recognizes the urgency of the issue and do something about it before it’s apparently too late. Thus this paper will look at global warming in the United States and what some of the impacts or likely impacts it has brought or expected to produce.

The United States Global Change Research Program which was a consortium of several federal departments put up a comprehensive report that described some of the significant impacts that global warming had already and continued to have in the United States (Nordhaus, 2014). The report therefore rejuvenated the idea that it would be of enormous economic interest and public health interest among very many other benefits if the country would move to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly ways of operations so as to help in the massive reductions of the level of emissions that was already coming out of the United States (Trenberth et al., 2014). This assertion has gotten back up from various studies that prove that global warming may have devastating effects on our environment and coast among other places. The investigation revealed that if this trend is maintained that it won’t take long before we have to deal with its effect on our energy, water, public health. But the truth about global warming is that we already are dealing with some of this issue right now, and they could only get worse (Dai, 2013). Emission has already had communities living in fear as the environment that they are living in gets degraded and the coastal towns having to look at other places to live in as their homes get filled up with water. However, the United States can help nip this problem in the bud and curtail longer-term costs.

Impacts on coastal communities

The research has revealed that over the last fifty years the United States cost has continuously been rising. This same analysis showed that this trend would very much likely continue under this warming climate, And that will mean that by the end of the century we will meet the ocean will have risen by two feet. But then there is already evidence out there that communities have been replaced due to the riding in sea level forcing people to evacuate and move to drylands (Dai, 2013). Others are already staring those frightening possibilities in the face. It’s thus easier to be a denier especially when none of these issues have touched you in any way. The truth is that out there were communities that once denied the existence of climate change but have now changed stance because they can testify to the devastating effects that it has left them in.

Its ben provides that one-sixth of the United States population reside in the northeastern coastal area of the United States one can help but imagine the property loss that climate change will most likely bring to their property if the sea level continued to rise at the rate that is happening now. Millions in the value of those properties would be destroyed, and this would not be good to the United States economy. In Florida, its beaches and mangrove s are fast approaching the endangered areas if this trend persists because e by 2060 there will be no beach because the water levels would have risen enough to cover those beaches and rendered them inaccessible.

Hurricane Intensity

Having stated the fact the global warming is perhaps the biggest threat to our existence and even security, it’s important to note of the signs that have been witnessed in the recent past especially when talking about hurricanes. Science had predicted that due to global warming intensity in hurricanes is something that should be expected. Science has therefore predicted that hurricanes are hitting anytime in the gulf coast and southern coast should be anticipated (Dai, 2013). And if it happens then it might be one of the strongest. It’s interesting to note that this prediction already came to pass when three hurricanes struck, Houston, Louisiana and Puerto Ricco just in the following manner, one after the other leaving no break. And the devastation that it left behind was once that indeed was able to warn people that the effects of global warming were harsher than anyone had perhaps anticipated and that inaction is just not an option In America as it will end up being costlier than thought.

Impacts on Public Health

The effects of Global warming have not just been left to extreme weather patterns, but instead, it has hit close to home, and that is the effect it has so far had on the public health. Science has shown that with the trends that exist when it comes to emissions, it is going to trigger heat wave epidemics on a yearly basis across the United States something that only happens after years. Effects of heat waves in countries like India have killed more people, and that should show how deadly heat waves are (Trenberth et al., 2014). In Philadelphia in 1993 heat waves is said to have killed over 100 people. Global warming has been projected to trigger such occurrences in a sporadic manner but then with deadly consequence for the general population. Cities across United States are known to have very few days with temperature reaching an uncomfortable edge. However this will change in the instance that these emissions rate continues. Its projected that cities that once had a two day heat wave period will most likely experience heat wave and this may take up to sixty days. This could bring an incredible number of fatalities and a severe economic meltdown, and that is why inaction can be very costly at the end of the day.

Science has also analyzed the fact there is the likelihood that heatwaves will be more severe in the south-east and the Gulf States. Miami will be one of the hottest places on earth perhaps even hotter than Bangkok one of the hottest cities in the world. But then heat wave will not be the only issue because given the rate of air pollution it’s expected that there will be higher levels of red Ozone alerts and thus the air will not be as healthy for everyone as it used to be. Even though there are people in other parts of the world that already this has become a problem (Trenberth et al., 2014). India and China have had instances when air pollution has rendered their lives an uncomfortable situation where on a particular day they can’t even see properly leave lone breathe properly. The problem originating from this issue will likely cost billions of dollars in public health allocations.

Impacts on Water resources

One of the likeliest areas that will take a big hit will be on the question of water resources. Climate changes according to several studies will bring in massive storms and therefore the rain patterns as known in the United States. One of the effects that these changes are likely to bring will be flooding. Because this water will not just be originating from rainwater but will also likely come from another place like the melting ice, and this will be not only a threat to people’s lives but also their property according to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2015). Global warming will be the reason t behind the extreme, unpredictable patterns in precipitation. The massive levels of rainfall will. Therefore, it will flood homes and force people to evacuate even if some of those people will be climate change deniers (Melillo, 2014). The floods will sweep away farmers crops and damage roads as well as destroy the countries hospitals, and this is not necessarily a good thing. The recovery may take a long time and lead to spending of billions of dollars to help these. Situations return to normalcy. However, experts that this crisis may lead to instances where is now lack of essential commodities like water. This may appear ridiculous, but it is one of the most significant problems that will are most likely going to have. Even though global warming is considered as a source of water due to the melting ice, there are places where global warming effects will bring with it longer droughts and the effects of these instances may cost farmers who rely on rain millions of dollars in losses.

Impacts on Agriculture

The impact of global warming on agriculture is not only complicated but appears to be uncertain. Science has proven that there is a chance some crops may benefit from the higher presence of Carbon dioxide. However other crops like corn and sorghum whose use of carbon dioxide is so efficient the increase of the same are unlikely to bring any impact.

Higher temperatures are likely to translate to higher crop yields in certain parts of the country especially in the Northern corridor (Melillo et al., 2014). The fruit growing season around the great lakes, for example, may be even longer. But this may not be the case in other parts of the country. The effects of climate change will mostly be adverse. In fact, it may be worse if farmers in these different places of the country adopt the methods they have been using for years to plant their crops. While some of the vegetables stand a chance of yielding returns but that may only happen if farmers themselves not only change the crop types but also planting dates. Farmers should take note of the fact that such changes will not come easy but will be costly.

In the Midwest of United States, farmers should note that climate changes have already led to wetter springs. Which occasionally lead to delay in planting. It’s also been noted that when excess heat comes which has been frequent lately, it stresses crops and thus hindering full capacity yields. It’s also important to note the financial impact that the warmer temperatures have already brought when it comes to controlling of pests (Dai, 2013). Usually, cold temperatures keep specific pests under control, but with the temperatures warmer, it means farmers will be forced to invest in billions to keep these pests in check. One particular study had indicated that there would be up to 7% increase in precipitation in the state of Illinois and this will mean that farming will be more expensive. But these losses are not just restricted to the Midwestern alone; California is already feeling the brunt of climate change, especially the agricultural sector. California has recently experienced one very prolonged drought which can be attributed to global warming (Cook et al., 2013). This affected areas such as forestry especially on the issue of wildfires that has not only killed several dozens of [people but wiped hundreds of acres of land. This is just but the few examples of the effects of climate change on the agricultural sector whose impact has been felt not just by farmers alone but whenever there is not much in the farm sector a lot of people tend to be affected right from the economy to the laborers.

Transport sector

The rise in sea level does not mean very well for commercial transportation. More severe storms have impacted roads and air travel. Some 60,000 miles of both highways and railway are occasionally rendered impassable due to severe storms especially along the cost (Dai, 2013). Global warming is likely to increase the flooding which will make this sector in certain parts of the country not profitable. Similarly more prolonged periods of heat could do damage to roads. Extreme temperatures will also be a cause for worries as it is capable of causing deformities on the railway systems and this will, therefore, force trains to run at a lower speed (Cook et al., 2013). When it comes to air travel, airports are likely to be flooded along the coastal areas and thus will force them to either close temporarily or close altogether.

The impacts will also be felt in water travel because the rise in sea level does not mean well for any of those ports. It will either mean that new constructions will have to be made or there will be a temporary shutdown to modify the original ports. This may cost billions of dollars in both losses and repairing costs.

Wild Fires

Wildfires have become the latest symbol of how drastic the aspect of global warming should be addressed in the United States. It also a representation of how costly the issue of weather change can be especially if not confronted at an early stage. As has been witnessed before wild fires do not just pose a threat to the environment but it is also a big threat to human life (Cook et al., 2013). Wild fires especially those prevalent like the recent one in California has not only destroyed millions in property value, it has also killed people as well as reduced the quality of air in affected areas. Wild fires have cost the state of California millions in dollars as it battles the fire while trying to put it out. It has destroyed homes; ranches not even leaving schools behind and the damage it has left in its wake may run into hundreds of millions if not billions in itself. However still California is projected to see an increase of up to 12% in wild fires and this poses threats not only to ranchers but also property owners and families. It also poses great threat to timber owners who will have to get accustomed to their property constantly under the danger of being burned destroyed. Similarly, it will require states to cough up more money to the federal government in order to boost firefighting efforts (Cook et al., 2013). The states will also be forced to put more in their own budget so as to combat the continuing menace of wild fires which has grown to be one of the most frequent yet a dangerous symbol that climate change is getting more and more risky and thus requires urgent action.

It should be noted that the verse effects of global warming will go beyond infrastructure to energy, recreation due to the melting of ice. In other words, the impact of global warming may turn lives upside down.

Conclusion

If the global warming emissions continue at this rate, then every part of United States will have to confront its devastating effects right from infrastructure, public health, and agriculture. No part of this country will flawlessly, and cost less adapt to these changes that are becoming even rapid. The minimum costs that have been projected will outweigh the costs that it could take to reduce emissions and adopt environment-friendly energy and way of lives. However, the effects and charges that have been discussed have not talked about the changes to ecosystem and relocation of the coastal communities and that means that the impact will even be higher and more devastating to both economy and humanity. However, there is a chance that the situation can be controlled and salvaged if human act quickly and came up with methods of combating the same. This will be good for not just our future but the future of our generation.