by Adam Meyers

Created on: November 05, 2008

The term "global warming" refers to the warming of the Earth in recent decades and its projected continuation, implying a human influence. The effects of global warming on the environment and human life are numerous, varied, accelerating and taking scientists studying global warming by suprise. I cant stress the seriousity of this situation enough.

Australia is vulnerable to changes in temperature and precipitation projected for the next 50 to 100 years, because it already has extensive arid and semi-arid areas, relatively high rainfall variability from year to year, and existing pressures on water supply in many areas. In addition, vulnerability arises due to high fire risk, Australian ecosystems sensitive to climate change, and invasion by exotic animal and plant species introduced by human activity.

Australia is one of the largest producers of greenhouse gases in the developed world. In Australia by 2033-
Wind speeds will increase by 10%
10% increase of Malaria
Forrest fires will increase by 10%
20% increase of tropical rainfall
100% increase in exposure to flooding

It seems that by the sea levels raising on an upwards gradient, Australia will be out of our current drought and into an era of having an over exposure to water levels.

The 2005 CSIRO Melbourne report informed us of the effects and consequences that climate change will have on Melbourne. Changes expected are as follows.
An increase in average summer temperatures, an increase of 1 degree Celsius by 2020 and a 2.5 degree increase by 2050.
Reduced rainfall. Rainfall is expected to drop 1% by 2050.
More extreme events such as storms and prolonged heat waves.

Scenarios studied by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predict that global warming will continue and get worse much faster than was expected even in their last report. The IPCC reports attribute many specific natural phenomena to human causes. The expected long range effects of recent climate change may already be observed. Raising sea levels, glacier retreat, which is the breaking of glaciers causing them to recede, Arctic shrinkage, which is the noted decrease in Arctic sea ice, and altered patterns of agriculture are cited as direct consequences of human activities. Predictions for secondary and regional effects include extreme weather events, an expansion of tropical diseases, changes in the timing of seasonal patterns in ecosystems, and drastic economic impact.

The probability of warming having unforseen consequences increases

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>