by Brittany Welch

Created on: April 02, 2009

Global Warming: Cold, Hard Facts

You want cold, hard facts? Global warming results in many preventable ecological issues. Most all of which are caused by us, the human race. Most controversial: greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are gases in the earths atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation. In other words, the gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere causing the planet to warm. Statistics show that the Earths's temperature has been increasing dramatically since the rise of the Industrial Revolution due to greenhouse gases. Our planet is increasingly warming; the most visible proof is in our polar regions. The North and South Poles are seeing ice decrease at a higher rate then the rest of the globe. Glaciers worldwide are losing land mass quickly resulting in rising sea levels.

Global warming rises the fear of future potiential natural disasters, some of which may be catastrophic. Melting glaciers are rising sea levels and causing the sea water to warm producing monsetrous hurricanes. All weather is becoming more violent. Not only in hurricanes, but also tornados and super cell thunderstorms. Tornados and thunderstorms are producing higher winds and stronger storm cells. The precipitation falling from these storms are increasing across the world at an alarming rate. These storms are showing high damage and are costing some people their homes.

As if the impact on humans, Earth, and weather weren't enough, global warming is also impacting the wild-ife of our precious Earth. As it stands the NWF( National Wildlife Federation) believes global warming will be the most dangerous threat to the future of all wildlife. Some of the species already being impacted in result of global warming are as follows:

Adelie Penguins: Are easily becoming an easy food source for polar bears and other hungry predators. Food supply for these cute black and white creatures is also running low.

Monarch Butterflies: These butterflies are effected by the tremendous amounts of rainfall. Trees are no longer dense enough to shield these delicate insects from heavy and recent reoccuring rainfall.

Polar bears: These white, fluffy like bears are becoming trapped on small ice platforms with no where to roam. Polar bears are famished and are having a difficult time finding their food souces, in most cases resulting in death.

Coral reefs: These beautiful underwater reefs are affected by the rising water temperatures. The damage to the reefs are leaving them defenseless.

Migratory Songbirds: These creatures are like music to your ears. Not for long. Songbirds will begin to migrate due to raising atmosphere temperatures.

For a complete list of all wild-life in potiental danger and how global warming is effecting all wild-life visit (

www.nwf.org). The life's of our future children are not the only future life's in danger. There are things we can do to potentially slow down this process and let the future lives of our children and nature survive. From driving a hybrid to using less energy in your home, every effort counts. To learn more about global warming and it's effects please visit (http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environme nt/global-warming/)

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