Envicm

=//__ Envicm: The Effects of Global Warming __ //= = = = **__A SUMMARY OF MY RESEARCH__ ** =  =  Before you read ahead, let me just say something that not all people recognize. Global warming not only will effect now, but will effect the future even more. The increasing temperatures on earth don’t seem like much in the present, but over time may result in dried up lakes and oceans. The greenhouse effect is what causes this when the sun’s radiation is turned into heat and trapped by the ozone layer. The ozone layer becomes thicker because of gases like carbon dioxide and methane adding to it. Although, the ozone layer protects us in two very important ways. First, during the day it keeps the suns harmful rays out to a certain extent, which basically keeps us from burning up. The second way is that during the night when the sun is not directly pointed towards us, it keeps the warm air in. You may also think that global warming only effects places that are far away, but there have also been changes closer to here in states like New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, and more. So, read on, and be ready to help our planet! = =__ All About The Greenhouse Effect __ = = = = = Global Warming is caused by the Greenhouse Effect. The greenhouse effect happens when the sun’s radiation beats down on the earth. That radiation is then trapped by the ozone layer, which becomes thicker from the many gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. The greenhouse effect, however, does help us. This is by protecting us from the sun’s harmful radiation. These gases are produced everyday in great amounts from cars and other common objects. Some of the radiation //does// escape, but most of it is either absorbed by the earth or trapped in the ozone layer. The radiation that is absorbed by the earth is converted to heat, and the radiation trapped in the ozone layer is reemitted by the greenhouse gases, which raises the general temperatures on the earth.



__ GLOBAL WARMING: CHANGES TO ENDURE __ Global warming results in big changes in the temperatures on the Earth. Since a large percentage of the heat trapped in the ozone is reemitted and also absorbed by the earth, the temperatures on the Earth increase over time. This can add up to almost a 10 degree increase by 2100. Knowing this information limits the types of energy we can use so to reduce the drastic temperature increase. To do so, all we would need to do is use cars less, turn off lights when in another room, etc. All the things we would need to do to help the planet also would be more efficient anyway. Solar power, for instance, would save money on electricity, and reusing water bottles would save money on buying new ones. Walking instead of driving would be a healthier choice, and turning off the lights when we don’t need them can save money on the electricity bill. Another concern of global warming is rising sea levels. In Alaska, there are certain areas where they have to move sea-side houses a certain amount of feet regularly for fear of them falling into the ocean.



**__ WHAT CAUSES GLOBAL WARMING? __**

The greatest contributors to global warming are things that we take for granted. These include power stations (21%), industrial processes (16.8%), transportation (14%), and agricultural fuels or byproducts (12.5%). Other contributors are fossil fuel retrieval (11.3%), residential, commercial, and other sources (10.3%), land use and biomass burning (10%), and waste disposal and treatment (3.4%). If everyone could cut back on these, the percentages would decrease as would the effect global warming has on the Earth.




 * __ GLOBAL WARMING NEAR YOU __**

As well as overall effects, there are many local effects on us. These have occurred in many states throughout New England. In New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Rhode Island, the driest growing season on record has just recently happened. Losses in just Virginia alone have been expected to cost over $80 billion. Even closer to home, Boston has had double its normal rainfall from June 13 through 14 in 1998. This resulted in closing Logan Airport and two interstate roads. Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts all had more than double their normal monthly rainfall during this time. Finally, the “early spring ice-covered-period” on Mirror Lake, New Hampshire has been decreasing for half a day over the past thirty years. All of this is possible to stop if we lower the amount of greenhouse gasses in the ozone layer.




 * __ WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP __**

Families in the United States tend not to pay much attention to helping the environment. There are some who try hard to help, but it won’t make a big difference unless we all pitch in. One way that families can help is use less energy. More specifically, television. Sure, I love to watch C.S.I. sometimes when I get home, but it’s easy to get caught up in the next show. Turning off the T.V. in families can actually make room for spending time together. Go for a walk, play a sport together, play a game, even have a barbeque. Doing any of these both bring a family together and promote a healthier life-style. Another way to help is remembering to turn off the lights. So many times kids will forget to turn lights off in their bedroom or the bathroom, or any other room. Over time, this can add up to thousands of dollars and a lot of energy saved. A third way to save energy in families is not even use lights during the day. Instead, you can open window shades. This can also add up to money and energy saved. A final way to save energy is using solar panels. Besides the fact that they can cost a lot at the start, solar panels use the sun’s energy to power a house or building and actually cost less than energy from a power plant in the long run. So follow these steps, families of the U.S.A., and you can be a part of saving our planet.

“Stop Global Warming,” By Emily Gertz. __Global Warming: Change__. [], Published May 20, 2009.
 * __ BIBLIOGRAPHY __**

“What local effects of global warming do you see? Tell the world.” __Local Effects of Global Warming__. [], published 2006-2008.

“Global Warming: Early Warning Signs,” By U.C.S. and W.R.I. [], published 1999.