Essay 3: Rough Draft (without conclusion)

The citations aren't finished yet and the conclusion isn't on here, but here is the intro and first 3 paragraphs:

Global climate change, or warming of the Earth, is a serious issue the world faces.  Global climate change is caused by gases, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and ozone, which contribute to the greenhouse effect (Markey).  The gases don’t allow heat to escape, causing the change in climate.  Human activity is also a contributor to global climate change.  The concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide rises when humans burn fossil fuels, such as coal and oil.  Other human activities involving industry and agriculture increase the concentrations of other greenhouse gases that cause global climate change as well (“The Greenhouse Effect”).  Global climate change produces effects on weather patterns, wildlife, as well as human health.

  Global climate change should be of concern since the change in weather patterns and increase in extreme weather events that will occur as a result of the variation in the climate (“Impacts of Global Warming on the Environment”). In his book, An Inconvenient Truth, former Vice-President Al Gore states that global climate change is “growing more and more dangerous, and at a pace that has now made it a planetary emergency.”  One “dangerous” effect is the increase in severity of tropical storms, such as hurricanes.  Global climate change causes the water temperatures in the oceans to increase, which gives hurricanes more energy and the ability to cause more destruction.  Another result of the change in climate is the increased chance of a drought.  Within the last forty years, three extensive droughts have occurred, the most recent being the national drought that the United States experienced from 1999-2002 (“Consequences”).  It is also possible for global climate change to cause severe flooding because of its impact on the timing and location of rainfall (Markey). Some areas will experience more precipitation because of the additional moisture in the air that comes from a greater amount of water being evaporated from the oceans (“Impacts of Global Warming on the Environment”).  Severe weather, however, is not the only problem the world faces as a result of global climate change.

Wildlife is greatly impacted by global climate change (“Effects on Wildlife and Habitat”).  Specific requirements for living conditions must be met in order for a species to survive in its environment, and global climate change has increased the chance of extinction for thirty percent of all species by producing variations in living conditions.  First of all, global climate change causes variation in temperature, making it harder for certain species to survive in their natural habitat.  The temperature in the environment must be appropriate for the species living there.  For example, several aquatic species need cold water to survive, but their populations are decreasing as global climate change causes water temperatures to rise.  The interaction among wildlife is changing as a result of global climate change as well.  Wildlife is dependent on various food sources in the environment, and the change in climate has resulted in the migration of many species, making it difficult to find essential food sources.  For example, birds depend on insects and plants for survival, but the climate change causes the plants to bloom either too early or too late, and the insects are not always ready for the birds to eat.  When the bird migrates and arrives to its new destination, it is often times unable to find the food it needs (“Impacts of Global Warming on the Environment”).  Not only is wildlife affected by the change in climate, but humans are impacted as well.

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio is co-writing, producing, as well as narrating a documentary film about global warming, and says "Global warming is not only the number one environmental challenge we face today, but one of the most important issues facing all of humanity" (http://www.environment.about.com/od/globalwarming/a/dicaprio.htm). Global warming, or global climate change, puts human health at risk.  Global climate change causes an increase in temperature, which makes it easier for bacteria to survive in food and water.  Several diseases, such as E. coli, typhoid, and polio can be transmitted when food or water is contaminated by bacteria.  Approximately five thousand people die in the United States each year because of food and water borne diseases.  (Markey) The IPCC, a scientific association that examines research related to climate change, claims that “higher temperatures are associated with higher concentrations of air pollutants and reduced air quality” (http://www.ipcc.ch/organization/organization.htm). It is believed that as temperatures ascend, people will use air-conditioning more often, which means power plants will produce more air pollution because of the high amount of energy required. Lastly, global climate changes causes plants to bloom earlier, causing more pollen allergens to be present in the air.  More people will be affected by allergies as a result of global climate change. (Markey)  Human health is put at great risk due to changes in the Earth’s climate.