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Living organisms survive in an intimate relationship with their environment - EARTH |
The world’s glaciers are gradually melting while the Arctic sea ice has steadily shrunk in size. Increase ocean heat content causes ocean water to expand rising the sea level from 4-10 inches to three feet during the next 100 years. A average of 50 to 100 feet of beach is lost for every foot of sea level rise causing more coastal flooding and economic losses. Warmer seas have produced numerous stronger tropical storms and hurricanes in unusual times of the year. Water warmer than normal by two degrees in the Pacific resulted to the death of microscopic algae that feed the corals (coral bleaching). Many species have migrated to safer grounds or gone extinct because they cannot withstand the changes in their habitat. Warmer temperatures have allowed mosquitoes that carry dengue and malaria to expand and invade new habitat beyond their range, producing unusual outbreaks. As the climate heats up, droughts are expected to occur and become severe in already dry habitats with trees, crops, and other plants more prone to pests infestations. Climatologists announced that the earth's temperature has gone up between 0.6° to 0.9°C over the last 50 years. The effects of global warming are already being felt worldwide as seen by the overwhelming news articles, TV reports, and documentaries. Over the last five years, about 600 scientists have examined thousand of studies from scientific journals to industry publications related to global warming. Their thorough study of the accumulated knowledge we have of global warming made them announce that the warming of the earth is undisputable and that the warming signs are real. Global warming is not some kind of a future fear because all the warning signs are happening now.
Global warming is a long term issue - its effect are not immediately felt many people do not pay attention. Most people respond only to immediate and catastrophy events. As a consequence it remains unchecked. The long term effects and deadly consequences of global warming pose an ethical question to each of us, "How much are we willing to sacrifice for benefits that may not be realized in our lifetimes but could greatly improve the lives of future generations of all species that share our planet with us?
