Global warming remains very real, although many try to convince themselves that it is a myth. However, even these people have to concede that our climate seems to be changing. The planet is changing and it’s up to us to figure out how we are going to adapt.
Plants and animals are already changing their behavior by blooming and migrating sooner. With the ever-evolving technology in the world, new global warming factors have to be figured into the equation each day. Scientists have to inject these into their thinking before they label our planet as doomed. For those who either don’t understand global warming, or are a bit pessimistic, here are four facts to consider:
- Over the last century, the average temperature on earth has risen by a full degree. With the rise of greenhouse gasses, the sun’s rays remain trapped and raise our temperature.
- According to most scientists, the direct cause of our climate changes is pollution, which is caused by human activity. Heavy industry emits dangerous gasses like ozone, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, and many others. As competition in these industries increases, so does the amount of greenhouse gasses that are being released into our atmosphere. However, because of new filters and laws, the amount being emitted continues to decrease each day.
- If the earth reaches a certain temperature, methane released from our oceans can fill the air and greatly increase our temperature to a dangerous and even deadly level. This may or may not be directly related to greenhouse gasses and global warming, but scientists believe that this same effect is what caused the end of the Permian Period, made countless sea and land creatures extinct, and drastically raised the planet’s temperature.
- There are literally dozens of things each citizen can do to slow or stop global warming. These include simple things like choosing showers over baths, buying more energy-efficient kitchen appliances, and adjusting the temperature on your thermostat a few degrees by either dropping or raising it depending on the weather. Even small things like unplugging everything in your home and disconnecting your garage door opener before going on vacation can make a big difference. Each small thing we can do to stop wasting energy can have a profound effect on our climate.
Whether you buy into global warming or not, saving energy (and a few bucks in the process) should be something we all try to do. However, even if you don’t believe in global warming, you should still be aware of how it can affect you, and our future generations. Do your own research and see each side of the discussion. The topic is at its peak now, so the resources are out there for you to use.
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