Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Crazy Climate??

THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW....
We all have seen/heard the movie- now of course it is a bit exaggerated (is it?)
Looking at the way things are going on our planet ...it is possible.
It may not come as "quickly" (as in the movie)- but it is happening!
Research:
Continued global warming could have many damaging effects. It might harm plants and animals that live in the sea. It could also force animals and plants on land to move to new habitats. Weather patterns could change, causing flooding, drought, and an increase in damaging storms. Global warming could melt enough polar ice to raise the sea level. In certain parts of the world, human disease could spread, and crop yields could decline.

The impact of global warming
Harm to ocean life
It Kills Our Coral reefs/ spreads diseases affecting sea creatures.
Changes of habitat.
Widespread shifts might occur in the natural habitats of animals and plants
Many species would have difficulty surviving in the regions they now inhabit.
Weather damage.
rainfall patterns could increase-flooding and drought in some areas. More hurricanes/ tropical storms might occur, and they could become more powerful.
Rising sea level.
melting of ice (a vast sheets covering most of Antarctica) Results: sea level would rise - coastal areas would experience: flooding/erosion/loss of wetlands/entry of seawater into freshwater / submerging some coastal cities/small island/nations, and other inhabited regions.
Threats to human health.
Tropical diseases, ie:malaria /dengue, spread to larger regions. Intense heat waves causing more deaths and illnesses. Floods/droughts increasing hunger and malnutrition.
Changes in crop yields.
floods/hurricanes- washing away crops - high temps in tropics- where plant cannot tolerate the heat and die.. etc etc
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Qori Kalis (glacier-Andes Mountains-Peru )
melted substantially - 1983 and 2000 (17 yrs).
This melting provides a clear sign of global warming.



Technology/Progress - Has a Price...
but should it be this high?