The result of an increase in the Earth’s atmospheric temperature is global warming. Although many factors can contribute to the current warming trend, the most common cause is massive increases in greenhouse gas levels, which are most likely due to human activity. Although no one can say for sure what the scope and true future of the planet in the grip of global warming will be, some of the most basic consequences could be catastrophic for all of the planet’s inhabitants. The effects of global warming may literally change the face of the Earth, wreaking havoc on both land and sea, and disrupting the daily routines of most life on the planet.
Oceans cover the majority of the Earth’s surface, and each one supports billions of plants and animals with the proper chemical composition, tidal behavior, and temperature. Unfortunately, the world’s oceans may be the first place where the effects of global warming are felt. Increased acidity as a result of rising greenhouse gas levels will almost certainly result in the extinction of many plants and animals, as well as the destruction of vital coral reef systems. Because the oceans have such a well-defined food chain, even large marine species like whales and sharks could be harmed if food sources are lost.
The changing behavior of the ocean may have implications for land-based global warming. Many experts believe that as global warming continues, not only the temperature but also the sea level will rise. As islands are overtaken and coastal regions are inundated by floods and rising seas, rising seas may become a significant source of global warming impacts. Many climatologists believe that rising sea levels, when combined with rising temperatures, will result in more frequent and powerful hurricanes, tsunamis, and flooding around the world.
The planet’s polar regions are already feeling the effects of global warming. These glacier-covered areas are melting at an increasing rate each year, wreaking havoc on local wildlife. Polar bears in the Arctic are losing a lot of habitat as the ice melts, and many experts believe the species will go extinct in the wild in the next few decades. According to some scientists, the melting of eons-old ice packs may also contribute to rising seas and mass flooding.
Increased temperatures on land will disrupt many agricultural growing cycles, potentially obliterating or drastically reducing the production of some staple crops. Potato, avocado, and nut crops, as well as the massive wine industry, may already be feeling the effects of global warming. Furthermore, rising temperatures cause vital, nutrient-rich topsoil to dry out, potentially resulting in vast deserts all over the world.
Furthermore, some experts believe that rising temperatures will lead to an increase in the number of people dying from heatstroke, as well as an increase in the number of people infected with mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever. Mosquitoes, it turns out, are likely to thrive in higher temperatures. Other insect-borne illnesses, such as Lyme disease, may also become more prevalent.
This is somber news, and a large majority of scientists now agree on many of the effects of global warming. While not all of the consequences may be avoidable, most experts agree that if global warming is to be slowed enough to make a difference, a significant change in human behavior is required. Many experts now consider investing in renewable energy, switching to sustainable practices, and living a green lifestyle to be essential.