water pollution and global warming
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WATER POLLUTION
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans and
groundwater). Any change in the chemical, physical and biological properties of
water that has a harmful effect on living things is water pollution. Polluted water is
not only unfit for drinking and other consumption purposes, but it is also unsuitable
for agricultural and industrial uses. The effects of water pollution are detrimental to
human beings, plants, animals, fish, and birds. Polluted water also contains virus,
bacteria, intestinal parasites, and other pathogenic microorganisms. Using it for
drinking purpose is the prime cause for waterborne diseases such as diarrhea,
dysentery, and typhoid.
Water pollution is a major global problem which requires ongoing evaluation and
revision of water resource policy at all levels (international down to individual aquifers
and wells). It has been suggested that it is the leading worldwide cause of deaths
and diseases, and that it accounts for the deaths of more than 14,000 people daily.
About 20% of the world's population lacks access to safe drinking water, and about
50% lacks adequate sanitation.
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SOURCESOFWATER POLLUTION
There are two main sources of water pollution; point sources and non-point sources.
Point sources include factories, wastewater treatment facilities, septic systems, and
other sources that are clearly discharging pollutants into water sources. Non-point
sources are more difficult to identify, because they cannot be traced back to a
particular location. Non-point sources include runoff including sediment, fertilizer,
chemicals and animal wastes from farms, fields, construction sites and mines.
Landfills can also be a non-point source of pollution, if substances leach from the
landfill into water supplies.
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The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) divides water pollution
into the following six categories:
Biodegradable waste: It consists mainly of human and animal waste.When biodegradable waste enters a water supply, the waste provides an energy
source (organic carbon) for bacteria. Organic carbon is converted to carbon
dioxide and water, which can cause atmospheric pollution and acid rain; this form
of pollution is far more widespread and problematic than other forms of
pollutants, such as radioactive waste. If there is a large supply of organic matter
in the water, oxygen-consuming (aerobic) bacteria multiply quickly, consume all
available oxygen, and kill all aquatic life.
Plant nutrients:They enter the water through sewage, and livestock andfertilizer runoff. Phosphates and nitrates are also found in industrial wastes.
Though these chemicals are natural, 80 percent of nitrates and 75 percent of
phosphates in water are human-added. When there is too much nitrogen or
phosphorus in a water supply (0.3 parts per million for nitrogen and 0.01 parts
per million for phosphorus), algae begin to develop. When algae blooms, the
water can turn green and cloudy, feel slimy, and smell bad. Weeds start to grow
and bacteria spread. Decomposing plants use up the oxygen in the water,
disrupting the aquatic life, reducing biodiversity, and even killing aquatic life. This
process, called eutrophication, is a natural process, but generally occurs over
thousands of years. Eutrophication allows a lake to age and become more
nutrient-rich; without nutrient pollution, this may take 10,000 years, but pollution
can make the process occur 100 to 1,000 times faster.
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Heat:As the water temperature increases, the amount of dissolved oxygendecreases. Thermal pollution can be natural, in the case of hot springs and
shallow ponds in the summertime, or human-made, through the discharge of
water that has been used to cool power plants or other industrial equipment.
Fish and plants require certain temperatures and oxygen levels to survive, so
thermal pollution often reduces the aquatic life diversity in the water.
Sediment: It is one of the most common sources of water pollution.Sediment consists of mineral or organic solid matter that is washed or blown from
land into water sources. Sediment pollution is difficult to identify, because it
comes from non-point sources, such as construction, agricultural and livestock
operations, logging, flooding, and city runoff. Each year, water sources in the
United States are polluted by over one billion tones of sediment! Sediment can
cause large problems, as it can clog municipal water systems, smother aquatic
life, and cause water to become increasingly turbid. And, turbid water can cause
thermal pollution, because cloudy water absorbs more solar radiation.
Hazardous and Toxic Chemicals: They are usually human-madematerials that are not used or disposed of properly. Point sources of chemical
pollution include industrial discharges and oil spills. The Oil Pollution fact sheet
includes more detailed information about oil spills, as well as other sources of oil
pollution. Non-point sources of chemical pollution include runoff from paved
roads and pesticide runoff.
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Many people think industries produce the greatest amount of chemical pollution.
But domestic and personal use of chemicals can significantly contribute to
chemical pollution. Household cleaners, dyes, paints and solvents are also toxic,
and can accumulate when poured down drains or flushed down the toilet. In fact,
one drop of used motor oil can pollute 25 liters of water! And, people who use
pesticides on their gardens and lawns tend to use ten times more pesticide per
acre than a farmer would!
Radioactive Pollutants: They include wastewater discharges from
factories, hospitals and uranium mines. These pollutants can also come from
natural isotopes, such as radon. Radioactive pollutants can be dangerous, and it
takes many years until radioactive substances are no longer considered
dangerous.
The seventh category of water pollution is pharmaceuticals and personal care
products (often abbreviated PPCPs), including medications, lotions and soap, are
being found in increasing concentrations in lakes and rivers. Scientists have
discovered that many PPCPs act as hormone disrupters, which means that the
synthetic hormones in the products interfere with the natural hormones in
animals, especially fish that live in the water. There has not been enough
research to determine the effects that PPCPs can have on humans, but there is
evidence to suggest that these chemicals may be partially responsible for an
increase in cancer and birth defects.
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Dirt and Sediment or Turbidity Most waters contain some suspended
particles which may consist of fine sand, clay, soil, and precipitated salts. Turbidity is
unpleasant to look at, can be a source of food and lodging for bacteria.
Total Dissolved Solids or TDS These substances are dissolved rock and
other compounds from the earth. The entire list of them could fill this page. The
presence and amount of total dissolved solids in water represents a point of
controversy among those who promote water treatment products. Here are some
facts about the consequences of higher levels of TDS in water:
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High TDS results in undesirable taste which could be salty, bitter, or metallic.High TDS water is less thirst quenching.Some of the individual mineral salts that make up TDS pose a variety ofhealth hazards. The most problematic are Nitrates, Sodium, Sulfates, Barium,
Copper, and Fluoride.
The EPA Secondary Regulations advise a maximum level of 500mg/liter (500parts per million-ppm) for TDS. Numerous water supplies exceed this level.
When TDS levels exceed 1000mg/L it is generally considered unfit for human
consumption.
High TDS interferes with the taste of foods and beverages, and makes themless desirable to consume.
High TDS make ice cubes cloudy, softer, and faster melting.Minerals exist in water mostly as INORGANIC salts. In contrast, mineralshaving passed through a living system are known as ORGANIC minerals.
They are combined with proteins and sugars. According to many nutritionists
minerals are much easier to assimilate when they come from foods.
Water with higher TDS is considered by some health advocates to have apoorer cleansing effect in the body than water with a low level of TDS. This is
because water with low dissolved solids has a greater capacity of absorption
than water with higher solids.
Toxic Metals or Heavy Metals Among the greatest threats to health are the
presence of high levels of toxic metals in drinking water - Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead,
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Mercury, and Silver. Maximum limits for each are established by the EPA Primary
Drinking Water Regulations. Other metals such as Chromium and Selenium, while
essential trace elements in our diets, have limits imposed upon them when in water
because the form in which they exist may pose a health hazard. Toxic metals are
associated with nerve damage, birth defects, mental retardation and certain cancers.
Asbestos Asbestos exists as microscopic suspended mineral fibers in water. Its
primary source is asbestos-cement pipe which was commonly used after World War
II for city water supplies. It has been estimated that some 200,000 miles of this pipe
is presently in use to transport our drinking water. Because these pipes are wearing,
the deadly substance of asbestos is showing up with increasing frequency in drinking
water. It has been linked with gastrointestinal cancer.
Radioactivity Even though trace amounts of radioactive elements can be
found in almost all drinking water, levels that pose serious health hazards are fairly
rare--for now. Radioactive wastes leach from mining operations into groundwater
supplies. The greatest threat is posed by nuclear accidents, nuclear processing
plants, and radioactive waste disposal sites. As containers containing these wastes
deteriorate with time, the risk of contaminating our aquafiers grows into a toxic time
bomb.
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Tastes and Odors If our water has a disagreeable taste or odor, chances are
it is due to one or more of many organic substances ranging from decaying
vegetation to algae; hydrocarbons to phenols. It could also be TDS and a host of
other items.
Pesticides and Herbicides The increasing use of pesticides and herbicides
in agriculture shows up in the water we drink. Rain and irrigation carry these deadly
chemicals down into the groundwater as well as into surface waters -- There are
more than 100,000,000 people in the US who depend upon groundwater for sources
whole or in part of their drinking water. As our reliance upon groundwater is
escalating, so is its contamination. Our own household use of herbicide and pesticide
substances also contributes to actual contamination. These chemicals can cause
circulatory, respiratory and nerve disorders.
Toxic Organic Chemicals The most pressing and widespread water
contamination problem is a result of the organic chemicals created by industry.
According to the EPA, there are 77,000,000,000 pounds of hazardous waste being
generated each year in the US. 90 percent of this is not disposed of properly. This
would equal 19,192 pounds of hazardous waste disposed each year on every square
mile of land and water surface in the US including Alaska and Hawaii!
Chemicals end up in our drinking water from hundreds of different sources. There
are hundreds of publications each year highlighting this problem. The effects of
chronic long term exposure to these toxic organics, even in minute amounts, are
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extremely difficult to detect. Contaminated drinking water may look and taste
perfectly normal. The users symptoms might include recurring headache, rash, or
fatigue - all of which are hard to diagnose as being water related. The more serious
consequences of drinking tainted water are higher cancer rates, birth defects, growth
abnormalities, infertility, and nerve and organ damage. Just how toxic these
chemicals are may be illustrated by looking at two examples: TCE is a widely used
chemical which routinely shows up in water supplies. Just two glassfuls of TCE can
contaminate 27,000,000 gallons of drinking water! One pound of the pesticide,
Endrin can contaminate 5,000,000,000 gallons of water.
Chlorine Trihalomethanes (THM's) are formed when chlorine, used to disinfect
water supplies, interacts with natural organic materials (e.g. by-products of decayed
vegetation, algae, etc.). This creates toxic organic chemicals such as chloroform, and
Bromodichloromethane. A further word about chlorine: Scientists at Colombia
University found that women who drank chlorinated water ran a 44% greater risk of
dying of cancer of the gastrointestinal or urinary tract than did women who drank
non-chlorinated water! Chlorinated water has also been linked to high blood pressure
and anemia. Anemia is caused by the deleterious effect of chlorine on red blood
cells.
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HEALTHHAZARDS CAUSED BYWATER POLLUTION
It is a well-known fact that clean water is absolutely essential for healthy living.
Adequate supply of fresh and clean drinking water is a basic need for all human
beings on the earth, yet it has been observed that millions of people worldwide are
deprived of this.
Water-borne diseases are infectious diseases spread primarily through contaminated
water. Though these diseases are spread either directly or through flies or filth, water
is the chief medium for spread of these diseases and hence they are termed as
water-borne diseases.
Most intestinal (enteric) diseases are infectious and are transmitted through faecal
waste. Pathogens which include virus, bacteria, protozoa, and parasitic worms
are disease-producing agents found in the faeces of infected persons. These
diseases are more prevalent in areas with poor sanitary conditions. These pathogens
travel through water sources and interfuses directly through persons handling food
and water. Since these diseases are highly infectious, extreme care and hygiene
should be maintained by people looking after an infected patient. Hepatitis, cholera,
dysentery, and typhoid are the more common water-borne diseases that affect
large populations in the tropical regions.
Causes Water-borne diseases
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Pesticides The organophosphates and the carbonates present in pesticides
affect and damage the nervous system and can cause cancer. Some of the
pesticides contain carcinogens that exceed recommended levels. They contain
chlorides that cause reproductive and endocrinal damage.
Fluoride Excess fluorides can cause yellowing of the teeth and damage to
the spinal cordand other crippling diseases.
Nitrates Drinking water that gets contaminated with nitrates can prove fatal
especially to infants that drink formula milk as it restricts the amount of oxygen that
reaches the brain causing the blue baby syndrome. It is also linked to digestive
tract cancers. It causes algae to bloom resulting in eutrophication in surface water.
Petrochemicals and Chlorinated solvents Petrochemicals can cause
cancer even at low exposure levels and chlorinated solvents are linked to
reproduction disorders.
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Other heavy metals Heavy metals cause damage to the nervous system
and the kidney, and other metabolic disruptions.
Exposure to polluted water can cause diarrhea, skin irritation, respiratory
problems and other diseases, depending on the pollutant that is in the water body.
Stagnant water and other untreated water provide a habitat for the mosquito and a
host of other parasites and insects that cause a large number of diseases especially
in the tropical regions. Among these, malaria is undoubtedly the most widely
distributed and causes most damage to human health.
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Global warmingrefers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and
oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface
temperature increased by about 0.8 C (1.4 F) with about two thirds of the increase
occurring over just the last three decades. Warming of the climate system is
unequivocal, and scientists are more than 90% certain most of it is caused by
increasing concentrations of gases produced by human activities such
as deforestation and burning fossil fuel. These findings are recognized by the
national science academies of all the major industrialized countries.
An increase in global temperature will cause sea levels to rise and will change the
amount and pattern of precipitation, and a probable expansion of
subtropical deserts. Warming is expected to be strongest in the Arctic and would be
associated with continuing retreat of glaciers, permafrost and sea ice. Other likely
effects of the warming include more frequent occurrence of extreme weather events
including heatwaves, droughts and heavy rainfall events, species extinctions due to
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shifting temperature regimes, and changes in agricultural yields. Warming and
related changes will vary from region to region around the globe, though the nature
of these regional changes is uncertain. In a 4 C world, the limits for human
adaptation are likely to be exceeded in many parts of the world, while the limits for
adaptation for natural systems would largely be exceeded throughout the world.
Hence, the ecosystem services upon which human livelihoods depend would not be
preserved.
One of the biggest issues facing us right now is global warming. Its effects on
animals and on agriculture are indeed frightening, and the effects on the human
population are even scarier. The facts about global warming are often debated in
politics and the media, but, unfortunately, even if we disagree about the causes,
global warming effects are real, global, and measurable. The causes are mainly from
us, the human race, and the effects on us will be severe. Global warming is also
caused by natural causes.
The greenhouseeffect is the process by which absorption
and emission of infrared radiation by gases in the atmosphere warm a planets lower
atmosphere and surface. Naturally occurring amounts of greenhouse gases have a
mean warming effect of about 33 C (59 F). The major greenhouse gases are water
vapor, which causes about 3670 percent of the greenhouse effect; carbon
dioxide (CO2), which causes 926 percent; methane (CH4), which causes 49
percent; and ozone (O3), which causes 37 percent.
http://www.acoolerclimate.com/global-warmings-effects-on-plants-and-animals.htmlhttp://www.acoolerclimate.com/global-warmings-effects-on-plants-and-animals.htmlhttp://planetsave.com/2010/08/13/119-one-liners-to-respond-to-climate-science-myths/http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/02/02/how-humans-cause-global-warming/http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/02/02/how-humans-cause-global-warming/http://planetsave.com/2010/08/13/119-one-liners-to-respond-to-climate-science-myths/http://www.acoolerclimate.com/global-warmings-effects-on-plants-and-animals.htmlhttp://www.acoolerclimate.com/global-warmings-effects-on-plants-and-animals.html -
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The build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere during the 20th century has
resulted from the growing use of energy and expansion of the global economy. Over
the century, industrial activity grew 40-fold, and the emissions of gases such as
carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) grew 10-fold.
The amount of CO2 in the air increased from some 280 parts per million by volume
(ppmv) at the beginning of the century to 383 ppmv at the end of 2007. The amount
of CO2 varies within each year as the result of the annual cycles of photosynthesis
and oxidation (see graph). Of the other greenhouse gases, methane (CH4), which is
formed by anaerobic decomposition of organic matter, rose from a preindustrial
atmospheric concentration of around 700 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) to about
1789 ppbv by 2007.
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Other important greenhouse gases include the oxides of nitrogen, notably nitrous
oxide (NO2) and halocarbons, including the CFCs and other chlorine and bromine
containing compounds.
The build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere alters the radiative balance of
the atmosphere. The net effect is to warm the Earth's surface and the lower
atmosphere because greenhouse gases absorb some of the Earths outgoing heat
radiation and reradiate it back towards the surface. The overall warming from 1850
to the end of the 20th century was equivalent to about 2.5 W/m2; CO2 contributed
some 60 per cent of this figure and CH4about 25 per cent, with N2O and
halocarbons providing the remainder. The warming effect that would result from a
doubling of CO2 from pre-industrial levels is estimated to be 4 W/m2.
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Peoples ever increasing addiction to electricity from
coal burning power plants releases enormous amounts of carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere. 40% of U.S. CO2 emissions come from electricity production, and
burning coal accounts for 93% of emissions from the electric utility industry. Every
day, more electric gadgets flood the market, and without widespread alternative
energy sources, we are highly dependent on burning coal for our personal and
commercial electrical supply.
With our population growing at an alarming rate, the demand for more cars and
consumer goods means that we are increasing the use of fossil fuels for
transportation and manufacturing. Our consumption is outpacing our discoveries of
ways to mitigate the effects, with no end in sight to our massive consumer culture.
The emission of carbon dioxide into the environment mainly from burning of fossil
fuels (oil, gas, petrol, kerosene, etc.) has been increased dramatically over the past
50 years.
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Methane is another extremely
potent greenhouse gas, ranking right behind CO2. When organic matter is broken
down by bacteria under oxygen-starved conditions (anaerobic decomposition) as in
rice paddies, methane is produced. The process also takes place in the intestines of
herbivorous animals, and with the increase in the amount of concentrated livestock
production, the levels of methane released into the atmosphere is increasing.
Another source ofmethane is methane clathrate, a compound containing large
amounts of methane trapped in the crystal structure of ice. As methane escapes
from the Arctic seabed, the rate of global warming will increase significantly.
The use of forests for fuel (both wood and for charcoal) is one
cause of deforestation, but in the first world, our appetite for wood and paper
products, our consumption of livestock grazed on former forest land, and the use of
tropical forest lands for commodities like palm oil plantations contributes to the mass
deforestation of our world. Forests remove and store carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere, and this deforestation releases large amounts of carbon, as well as
reducing the amount of carbon capture on the planet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enteric_fermentationhttp://planetsave.com/blog/2008/05/29/methane-could-kick-start-increased-warming/http://sustainablog.org/2008/09/23/scientists-discover-new-global-warming-threat-methane-time-bomb-under-arctic-seabed/http://sustainablog.org/2008/09/23/scientists-discover-new-global-warming-threat-methane-time-bomb-under-arctic-seabed/http://sustainablog.org/2008/09/23/scientists-discover-new-global-warming-threat-methane-time-bomb-under-arctic-seabed/http://sustainablog.org/2008/09/23/scientists-discover-new-global-warming-threat-methane-time-bomb-under-arctic-seabed/http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/05/29/methane-could-kick-start-increased-warming/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enteric_fermentation -
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In the last half of the 20th
century, the use ofchemical fertilizers (as opposed to the historical use of animal
manure) has risen dramatically. The high rate of application of nitrogen-rich fertilizers
has effects on the heat storage of cropland (nitrogen oxides have 300 times more
heat-trapping capacity per unit of volume than carbon dioxide) and the run-off of
excess fertilizers createsdead-zonesin our oceans. In addition to these effects,
high nitrate levels in groundwater due to over-fertilization are cause for concern for
human health.
In 1985 Joe Farman, of the British Antarctic Survey,
published a paper showing the decline of ozone levels over Antarctica during the
early 1980s. The response was dramatic: large-scale international scientific programs
were mounted to prove that CFCs (used as aerosol propellants, in industrial cleaning
fluids and in refrigeration equipment) were the cause of the problem. Even more
important was immediate international action to curb the emissions of CFCs.
Plummeting ozone levels in the stratosphere over Antarctica during September and
October are the result of complex chemical processes. The return of the Sun at the
end of winter triggers photochemical reactions that lead to the destruction of ozone
in the stratosphere. The October values of ozone have declined by up to 70 per cent
compared to the pre-ozone hole years, and the size of the ozone hole had grown to
more than 25 million km2
(twice the size of Antarctica) by 2000.
One of the most dangerous man-made
causes for global warming is the increasing population. More people means more
food and more methods of transportation; which means more methane and more
cars which lead to more pollution of earth. Since CO2 contributes to global warming,
http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/07/25/edible-activism-changing-the-world-through-what-we-eat/http://www.twilightearth.com/2009/05/the-dead-zone-how-farming-is-killing-the-fishing-industry/http://www.twilightearth.com/2009/05/the-dead-zone-how-farming-is-killing-the-fishing-industry/http://www.twilightearth.com/2009/05/the-dead-zone-how-farming-is-killing-the-fishing-industry/http://www.twilightearth.com/2009/05/the-dead-zone-how-farming-is-killing-the-fishing-industry/http://www.twilightearth.com/2009/05/the-dead-zone-how-farming-is-killing-the-fishing-industry/http://www.twilightearth.com/2009/05/the-dead-zone-how-farming-is-killing-the-fishing-industry/http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/07/25/edible-activism-changing-the-world-through-what-we-eat/ -
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the increase in population makes the problem worse because we breathe out CO2.
Also, the trees that convert our CO2 to oxygen are being cut down because we're
using the land that we cut the trees down from as property for our homes and
buildings. We are not replacing the trees (trees are a very important part of our eco-
system), so we are constantly taking advantage of our natural resources and giving
nothing back in return.
Atmospheric aerosols are able to alter climate in
two important ways. First, they scatter and absorb solar and infrared radiation and,
second, they may change the microphysical and chemical properties of clouds and
possibly their lifetime and extent. The scattering of solar radiation acts to cool the
planet, while absorption of solar radiation by aerosols warms the air directly
instead of allowing sunlight to be absorbed by the surface of the Earth.
Climate changes in orbital forcing and solar luminosity are also
responsible for variation in surface temperatures. Variations in solar activity are being
held responsible for most of the global warming, since the 1950s. According to
recent research, solar output variations are possibly amplified by galactic cosmic
rays. The magnetic activity in and around the sun plays a major role in deflecting
cosmic rays. These in turn are responsible for cloud condensation and climatic
changes. Increased solar activity could be the result of excessive warming of the
stratosphere. Solar cycles lead to an increase in brightness and heat generation. The
light and heat get trapped in the stratosphere.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/climate-change/http://www.buzzle.com/articles/the-sun/http://www.buzzle.com/articles/the-sun/http://www.buzzle.com/articles/climate-change/ -
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The relation between solar radiation and global warming is yet to be proven and is
one of the most speculated topics deliberated upon in recent times. The link between
changes in cosmic rays and temperature is being studied alongside human induced
reasons for the phenomenon.
CONSEQUENCES OF GLOBALWARMING
The effects of global warming could be enormous. Relative to the hectic pace of our
daily life, global warming is a slow-moving problem. But that does not mean we
should wait and see what happens. If we wait, we may be creating an unsolvable
problem, an unstoppable climatic shift that could have devastating impacts in years
to come.
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Global warming does not occur evenly across
the world. Temperature changes have been, and will be, much more extreme in the
Arctic and Antarctic. A 5 degree Fahrenheit warming for the whole world means only
1 degree at the equator, but 12 degrees at the poles. Global temperatures have
already risen about 0.8 degrees Celsius, or 1.4 degree Fahrenheit. The arctic tundra
is melting already, which may be causing an increase in methane levels in the
atmosphere. A mysterious spike in atmospheric methane was measured in 2007. In
addition, the rate of carbon increase in the atmosphere is accelerating each year,
which may also be related to the thawing of arctic areas. We may be contributing to
a positive feedback loop whereby the warming of Polar Regions puts more carbon
and methane into the atmosphere, thus causing yet more warming in an unstoppable
cycle.
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Increased storm activity and intensity is caused by
global warming. Severe drought and flooding will occur as weather pattern become
more extreme. Unfortunately, the worlds economic and agricultural systems rely on
existing patterns of weather, and as global warming changes these patterns, our
ability to produce food is declining. Increased overall average temperatures cause
more extreme weather, more devastating storms, and more severe and prolonged
droughts and floods. These changes impact ecosystems and the human economy.
The price you pay for food is getting higher
already as a result ofglobal warming effects on agriculture. Whats worse is that this
is leaving many of the worlds hungry in a desperate situation, unable to afford
adequate food.
We depend on a predictable climate to keep our agricultural markets and our
economy as a whole stable. Climate change makes our markets unstable, less
efficient, and thus more expensive. Prices are increasing for a number of reasons, a
few of which are not related to global warming, but global warming induced heat
waves have already been shown to reduce grain harvests in India, Canada, and the
U.S. significantly. Drought conditions have doubled since 1970. Many plants become
less productive or will not pollinate when it gets too hot. For all of these reasons, we
should be concerned about the impacts of climate change on agriculture and food
scarcity.
The danger to
animals is severe as well. As sea levels rise and lowland coastal areas are flooded,
http://www.acoolerclimate.com/does-global-warming-cause-more-droughts-floods-hurricanes/http://www.acoolerclimate.com/does-global-warming-cause-more-droughts-floods-hurricanes/http://www.acoolerclimate.com/global-warmings-effects-on-climate-agriculture-and-human-health/http://www.acoolerclimate.com/global-warmings-effects-on-climate-agriculture-and-human-health/http://www.acoolerclimate.com/global-warmings-effects-on-climate-agriculture-and-human-health/http://www.acoolerclimate.com/does-global-warming-cause-more-droughts-floods-hurricanes/ -
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many animal species will be harmed. Coastal areas serve as natural hatcheries for
fish and are home to a greater diversity of land and sea creatures than any other
ecosystem. The flooding of coastal estuaries by rising sea levels would
have dramatic effects on animals across the world.
A rise in global temperature will also hamper the rich biodiversity of various
ecosystems. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on (IPCC), an increase in
global temperature by 1.5 to 2.5 degrees will make 20 to 30 percent of species
vulnerable to extinction, while a rise of about 3.5 degrees will make 40 to 70 percent
species vulnerable to extinction. Climate change will result in loss of habitat for many
animal species like polar bears and tropical frogs. More importantly, any change in
the climate patterns will seriously affect the migration patterns of various bird
species. Irregular patterns of precipitation will affect animals and humans alike.
As the temperature increases, the ice
cover on the planet will start melting. The water from these melting glaciers will end
up in the oceans, which will lead to a rise in the sea level. Over the last century, sea
levels have increased by 4 to 8 inches, and by 2100, it's expected to increase to 35
inches. An additional 2 degree rise in global temperature will lead to the complete
melting of the Greenland ice cap, which will cause the sea level to rise by 5 to 6
meters. Such a rise will cause many of the low lying areas, such as the US Gulf
Coast and Bangladesh, as well as islands, such as Lakswadweep, to submerge
underwater. If the whole of the Antarctic ice sheet melts, the global sea level is
expected to rise by 10.5 meters.
Scientists have come up with the firmest evidence so far that global warming will
significantly increase the intensity of the most extreme storms worldwide. The
http://www.acoolerclimate.com/global-warmings-effects-on-plants-and-animals/http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080903/full/news.2008.1079.htmlhttp://www.nature.com/news/2008/080903/full/news.2008.1079.htmlhttp://www.nature.com/news/2008/080903/full/news.2008.1079.htmlhttp://www.nature.com/news/2008/080903/full/news.2008.1079.htmlhttp://www.acoolerclimate.com/global-warmings-effects-on-plants-and-animals/ -
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maximum wind speeds of the strongest tropical cyclones have increased significantly
since 1981, according to research published in Nature this week. And the upward
trend, thought to be driven by rising ocean temperatures, is unlikely to stop at any
time soon.
The Bottom Line
If we really value the severe impacts ofWater Pollution andGlobal
Warming, we must make efforts to keep our earth inhabitable. Nothing can
save our planet if we dont stay away from destructive activities. So, if we
care for ourselves, we must care for our world and answer the following
question which may seem easy but carries a lot of significance.
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