The scientific community agrees that global temperatures are rising due to the burning of fossil fuels which are damaging the protective atmospheric Ozone layer by changing its composition. Human pollution is changing the climate of our earth and has increased global warming in the past half century. Scientists predict that in 50 years, annual temperatures in the south east of England could be at least three degrees warmer, on average, than they are now.
Studies in the UK have found that warming could increase rainfall by more than 20 percent during the winter by the 2080’s and decrease it by the same amount during summer months in the southern half of that country. This would cause severe droughts in some regions but areas such as East Anglia, a very low-lying region on the east coast of England, could very well be under water altogether. (Climate Crisis 2000).
The effects of melting snow caps and the resulting rise of sea levels have been well documented. A reduction of snow cover in addition to lake and sea ice will have dire consequences for locations at higher latitudes and lower elevations, especially in the winter and spring months. Shifting vegetation patterns, types and regional variations, will cause major human adaptations, the degree to which is open to speculation. The elevated evaporation rate will hasten the drying effect of soil subsequent to rainfall which will result in drier conditions in many regions. (Wunderlich & Kohler, 2001).
Most scientists worldwide accept the sufficient evidence that suggests global warming is already well underway and cannot be reversed anytime soon. They and reasonable people of all backgrounds and nationalities agree that if CO2 emissions are not greatly reduced and soon, the resulting greenhouse effect will alter the climate and possibly the sustainability of humankind.
Works Cited
- “Climate Crisis: All Change in the UK?” BBC News. (2000). Web.
- Wunderlich, Gooloo S.; Kohler, Peter O. “Improving the Quality of Long-Term Care.” The National Academies Press. p.18. (2001).