Global Warming Critical Essay
The term global warming has been common in the fields of whether and climate. The term does not posses the literal meaning as such but simply implies change in climate. The change in climate is attributed to overall rise in average temperatures of the universe. This poses a great threat to mankind (Korgen, 2007). The dangers attributed to global warming include health issues, scarcity of some vital natural resources, increase in temperatures of the natural water bodies and general fall back of economy.
According to the view of professionals and researchers in the medical field, global warming is one of the top agendas that need immediate attention for its predicted threat to the living standards of human beings. Some of the threats linking to health include scarcity of water, poverty and eclipsing infectious diseases. These phenomena will be felt in countries that are still developing and will further join existing food shortage. These effects will not only affect the present generations but also generations to come (Yan & Crookes, 2007).
Having a planet that is warmer will lead to flooding of coastal cities causing mass migrations especially for settlers in the coastal regions. Fights over resources like food and water will be among the top stories in this century. The resources will be inadequate to meet the needs of growing populations. The rise in temperatures will lead to various diseases and disorders. Deaths resulting from droughts, floods and intense storms will also increase (Korgen, 2007).
2007 Climate Change World Organizations figured a 6.4 degrees Celsius temperature rise which will lead to rise in level of seas from 18 to 59 centimeters (Fuchs & Chery, 2008). With this effect, we expect calamities like flooding of seas and rivers which always come with contagious infections. Another area which is likely to be affected by rising sea levels is public health. The city councils and municipal councils will face great challenges when handling sewers which are likely to overflow time after time. Although no health bodies have come up with concerns; the issue is actually a great threat to the health of human beings.
There are also dangerous hurricanes that are caused by elevated heat. A good example is the tsunami that occurred in Dec 2004 which left more than 229,000 persons dead and others missing in Southeast Asia. “Rising sea levels resulting from amid global warming poses a great threat to almost 13 of the largest 20 cities that are located on the coastal regions of Asia” (Brodie, 2006, p. 136).
Other threats include decline in crop yields. Floods and drought do not favor agriculture. They contribute to food insecurity making it more complex to control existing trends of food shortage in the world. The problem of sanitation is likely to feature in cities with high populations especially in slums. Some of the world’s precious species are likely to become extinct in case of continual melting of the seas’ ice caps. The polar bear is among such species. This is indeed a threat to the tourism industry. Migration of animals and other living things to higher altitudes like northern locations will lead to disruption of ecosystems. The problem is that some of these ecosystems are delicate and may require centuries to develop as before. Processes and behaviors of animals and plants like flowering and egg-laying are likely to tilt due to temperature changes (Smith, 2009).
The world’s geographical setting is likely to be affected due to occurrence of natural earth disintegrations brought about by earth quakes and volcanic eruptions. Other disastrous impacts of ice melting may involve occurrence of land slides that can cause loss of lives and displacements. All these effects of natural eruptions originate from the crust of the earth where effects of global warming lead to pressure differences in the layers causing such eruptions. The rising temperatures will also make human being uncomfortable due to continuous sweating (Smith, 2009). Conclusion
It is our role to realize that global warming is likely to harm us and our future generations. We need to create an environment that will protect the coming generations from threats and effects of global warming. This can only be achieved if we voluntarily come up with policies that will minimize emission of carbon gases and other by products (with carbon atoms) to our atmosphere. We also need to improve our health systems to cater for the health effects of global warming.
