NASA satellites take pictures every 2 days of the Arctic sea ice and have done so for a while. See the NASA image in a moving GIF. Also see the changes in the ice over the period from 1979-2003 here. These changes in environment are a direct result of human effects. Humans have caused the changes through consuming fossil fuels, which creates more CO2, eating more and more meat leading to huge animal farms called factory farms- which further adds methane gas- another major contributor to pollution and a very potent global warming gas (25% more warming that CO2), among other practices that have started a snowball effect and changed the atmosphere of the earth dramatically. The inputting of the gasses into the closed system of the earth over the past 100 years, but reaching a fever-pitch more recently has started the changes, but the effects are just beginning to be felt. The damage is done, but we haven’t yet realized the extent of the effects since the system (environment) is slow to respond.
One answer is using alternative energy sources such as:
Solar power- uses the sun to produce electricity via- photovoltaic arrays- translating the sun’s energy directly into electricity; solar thermal- which use the focused energy of the sun to superheats salt to 600C, which in turn turns water to steam running a generator which produced electricity.
Wave power- one constantly moving source of energy is the ocean, if this energy is harnessed, pollution-free electricity can be produced.
Geo-thermal power- drilling to tap the super-heated water thousands of feet below the surface- for hot water for showers and home heating in the winter and to cool homes in the summer.
If humans continue to destroy the environment at the rate we are doing so today, in 50 years, there will be almost nothing left for future generations except hardship and suffering. An increase in the temperature will cause more melting of the polar ice caps and lead to ocean rises that will flood many of the most populous urban areas.
Living a healthy lifestyle is a great way to reduce global warming. Eating locally grown, organic food, or buying and using green products and clothing is very helpful. Try to take the stairs instead of the elevator! The smallest thing has some impact. You do make a difference!
To help reduce our carbon footprint- we can:
Take public transportation
Ride a bike or walk
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Turn off and unplug unused appliances and lights
Use less packaging and paper.
Get off mailing lists that send junk mail
Take a little time and rent and watch- or buy and share Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth. Realizing that this is a major issue and taking action right now is important to the future of this planet and the world you know today.
Living a healthy lifestyle is a great way to reduce global warming. Eating locally grown, organic food, or buying and using green products and clothing is very helpful. Try to take the stairs instead of the elevator! The smallest thing has some impact. You do make a difference!
To help reduce our carbon footprint- we can:
Take public transportation
Ride a bike or walk
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Turn off and unplug unused appliances and lights
Use less packaging and paper.
Get off mailing lists that send junk mail
Take a little time and rent and watch- or buy and share Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth. Realizing that this is a major issue and taking action right now is important to the future of this planet and the world you know today.
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