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.
You May Also Like -> Global Warming Videos (Best, Funniest, & Most Inspiring)
Global Warming Effects and Causes: A Top 10 List
1. Global Warming Cause: Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning power plants
Our 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 [EPA, pg. 10]. 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.
2. Global Warming Cause: Carbon dioxide emissions from burning gasoline for transportation
Our modern car culture and appetite for globally sourced goods is responsible for about 33% of emissions in the U.S. [EPA pg. 8] 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.
3. Global Warming Cause: Methane emissions from animals, agriculture such as rice paddies, and from Arctic seabeds
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 of methane 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.
4. Global Warming Cause: Deforestation, especially tropical forests for wood, pulp, and farmland
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.
5. Global Warming Cause: Increase in usage of chemical fertilizers on croplands
In the last half of the 20th century, the use of chemical 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 creates ‘dead-zones’ in our oceans. In addition to these effects, high nitrate levels in groundwater due to over-fertilization are cause for concern for human health.
6. Global Warming Effect: Rise in sea levels worldwide
Scientists predict an increase in sea levels worldwide due to the melting of two massive ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland, especially on the East coast of the U.S. However, many nations around the world will experience the effects of rising sea levels, which could displace millions of people. One nation, the Maldives, is already looking for a new home, thanks to rising sea levels.
7. Global Warming Effect: More killer storms
The severity of storms such as hurricanes and cyclones is increasing, and research published in Nature found:
“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 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.”
8. Global Warming Effect: Massive crop failures
According to recent research, there is a 90% chance that 3 billion people worldwide will have to choose between moving their families to milder climes and going hungry due to climate change within 100 years.
“Climate change is expected to have the most severe impact on water supplies. “Shortages in future are likely to threaten food production, reduce sanitation, hinder economic development and damage ecosystems. It causes more violent swings between floods and droughts.”" – Guardian: Global warming causes 300,000 deaths a year
9. Global Warming Effect: Widespread extinction of species
According to research published in Nature, by 2050, rising temperatures could lead to the extinction of more than a million species. And because we can’t exist without a diverse population of species on Earth, this is scary news for humans.
“Climate change now represents at least as great a threat to the number of species surviving on Earth as habitat-destruction and modification.” Chris Thomas, conservation biologist at the University of Leeds
10. Global Warming Effect: Disappearance of coral reefs
A report on coral reefs from WWF says that in a worst case scenario, coral populations will collapse by 2100 due to increased temperatures and ocean acidification. The ‘bleaching’ of corals from small but prolonged rises in sea temperature is a severe danger for ocean ecosystems, and many other species in the oceans rely on coral reefs for their survival.
“Despite the oceans’s immensity — 71 per cent of the Earth’s surface with an average depth of almost 4km (2½m) — there are indications that it is approaching its tipping point. For reefs, warming waters and acidification are closing in like a pair of jaws that threaten to make them the first global ecosystem to disappear.” – Times Online: 21st-century Noah’s Ark needed to save coral reefs from extinction
Read more about global warming effects and causes:
- Global Warming Worldbook at NASA
- The Top 100 Effects of Global Warming
- Cause and effect for global warming
- Nine alien insects to cause pain, illness and even death in Britain as climate warms up
- Climate change may act as ‘threat multiplier’ in strife-torn Middle East, study shows
Images: FlyingSinger Mikael Miettinen Simone Ramella net_efekt Ben Sutherland nattu CoreBurn brankomaster Lars K. Jensen In Veritas Lux at Flickr under Creative Commons License
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
Derek Markham
I dig singlespeed bicycles, simple living, organic gardening, sustainable lifestyle design, slacklining, bouldering, and baking with sourdough. I love good food; Colorado peaches are my all-time favorite. I really enjoy conversations with three year olds. I love being in the wilderness with my family; it feels like home. I love positive thinking and big audacious dreams. I like to skip rope, and yes, I do have a tiny rubber chicken (vegan) that lives with my flash drive. Come see me over at Natural Papa!
232 Responses to Global Warming Effects and Causes: A Top 10 List
Click on a tab to select how you'd like to leave your comment
[...] effects of global warming have been known for a long time. We have been warned. Unfortunately, we have largely ignored the [...]
five causes of climate change
5 top causes & 5 top effects
the aforementioned article is excellent.
[...] it has something to do with the fact that its islands could soon be covered in water from the effects of global warming. But that’s certainly not the only concern. Additionally, Tonga is heavily reliant on [...]
[...] this is one of the effects of global warming we can expect to see more and more of. Global warming causes drought. And drought kills plants, [...]
[...] more? Check out more on the effects of global warming and more excellent global warming and climate change videos (a ton of them) on our [...]
One item responsible for global warming, assuming the data is actually correct, would be increased solar output.
not an issue: http://planetsave.com/2011/12/26/climate-solar-changes/
The way it affects animals like polar bears is the ice melting.
[...] environment.Take the recently released ANNO 2070, set 60 years in the future in a world changed by global warming and rising sea levels. Players are put in charge of building cities and are responsible for [...]
[...] ever more aware about the problems associated with human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. And positive changes have been made over recent years with this shift in public awareness. [...]
Any effect on gravitation of earth due to global warming???
Hi there, thanks a lot for this great website!
Have you ever had a burning question / theory about global warming and human behaviour? For a University project, I would like to find out why people don’t save our planet and how we can motivate people to be more environmental friendly, respectively.
I am sure you have asked yourself many questions in that context so I thought I should ask you as specialists in this field:
Have you got an idea that I could look into scientifically? Any theories that you’d like to be proven? Things that a “lie detector” or a brain scan could discover? Maybe we could find an answer together!
Please let me know your thoughts!
Thank you!!
Hello, thanks. I did a survey on environmental concerns and actions for my Bachelor’s thesis — it was an interesting process.
At this point, I think what we need more than anything is a LOT more direct action, and a lot more climate hawks running for office. Anything to help that along would be useful. Maybe try to find out if people have been involved in those things; what they think would get them involved; if they have already gotten involved in those things, WHAT got them involved…
i would to know which the impact of global warming on the global alimentation. ….i’m wating the answer.
.thx
sorry, not sure what global alimentation is
[...] is being raised by some thirty developing countries that are considered most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. On November 13 and 14, ministers and representatives of members states of the Climate Vulnerable [...]
as a citizen of the world i truely hope the U.S.A. turns to solar,geothermal and windmills as our source of electric ! good deal mayor ballard got re-elected as indianapolis has some 60 mile of bike route thru indy. people should have listened to president jimmy carter after he installed solar panels on the white house.LORD bless planet earth always and guide all nations towards a solution on behalf of all inhabitants of planet earth amen.
[...] Act.Based on the overwhelming scientific evidence showing that humans cause global warming and the effects of global warming are a huge threat to humanity, the EPA declared CO2 a public danger at the end of 2009, just before [...]
i think the cause of global warming is the trash we throw out do you know that the fums and STANK of our garbage is also poluting our air and probably twice as bad as the plantations!!!
yep, methane form landfills is a big problem. not the biggest, for sure, but it is an issue.
thanks for the info all are really gud 1
I believe you will find the “real” cause of “global warming” if you follow the money!
The money being the fossil fuel industry’s trillions of dollars in Profit?
And tremendous expenditures on govt lobbying and political donations.
[...] effects of climate change are the leading cause of a food shortage. The world is experiencing a catastrophic change in [...]
[...] NEWS: The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has created an awesome “Hot Map” of global warming effects around the world. You just click on the familiar google maps bubbles to see the effects happening [...]
[...] Well, I’m sure it will be no time before governments enact smart climate change and clean energy policy, since the math is deadly clear (sorry for the pun) and only an idiot or a scum-ball would ignore the obvious path we should take and not take action to stop climate change and its horrendous effects. [...]
[...] The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 100 million Americans live in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution. Much of that can be attributed to the increased emissions from cars and trucks, which are also major contributors to climate change. [...]
[...] CEOs (and many others) have made more than clear, a price on CO2 is critical to us addressing the causes of global warming (which are clearly human-caused) and propelling ourselves and the world into a clean energy economy [...]
[...] to global warming.”Solar PV Panels Help (in Multiple Ways)Now, solar PV panels help address global warming in even more ways now.Aside from using sunlight instead of fossil fuels to create electricity, they [...]
[...] and stronger droughts projected in the coming decades, one of the long-predicted effects of global warming), is something we’ve covered a few times on CleanTechnica.Wind energy being the cheapest [...]
thxs alot of help