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Melting Point: the Issue of Global Warming

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Submitted By jameshanlon
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Melting Point: The Issue of Global Warming What is Global Warming? Well, it is just that, our planet is getting warmer. Due to increased carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in our atmosphere, we are retaining excess heat that usually is radiated into space. This excess heat that is being captured by our CO2 enriched atmosphere is now causing a rise in temperature that could affect nearly every aspect of life. If we do not stop our excessive carbon dioxide output, major changes could happen to our environment and our economic well being. You emit CO2 emissions almost everywhere you go, every time you drive your car, have a fire in your fireplace, and even when you use your gas stove to cook a meal, you are producing green house gases that spread into our atmosphere. When you are using these items they release green house gases such as carbon dioxide, steam (H2O), and methane (Broder). These gases trap the heat in our atmosphere that is usually dispersed into outer space. This is causing our global temperature to rise. But unlike the other green house gases, CO2 stays in the atmosphere for “thousands of years” instead of the “weeks or years” that the other green house gases make residency in our atmosphere. This labels CO2 as the main contributor to global warming (Broder).
Initially, for some people the idea of global warming isn’t such a bad idea. But the suspected outcomes of global warming far outweigh the pro’s that some may see. There is evidence that global warming has been wreaking havoc environmentally and economically.

The rising temperatures are setting off a domino effect of environmental disasters. These warmer temperatures are quickly causing our polar ice caps to melt. The combination of melting and warming is endangering animal species, raising sea levels, and fueling natural disasters such as flash floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and forest fires.

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