Global warming is a matter of great concern that is unfortunately quite often overlooked in light of other problems that seem to be more immediately demanding. However, for all the attention that this issue does not draw, that is how dire it is growing to be. There are many problems that are causing global warming, and if they are not rectified, or at least prevented from here on out there are going to be some severe ramifications in the near future. Greenhouse gases, holes in the ozone layer and the decay of the atmosphere are just a few of the problems that need to be at the very least understood by the general populace.

Greenhouse gases are chemical compounds that are found in the atmosphere. Because of their chemical make up, they allow energy from the sun to enter the atmosphere freely. “When sunlight strikes the Earth’s surface, some of it is reflected back towards space as infrared radiation (heat). Greenhouse gases absorb this infrared radiation and trap the heat in the atmosphere. Over time, the amount of energy sent from the sun to the Earth’s surface should be about the same as the amount of energy radiated back into space, leaving the temperature of the Earth’s surface roughly constant.” (Greenhouse gases, climate change, and energy) So this heat that is formed in these gases merely sits there and radiates more heat than it should.

Another great concern to everyone on earth should be the hole in the ozone that is above Antarctica. Last recorded in September of 2000, the hole was 28.3 million square kilometers. (Antarctica’s Record-setting Ozone Hole) Such a hole in the ozone allow rays from the sun to enter undiluted into our atmosphere with their unhampered intensity. Since this hole is present in one of the coldest parts of the world, where there is so much ice, the potential for melting is extremely dangerous. Already, our world’s core temperature has risen 1 degrees. It is predicted that before the turn of the century, the core temperature will rise another 3 to 9 degrees. Such a great change would cause water levels to rise, coastal cities would start to flood, people who lived on the edge the beaches and coasts would have to move or lose everything they possessed to floods. This drastic change in temperature also effects the weather patterns. Heat waves will last longer and be more severe. Draught and dried out crops will cause strife for our economy. More over that is only one way in which our economy will be damaged.

This is just a glancing off the tip of the iceberg that is the issue of global warming. There are so many troublesome factors that are largely our own faults that are not being rectified as of this time. This is a tragic shame, and if not we ourselves, then our children after us will have to suffer for our ecological apathies, ignorance, and mistakes.