Global warming is an increase in the Earth’s temperature, and it is mainly caused by human activities. This is very bad for the environment, causing habitat loss for a lot of animals.
Biology teacher Teena Sullivan says, “If we continue to remove plants from our surroundings, we will continue to increase the rate of global warming,”
Global Warming is also creating ocean acidification, meaning more CO2 will enter the ocean, which is not good for most creatures that live there.
“Most oxygen on Earth is produced by the ocean algae,” Sullivan said. “Unfortunately, many countries dump their waste directly into the water, which eventually reaches the ocean,” Sullivan says.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a Government agency involving experienced scientists who have explored less than five percent of the ocean. Scientists estimate that there are about 70,000-1 million species in the ocean, and NOAA discovers only about 2,000 a year. If the gases are toxic to the animals that are in the ocean, then we may not be able to discover what could be a new discovery for NOAA. The creatures that we have not discovered are not just for “the love of money,” since if we do find some sort of new animal or creature, even an extinct one, they could change the world or even help us live, because we still do not yet know what all lives down there.
NOAA also talks about not only the ocean but also climate change. They are providing data, tools, and information “to help people understand, prepare and adapt to our climate changing,” their website says.
Ever since global warming started, animals like polar bears are known to be “primarily threatened” due to the effects of climate change and can most likely even go extinct due to habitat loss. Global warming is also killing us. Higher temperatures have brought higher air pollution and more pollen production. Global warming’s impacts continue to increase.
Science teacher Teresa Tollison believes harmful levels of atmospheric gases are concerning.
“CO2 levels have risen since the 1700s,” she said. “These levels continue to grow. It is a huge problem that I believe does not have just one solution.
“If we limit combustion from engines in cars, we still have to use fossil fuels to provide the electricity for electric vehicles,” Tollison said.
Sullivan also talks about the impact of industrial pollution.
“Cars do produce a great deal of air pollution, but factories produce a great deal more.” she said. “The US has some of the strictest air quality rules in the world. I would like to see other countries follow our lead and reduce factory emissions as well.”
The dangers to our environment can be scary, but if people cut back on their emissions, we can have a better world.
