Global Warming Outline 2
"Global-Warming Crisis" Speech:
Group Outline
Tatianna:
(Intro.)
Global Warming has caused an increase in the average temperature of the atmosphere, oceans, and landmasses of Earth. The planet has warmed (and cooled) many times during the 4.65 billion years of its history. At present Earth appears to be facing a rapid warming, which most scientists believe results, at least in part, from human activities. What can we do to help control and reduce the effects of climate change caused by the temperature increase?
Jazzmin:
Before we can put our efforts towards fixing the problem, we first have to look at the potential causes of the climate change and how the situation effects us. One of the effects climate change has on our planet are the dramatic changes in the weather. The increase in the Earth's temperature could, over time, cause the Northern Hemisphere to heat up more than other areas of the planet. This, in turn, will lead to the shrinking of northern and mountain glaciers, and less ice will float on the northern oceans. Regions that experience only light winter snows may recieve no snow at all and growing seasons wil be longer in some areas. Winter and nighttime temperatures will tend to rise more that summer and daytime temperatures.
Another result of the rising temperatures would be the increase in humidity in certain regions of the world, created by more water evaporating from the oceans. Greater humidity will increase rainfall and storms will have the potential to be more frequent and more intense. However, because of the temperature increase, water will also evaporate more rapidly from soil and cause it to dryout faster between rains. Winds will blow harder and in different patterns. The increase in water evaporation will cause hurricanes to be more severe. Against the background of warming, some very cold periods will still occur. Overall, weather patterns will be less predictable and more extreme.
Severe and dangerous weather threatens the well-being of our environment, homes, businesses, and peoples lives, as it increases the chances of wildfires and other natural disasters.
Daniel:
The dramatic change in weather is definately a serious issue resulting in the climate change. As the atmosphere warms, the surface layer of the ocean warms as well, expanding in volume and thus raising sea level. Warming will also melt much glacier ice, especially around Greenland, further swelling the sea. The melting of glaciers and ice in the North and South threatens the wildlife inhabiting the Polar Ice-Caps and Arctic. The rising sea levels, along with the potential increase in natural disasters due to to the rise in temperature, makes floods more likely. Disastrous floods threaten put island countries/regions and the people living on them at risk; floods can destroy homes, agriculture, and can also leave ocean-life (such as whales, etc.) beached. Erosion of cliffs, beaches, and dunes will increase. Storm surges, in which winds locally pile up water and raise the sea, will become more frequent and damaging. As the sea invades the mouths of rivers, flooding from runoff will also increase upstream. Even a modest rise in sea level will greatly change coastal ecosystems. A 50-cm (20-in) rise will submerge about half of the present coastal wetlands of the United States.
Phil:
Fossil fuels also play a major role in the temperature increase. Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas release carbon dioxide (or, CO2) and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. With the atmosphere becoming richer in these gases, it becomes a better insulator and retains more of the heat provided by the Sun. The average surface temperature of Earth is about 59°(F); the tempertature has continued to rise, about,
1°(F) over the last century. This constant rise in temperature not only affects our weather and sea levels, but also our (and other countries') agriculture. Though a warmed globe will probably continue to produce as much food as it does now, the food will not necessarily be produced in the same places. For example, Southern Canada may benefit from more rainfall and a longer growing season, while, at the same time, the semiarid tropical farmlands in some parts of Africa may become further impoverished. Desert farm regions that bring in irrigation water from distant mountains may suffer if the winter snowpack, which functions as a natural reservoir, melts before the peak growing months. Crops and woodlands may also be afflicted by more insects and plant diseases. Some regions in warmer climates will receive more rainfall than before, but soils will dry out faster between storms. This soil desiccation may damage food crops, disrupting food supplies in some parts of the world.
Brian:
Not only is the temperature increase affecting agricultural practices around the world, but animals and other (wild) plantlife will find it difficult to escape from or adjust to the effects of warming because humans occupy so much land. Under global warming, animals will tend to migrate toward the poles and up mountainsides toward higher elevations, and plants will shift their ranges, seeking new areas as old habitats grow too warm. Human development, however, will prevent this shift in many places. Species that find cities or farmlands blocking their way north or south are at risk of dieing out. Forests unable to propagate (or, reproduce and spread out) toward the poles fast enough, may disappear.
Tatianna:
Along with the reduction of wild plant life, constant increase in the Earth's temperature threatens human health. Warming of the planet increasses the risks of more people will getting sick or dieing from heat stress, due less to hotter days than to warmer nights (giving the sufferers less relief). Diseases found in the tropics and transmitted by mosquitoes and other animal hosts, will widen their range as these animal hosts move into regions formerly too cold for them. Today, 45% of the world’s people live where they might get bitten by a mosquito carrying the parasite that causes malaria; that percentage may increase to 60 percent if temperatures rise. Other tropical diseases may spread similarly, including dengue fever, yellow fever, and encephalitis. Scientists also predict rising incidence of allergies and respiratory diseases as warmer air grows more charged with pollutants, mold spores, and pollens.
Phil:
It's obvious that the climate change caused by global warming is a serious problem that is already affecting our way of life. What are some possible solutions to help further prevent the situation from worsening?
Jazzmin: "Plant Cloning to Heal Deforestation"
Tatianna: "Solar Power as an Other Potential Sourse of Energy"
Phil: "Geo-Thermal/Nuclear Energy..."
Brian: "Recycling to Reduce Pollution"
Daniel: "Environmental Issues and the EPA"
Tatianna:
(Close-Pt.1)
The group may not all agree on the various courses of action towards the climate change, but we are all agreed that humans' actions are responsible for the causes and need to be controlled. Environmental damage can be curbed locally in various ways.
Brian:
One option is to start by creating armored dikes (or, floodbanks) and barriers to help keep garbage from our beaches, etc. from going further out to sea, and help reduce water pollution.
Daniel:
Another possible solution would be for the government to assist coastal populations in moving to high ground. Since the climate change threatens to raise the water levels of the sea and other bodies of water, this would help prevent the flooding of homes that reside on low lands.
Jazzmin:
Government could also do more to help with the preservation of land and animal life. The United States is one of the few countries that still has a chance to help plant and animal species survive by preserving habitat corridors, which are srips of relatively undeveloped land running North and South. By preserving these corridors, plant and animal species will be able to gradually shift their ranges along these corridors, allowing them to move toward cooler habitats.
*Other group members voice their input...*
Tatianna:
(Close-Pt.2)
Either way, the climate change caused by global warming is already impacting our environment and, slowly, our way of life. As people living on this planet, we need to take the necessary steps to insure that the problem does not get worse and do further damage to our planet and us, its inhabitants. By working together, we can create a better awareness and find more solutions to this growing problem. Ideas such as converting to solar power, reausing nuclear energy, raising recycling incentives, etc. cost money and will, undoubtedly, raise taxes, we have to remember that we were willing to pay for the technological advances that contributed to the climate change. We should be willing to pay just as much to fix the problem, as we will benefit from it in the long run.
Group Outline
Tatianna:
(Intro.)
Global Warming has caused an increase in the average temperature of the atmosphere, oceans, and landmasses of Earth. The planet has warmed (and cooled) many times during the 4.65 billion years of its history. At present Earth appears to be facing a rapid warming, which most scientists believe results, at least in part, from human activities. What can we do to help control and reduce the effects of climate change caused by the temperature increase?
Jazzmin:
Before we can put our efforts towards fixing the problem, we first have to look at the potential causes of the climate change and how the situation effects us. One of the effects climate change has on our planet are the dramatic changes in the weather. The increase in the Earth's temperature could, over time, cause the Northern Hemisphere to heat up more than other areas of the planet. This, in turn, will lead to the shrinking of northern and mountain glaciers, and less ice will float on the northern oceans. Regions that experience only light winter snows may recieve no snow at all and growing seasons wil be longer in some areas. Winter and nighttime temperatures will tend to rise more that summer and daytime temperatures.
Another result of the rising temperatures would be the increase in humidity in certain regions of the world, created by more water evaporating from the oceans. Greater humidity will increase rainfall and storms will have the potential to be more frequent and more intense. However, because of the temperature increase, water will also evaporate more rapidly from soil and cause it to dryout faster between rains. Winds will blow harder and in different patterns. The increase in water evaporation will cause hurricanes to be more severe. Against the background of warming, some very cold periods will still occur. Overall, weather patterns will be less predictable and more extreme.
Severe and dangerous weather threatens the well-being of our environment, homes, businesses, and peoples lives, as it increases the chances of wildfires and other natural disasters.
Daniel:
The dramatic change in weather is definately a serious issue resulting in the climate change. As the atmosphere warms, the surface layer of the ocean warms as well, expanding in volume and thus raising sea level. Warming will also melt much glacier ice, especially around Greenland, further swelling the sea. The melting of glaciers and ice in the North and South threatens the wildlife inhabiting the Polar Ice-Caps and Arctic. The rising sea levels, along with the potential increase in natural disasters due to to the rise in temperature, makes floods more likely. Disastrous floods threaten put island countries/regions and the people living on them at risk; floods can destroy homes, agriculture, and can also leave ocean-life (such as whales, etc.) beached. Erosion of cliffs, beaches, and dunes will increase. Storm surges, in which winds locally pile up water and raise the sea, will become more frequent and damaging. As the sea invades the mouths of rivers, flooding from runoff will also increase upstream. Even a modest rise in sea level will greatly change coastal ecosystems. A 50-cm (20-in) rise will submerge about half of the present coastal wetlands of the United States.
Phil:
Fossil fuels also play a major role in the temperature increase. Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas release carbon dioxide (or, CO2) and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. With the atmosphere becoming richer in these gases, it becomes a better insulator and retains more of the heat provided by the Sun. The average surface temperature of Earth is about 59°(F); the tempertature has continued to rise, about,
1°(F) over the last century. This constant rise in temperature not only affects our weather and sea levels, but also our (and other countries') agriculture. Though a warmed globe will probably continue to produce as much food as it does now, the food will not necessarily be produced in the same places. For example, Southern Canada may benefit from more rainfall and a longer growing season, while, at the same time, the semiarid tropical farmlands in some parts of Africa may become further impoverished. Desert farm regions that bring in irrigation water from distant mountains may suffer if the winter snowpack, which functions as a natural reservoir, melts before the peak growing months. Crops and woodlands may also be afflicted by more insects and plant diseases. Some regions in warmer climates will receive more rainfall than before, but soils will dry out faster between storms. This soil desiccation may damage food crops, disrupting food supplies in some parts of the world.
Brian:
Not only is the temperature increase affecting agricultural practices around the world, but animals and other (wild) plantlife will find it difficult to escape from or adjust to the effects of warming because humans occupy so much land. Under global warming, animals will tend to migrate toward the poles and up mountainsides toward higher elevations, and plants will shift their ranges, seeking new areas as old habitats grow too warm. Human development, however, will prevent this shift in many places. Species that find cities or farmlands blocking their way north or south are at risk of dieing out. Forests unable to propagate (or, reproduce and spread out) toward the poles fast enough, may disappear.
Tatianna:
Along with the reduction of wild plant life, constant increase in the Earth's temperature threatens human health. Warming of the planet increasses the risks of more people will getting sick or dieing from heat stress, due less to hotter days than to warmer nights (giving the sufferers less relief). Diseases found in the tropics and transmitted by mosquitoes and other animal hosts, will widen their range as these animal hosts move into regions formerly too cold for them. Today, 45% of the world’s people live where they might get bitten by a mosquito carrying the parasite that causes malaria; that percentage may increase to 60 percent if temperatures rise. Other tropical diseases may spread similarly, including dengue fever, yellow fever, and encephalitis. Scientists also predict rising incidence of allergies and respiratory diseases as warmer air grows more charged with pollutants, mold spores, and pollens.
Phil:
It's obvious that the climate change caused by global warming is a serious problem that is already affecting our way of life. What are some possible solutions to help further prevent the situation from worsening?
Jazzmin: "Plant Cloning to Heal Deforestation"
Tatianna: "Solar Power as an Other Potential Sourse of Energy"
Phil: "Geo-Thermal/Nuclear Energy..."
Brian: "Recycling to Reduce Pollution"
Daniel: "Environmental Issues and the EPA"
Tatianna:
(Close-Pt.1)
The group may not all agree on the various courses of action towards the climate change, but we are all agreed that humans' actions are responsible for the causes and need to be controlled. Environmental damage can be curbed locally in various ways.
Brian:
One option is to start by creating armored dikes (or, floodbanks) and barriers to help keep garbage from our beaches, etc. from going further out to sea, and help reduce water pollution.
Daniel:
Another possible solution would be for the government to assist coastal populations in moving to high ground. Since the climate change threatens to raise the water levels of the sea and other bodies of water, this would help prevent the flooding of homes that reside on low lands.
Jazzmin:
Government could also do more to help with the preservation of land and animal life. The United States is one of the few countries that still has a chance to help plant and animal species survive by preserving habitat corridors, which are srips of relatively undeveloped land running North and South. By preserving these corridors, plant and animal species will be able to gradually shift their ranges along these corridors, allowing them to move toward cooler habitats.
*Other group members voice their input...*
Tatianna:
(Close-Pt.2)
Either way, the climate change caused by global warming is already impacting our environment and, slowly, our way of life. As people living on this planet, we need to take the necessary steps to insure that the problem does not get worse and do further damage to our planet and us, its inhabitants. By working together, we can create a better awareness and find more solutions to this growing problem. Ideas such as converting to solar power, reausing nuclear energy, raising recycling incentives, etc. cost money and will, undoubtedly, raise taxes, we have to remember that we were willing to pay for the technological advances that contributed to the climate change. We should be willing to pay just as much to fix the problem, as we will benefit from it in the long run.
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