Global Warming
Jenny Mallory
Argosy University
Rise of Modern Science

Following years of debate publicly on whether global warming is due to natural activities or is the result of mankind, evidence suggests that extreme climate and weather changes are caused by humans. Over the years, the earths’ climate has wavered many times, from periods of record breaking heat to the ice ages. Changes in the sun’s force and the earths’ course around it, along with natural elements such as; erupting volcanos and the changing circulation in the ocean are said to be the perpetrator behind the rising temperatures on earth. However, there are activities that can be traced back to the Industrial Revolution that suggest the release of greenhouse gases are due to the burning of fossil fuels by humans causing of most of the warming and likely the major influence in the earths’ climate. Our planet is suffering from a serious epidemic called global warming. The compelling force related to our planet’s increased warming is the carbon emissions humans are producing. C02 emissions cause the ocean to retain heat. The rise in ocean temperature is melting polar ice caps, resulting in a rise in sea level. Rising sea levels threaten massive floods in coastal regions. Warm water and moist air cause hurricanes to form. Tropical storms are able to make their way to land by drifting over warm water. Therefore, global warming (the release of C02 emissions into the atmosphere) is responsible for the extreme weather occurring on earth. Our planet could become uninhabitable one day if we do not condense our C02 emissions (Harayama, 2011). Polar bears (along with other species) are at risk for extinction. In addition to the potential hazards global warming has on land, there is equally as much potential for destruction on artic and sea life. Rising ocean temperatures will cause changes in natural habitats and food supply, both of these could ultimately lead to extinction (Shah, 2012). The most recent addition to the Endangered Species Act is the polar bear; “The U.S. Geological Survey warns that continued Arctic ice melting could radically reduce the inhabitants of the polar bear (Shah, 2012). Around the year 2000, the fieriest decade documented was reported by officials at the World Meteorological Organization (Shah, 2012). Officials state that dominant rain episodes have strengthened in incident over the last 50 years (Lewis, 2009). “Scientists say global warming is escalating the cycle of water between the atmosphere, land, and ocean, which is creating more rainfall and excessive droughts at the identical time across the world” (Shah, 2012). With extreme weather, intensified heat waves, and the rise in sea levels, planet earth will be unable to control the spread of disease, grow food, or produce air that we can breathe (Thompson, 2009). Our planet and the human race are at risk for extinction if we do not minimize global warming. Since greenhouse gases include C02 emissions (which is the driving force behind global warming), the most logical way for us to accomplish this is to reduce our carbon emissions. Due to melting ice in Greenland and West Antarctica the sea level will climb as the temperatures rise (The effects that global warming has on our way of life, 2010). Greenhouse gases are trapped in the earths’ atmosphere as the climate rises (D'Silva, 2010). Flooding oceans are the result of rising sea levels, thereby polluting saltwater with freshwater. The rise in sea levels will result in lowland flooding, which will trigger a chain reaction producing the deaths of plants, humans, and animals (The effects that global warming has on our way of life, 2010). This could cause species that flourish on one another to become extinct. Evidence suggests that climate change globally causes increased, frequent, and extreme drought, heat, tropical storms, and rain (Jones, 2008). Crop growth will be challenged due to extended droughts and increasing