Essay - Environmental Isses Explain the Greenhouse Effect. What are the Most...

Environmental isses

Explain the greenhouse effect. What are ***** most important greenhouse gases?

Like a greenhouse, the earth's atmosphere uses heat from the sun. Certain gases in the earth's atmosphere like water vapors, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane trap the ********** energy. Without these gases, heat would escape back into space and Earth's average temperature ***** be about 60ºF colder, making it impossible for human *****ings to survive ('The Greenhouse Effect," EPA, 2008). However, the ***** ***** has made the earth artificially warmer, due ***** the increased use of fossil fuels since the Industrial revolution, deforestation, and ***** increased consumption and raising of animals that let off methane in their waste (How ***** extra greenhouse gases produced?" CBBC, 2008).

What calamities do scientists predict may result from global warming? Name at least three possible consequences to ***** health.

***** sea levels will rise because water expands when it is heated, and polar ice will melt, causing costal flooding. Hurricanes, tornadoes ***** other storms caused by changes in heat and levels of water evaporation will become more common. The increased heat ***** cause lakes ***** streams to dry up in drought-plagued areas ***** the world. Hot areas like deserts will grow hotter, while cool areas ***** not be able to support animals that need ***** live ***** cold temperatures. Thus, natural disasters, thirst, the displacement of species and peoples ***** their native habitats, homes, ***** ways ***** life, are all *****ly ***** of global ***** ("So what could happen?" CBBC, *****).

Newspaper Article on Global Warming

Michael Pollan, author of the Omnivore's Dilemma, wrote a provocative editorial for the New York Times ***** April 20, 2008 entitled "Why Bother?" Pollan points out that the sheer magnitude ***** ***** problem of global warming *****ten seems overwhelming and the fact that even people who are the ***** conscientious about changing *****ir lifestyle cannot cause a great dent in the ***** footpr*****t of the developed world. Virtue is derided as self-serving egotism by the Wall Street Journal, ***** it can ***** notoriously difficult to calculate the carbon footprint of a particular *****em ***** activity versus its environmentally friendly replacement (Pollan, 2008, p.1). But, Pollan argues: "***** us to wait for legislation or technology to solve the problem of how we're living our *****s suggests we're not really serio***** about ***** (Pollan, *****, p.2). ***** hopes that soon, "Driving an S.U.V. or eating a 24-ounce ste*****k or illuminating your McMansion like an airport runway at night might come to be regarded as outrages to hum***** conscience. Not having things might be***** ********** than having them" (Pollan, 2008, p.3). Cooler on a literal as well as a met*****phorical level, that is!

What steps can individuals take ***** reduce ***** gases?

***** regular light bulbs with energy-efficient designs. Turning ***** the lights, or other appliances ***** not using them. Using more energy-efficient appliances. Driving a hybrid vehicle or at least a smaller, used vehicle. Walking ***** riding a bike more often. Eating less meat and dairy