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Illustrative Essay

Maxaline Grimsley #173840

English Comp I

Unit V Essay

Illustrative essay

Most people in our world don’t appear to understand systems theory, systems philosophy, systems science or evolution; leading to some people becoming deniers of climate change. Some deny the fact that global warming is a phenomenon occurring today out of ignorance or out of self-interests which are psychopathic. When evidence points out to increase surface temperatures, rise in sea levels and decrease in ice extent; it means this is not a matter to be taken for granted. Global warming is a reality that we are currently facing in our world. Increased carbon dioxide emissions find their way into the atmosphere and combine with other gases to create a greenhouse effect. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have predicted a rise of 8.6 degrees Fahrenheit come 2100.

There has been an increase in global temperatures over the past fifty years. NASA confirmed that the past year, 2015, was the warmest year ever experienced ever since the dawn of the ice age. They believe that this year wouldn't be different, in fact, they depict an exponential increment. Global temperatures were first recorded in 1880, scientists have noted an inconsistent change in global temperatures ever since. Research conducted by the atmospheric administration and the Climate Research unit shows that surface temperatures will increase exponentially come 2020. The rise in temperature is largely experienced in the Polar Regions where the percentage of ice cover continues to diminish.

The rise of global surface temperatures is attributed to the increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (Balling, 2013). Carbon (IV) oxide, aerosols, and chlorine compose some of the greenhouse gases. These gases are released into the atmosphere as exhaust from factories, vehicles, refrigeration facilities, etc. These gases deplete the ozone layer of the earth, which acts as a reflector of ultraviolet rays from the sun. These gases also have an ability to absorb heat, together with the penetration of ultraviolet rays cause surface temperatures to rise. The most adverse effect of greenhouse gases is their ability to destroy ozone gases. Continuous air pollution will have an added disadvantage of depleting the layer even further, thus causing skin complications in humans due to the ultra-violet rays.

There is a rise in sea level around the globe. Scientists have proven that there is an increase in sea level in the planet over the past century. (Christy, 2015) provides statistical analysis that shows that the sea level has increased by eight inches since 1880. However, that is only a global average, areas such as the Gulf of Mexico have experienced a rise of 10 inches over the past fifty years, and Satellite altimetry indicates that there is a steady rise of sea level by 0.12 inches a year. It, therefore, suggests that the levels are increasing at a larger rate than the past thousand years.

The earth's ability to retain heat due to greenhouse gases has caused thermal expansion in the oceans. It means the volume of oceans increase resulting in a rise in sea level. Melting ice from the Polar Regions, due to global warming, also contribute to the rise of sea levels. Since the frozen ice melts finds its way to the oceans and therefore increasing its volume. Oceanographers are predicting that the continued increase in sea levels would cause a severe impact on global economies come the year 2050.

There is a decrease in the extent of snow and ice in the Polar Regions. Scientists study the extent of snow and ice by using the Artic Sea Ice as the subject. Being surrounded by land and given the sensitive nature of ice with the slightest temperature change makes it a perfect case study. Scientists use satellites to measure the extent of sea ice in this region. It records measurement of ice extent at the end of summer seasons and also at the end of winter regions. Scientists have monitored the measurement results over the past thirty years and have come to a conclusion that the sea ice extent is gradually reducing. The decrease in ice extent means that the volume of ice lost is added to the volume of large water masses, therefore, increasing the sea level.

Scientists firmly believe that global warming is the root cause of this outcome (Wallace, 2012). Scientists have also studied the South Polar Region and have laid out statistics showing an increase in temperatures by 3 degrees centigrade. In Antarctica, the increase in temperatures has resulted in 87% of the Ross Ice Shelf to retreat. Warmed up seas have also affected the Thwaites glacier. The glacier boasts of an area of 182,000 square kilometers, which is being undercut and made to retreat. Take three ice cubes, for example, and place them in a glass half-full with warm water, what do you notice? The ice would melt due to the increased temperature and level of water in the glass rises. The same case applies to a glacier, if the entire Thwaites glacier melts into the sea, it would result in a 1.2-meter rise in global sea level. It, therefore, serves as an example as to what to expect when global temperatures continue to rise. We would see an enormous decline in ice extent in the Polar Regions in the coming centuries.

In conclusion, global warming is a phenomenon that is an actual occurrence in our world. Government and non-governmental organizations have tried to come up with projects and increase awareness of climate change. Scientists have also come up with ways to reduce air pollution by introducing air filters in factories. Electric cars have been introduced to reduce the burning of fossil fuels and emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. As years pass by, climate change is continuing to be felt around the globe. It would require advanced innovations and great change in industrialization to reduce the effects of climate change.

References

Balling, R. (2013, September 08). Increase in Global Temperatures. Retrieved from http://marshall.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Balling-The-Increase-in-Global-Temperature.pdf

Christy, J. (2015). Trends in sea levels and atmospheric temperatures since 1980. Geophysical Research Letters, 28, 1240-1248.

Wallace, J. (2012). Observations of Global temperature change. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.