GLOBAL WARMING

Global warming has an effect on tourism and the economies of many nations. Scientists are forecasting that the Caribbean and its surrounding areas will register a constant increase in temperature. The same can be said about the Mediterranean basin. Global warming has interesting effects on the tourism industry.

A characteristic of the northern countries is their low temperatures. With an increase in temperature their climate may be much warmer. This has very important consequences on the tourism industry.

Some counties may suffer from droughts in the near future. Many plants may not resist such high temperatures and many countries may become more similar to a desert. On the other hand, by the increase in temperature, countries like Canada and northern Europe will be more habitable than nowadays and so attract tourists and settlers.

Avalanches may also increase. Places used for skiing may no longer be appropriate for such an activity. So such places will no longer be a tourist attraction. On the other hand new areas may become adequate for skiing. In general we will be witnessing to a shift in the tourism industry.

The consequences of global warming are therefore a general shift in tourism from the Caribbean and the Mediterranean countries to that of Canada and the northern European countries. Countries like Italy, Spain and Greece may become too hot to live comfortably in. Presently these countries have a highly developed tourism industry because of their favorable climate. On the other hand countries like Canada, Great Britain, Sweden and Norway may develop booming tourist industries in the coming years.

Such a shift in the tourism industry will mean also a shift in resources. Northern countries will have to shift more resources from other industries to cater for the booming tourism industry. On the other hand Caribbean and Mediterranean countries must adapt to the new situation and shift resources from the now declining tourism industry to other more profitable industries.

By Bryan Wong

There are many predicted effects for the environment and for human life due to global warming. The main effect centres around an increase in the global average temperature. It's been confirmed by at least 20 scientific societies and academies of science, as well as all the national academies of science of the G8 states, that the Earth's global average air temperature near its surface rose by 0.56-0.92 C (0.98-1.62 F) degrees during the last 100 years. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes that this increase is very likely due to the "observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations, which leads to the warming of the surface and lower atmosphere by increasing the greenhouse effect."

For humans, these changes in climate are particularly dangerous to those who live near the ocean shore and who already suffer from drought, flooding, and poverty.

The IPCC concludes from models that global temperatures will likely rise by 1.1 to 6.4 C (2.0 to 11.5 F) degrees between 1990 and 2100, with the range of temperatures due to the use of differing scenarios of future greenhouse gas emissions and varying degrees of climate sensitivity.

Other effects of global warming include a rising sea level and changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation. In addition, there may be more frequent and intense weather events, such as more intense hurricanes, tornados, tsunamis, thunderstorms, blizzards, etc., though it is difficult to connect specific events to global warming.

Global warming is also causing changes in agricultural yields, glacier retreat, reduced summer stream flows, species extinctions, and increases in the ranges of disease vectors. The increased volumes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released by the burning of fossil fuels, land clearing, agriculture, and other human activities are the major reasons why global warming has been occurring and increasing over the last 50 years.

Effects of global warming are expected to cause more changes as it becomes more pronounced; examples include the following projected climate changes (from Wikipedia):

- "A significant slowing of the ocean circulation that transports warm water to the North Atlantic; - Large reductions in the Greenland and West Antarctic Ice Sheets; - Accelerated global warming due to carbon cycle feedbacks in the terrestrial biosphere, and - Releases of terrestrial carbon from permafrost regions and methane from hydrates in coastal sediments."

It is uncertain whether for sure these events will occur or to what severity they will occur if they do, but most believe that the chances of at least one of the above events occurring are likely to increase the longer and more severe climate change becomes.

Some scientific members argue whether there will be positive effects from global warming, but most agree that any positive effects will be greatly outnumbered by the number of negative effects.

Projected climate changes due to global warming have the potential to greatly and irreversibly change our climate that will have lasting impacts on both the continental and global scales. One effect will be increased precipitation, due to the increasing temperature.

As Earth's temperature continues to rise, a very recent report from the IPCC shows that there will be an increasing impact to natural systems and people, especially those who live in Earth's poorer nations. In 2002, Colorado, Arizona, and Oregon endured their worst wildfire season ever. Also in 2002, drought created severe dust storms that caused hundreds of millions of dollars of damage in Texas, Montana, and North Dakota. Since the early 1950s, snow accumulation has decreased by 60%, which has led to some areas of the Cascade Range in Oregon and Washington to have shorter winter seasons.

As you can see, effects of global warming are very negative on our planet already, from increased air temperatures to rises in the sea level to more severe storms. Currently, it is a challenge to predict how many effects global warming will have and how strong those effects will be, but most of the scientific community is predicting that global warming will have more negative effects on our planet and way of life the longer and more severe climate change becomes.

SAVE OUR PLANET NOW!!!

While many realize that global warming is occurring on our planet, few understand the implications that this may have on our way of life. These rising global temperatures are going to cause a host of changes on our planet, and we need to act now or prepare to adjust to some very profound changes.

First, these rising temperatures present a huge threat to our ice-caps. Layers of ice that have not melted for thousands of years are beginning to break apart and fall into the ocean. One of the biggest ice sheets on the planet, located on Greenland, is at a great risk of splitting apart and falling into the ocean. While it doesn't sound like too big of a deal, the loss of the Greenland ice sheet will cause catastrophic circumstances world wide. The world's sea level is expected to rise as much as 23 feet when the sheet falls, and that spells disaster for the coastal cities that represent some of the largest and most important centers of trade and commerce across the planet. Manhattan would be sunk; much of Florida would be underwater, and that's not even to mention the worldwide consequences. Every area of the globe would be affected by this rising of sea levels, and the disaster caused would make hurricane damage seem like a blessing. Millions of refugees from the coastal cities will be without home or workplace; it would be one of the hugest human issues ever faced in our history. The changing of the climate could also affect a host of circumstances on our planet; crop yields can be affected by the rising temperatures, which would also pose significant problems to a planet of refugees. Much of the land may become barren due to the effects of temperature change, and we may find some of our most arable lands subject to the effects of soil erosion, and eventually, a transition into desert land. Also, water supplies, forests, and plant and animal life would be affected by the planet's changes, and we may not be able to see how significant these changes may affect our lives until they are already upon us. For that reason, it's important that we increase our knowledge of global warming, and do our best to prevent it in the coming years. While it may have adverse affects on our economy and our way of life, we owe it to our children to give them a peaceful, safe planet to grow up in.

We sure here a lot of talk about Global Warming these days, and the amount of PR promoting Global Warming Theory as fact is as alarming as what is being projected and predicted itself. Historically and evolutionary speaking warming periods and ice ages come and go, the geological record shows this, it's hardly any secret. Best of all during warming periods species have flourished not become extinct.

Thus, climate change in a time of warming time is a good thing, not a bad thing. So, one has to ask why on Earth anyone would want to 'stop' a warming period climate change? Especially considering that the opposite is an Ice Age, which actually would kill off many species and probably cause human populations into the area of 3 billion in world population rather than pushing 7 billion right now.

So, why would anyone have so much willful hate in them to reduce the human population and killing off 100s of thousands of species on Earth by promoting a cooling period? Further, the definition of Global Warming is that the warming of the Earth's atmosphere and climate is being caused by human endeavors. Most likely, it is not mankind that is causing this shift, as these cycles and shifts are common on Earth; it is the cycle of things on this planet.

Of course, some percentage of the climate, whether it is actually going up or down or neutral right now, would have to do with mankind, still that percentage is most likely very small. Global Warming Alarmists are either mislead or they are part of the group that has an agenda to push, one which is well funded to the tune of 100s of billions of dollars.

However, if this agenda helps clean the air from human pollution or clean the water, well that is a good thing. The question is should we be lying to ourselves about Global Warming to create an artificial reality and crisis, just to get our butts moving in preventing pollution? Or should we just all admit that pollution and waste are bad and agree to do something about it? Think on this.

Global warming is occurring nationwide and the results are being felt by all Americans. Because the ozone layer is thinning due to toxic air pollution produced by humans, we are suffering the consequences of that behavior. Climate changes and the warming of the earth has been felt over the past decade in all of the states in America. What can you do to fight the heat during the hottest months? It will discuss how to save money by using Louisville air conditioning repair and Louisville air conditioning service to maintain your HVAC system as well as preparing your home to stay cooler from better insulation.

The warming trend has been a concern over the years and has been felt not only in the traditionally warmer climates like the south and southwestern states but also in the colder climate like Alaska and Vermont. One example is of Vermonters that have lived in their green mountain state for 25 or more years. Years ago air conditioning and even a fan was typically not needed during the summer months as the highest temperature usually was in the upper 70's. Now it is not uncommon to have hot, humid days that are well into the 90's requiring some form of cooling for these old farmhouses. Even as early as 15 years ago, new construction never included central air conditioning because it simply was not necessary and now that is no longer the case.

In Alaska the global warming is making an impact on the glaciers and water levels. As the glaciers that had always stayed frozen twelve months out of the year are now melting, it is increasing the areas water levels and causing some erosion of the land. Areas that were once land are now under water due to this melting of glaciers. Many ecologists are afraid that the present generation will be the last ones to be able to see such glaciers exist.

Some states like Florida, Georgia and Texas have always been warm but now have gotten so hot during the summer that is affecting its residents in an alarming way. There are a great number of deaths from extreme heat and humidity in these areas that local news channels are often warning elderly and children to stay out of the heat as it can make them very sick. Air conditioning is a necessity in these areas but not everyone can afford it. Fans in the windows can help a bit but a good idea is to have the insulation in your home replaced that will help keep your home cooler in the summer heat.

In states that have less humidity, swamp coolers are quite popular in cooling residences and work places. This is particularly useful in desert states like Arizona or Nevada where the air is dry and the temperatures are high. The swamp cooler sits on top of the roof and with a fan and water helps to cool the interior space of the home. Many think it is as effective as air conditioning at a fraction of the cost.