It Is Over?????? NO!!!!

Carbon Dioxide from Power Plants
In 2002 about 40% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions stem from the burning of fossil fuels for the purpose of electricity generation. Coal accounts for 93 percent of the emissions from the electric utility industry.
(flickr)

Carbon Dioxide Emitted from Cars
About 33% of U.S carbon dioxide emissions comes from the burning of gasoline in internal-combustion engines of cars and light trucks (minivans, sport utility vehicles, pick-up trucks, and jeeps). Vehicles with poor gas mileage contribute the most to global warming. For example, according to the E.P.A's 2000 Fuel Economy Guide, a new Dodge Durango sports utility vehicle (with a 5.9 liter engine) that gets 12 miles per gallon in the city will emit an estimated 800 pounds of carbon dioxide over a distance of 500 city miles. In other words for each gallon of gas a vehicle consumes, 19.6 pounds of carbon dioxide are emitted into the air. A new Honda Insight that gets 61 miles to the gallon will only emit about 161 pounds of carbon dioxide over the same distance of 500 city miles. Sports utility vehicles were built for rough terrain, off road driving in mountains and deserts. When they are used for city driving, they are so much overkill to the environment. If one has to have a large vehicle for their family, station wagons are an intelligent choice for city driving, especially since their price is about half that of a sports utility. Inasmuch as SUV's have a narrow wheel base in respect to their higher silhouette, they are four times as likely as cars to rollover in an accident. (read more here)

These are just 2 causes i mentioned, because i felt that these would catch the eyes of readers. Their are many more however, and they should be taken into consideration. Please continue to learn about this horendus issue which has already begun to plague the world we live in, and will only continue to do so unless something is done. This will be my last blog for the semester as my total has reached 36. Thanks for following, and who knows maybe one day you will be inspired as i was to do something about this topic like spread the word through a blog.

Are we Being Affected ????

Agriculture and forestry - crop failure and famine will ensue throughout marginally productive regions of the world. In the UK, agricultural practices will need to adapt; milder weather will benefit some crops at the expense of others. Forestry will be affected: in Wales, native broadleaf trees could suffer as a result of droughts, whereas conifer plantations are likely to become more productive. More conifers will exacerbate some of the problems associated with acid-rain, and, simultaneously, have serious implications for the biodiversity of our woodlands. (flickr)

Human health - over the long term there is likely to be an increase in the spread of certain diseases; malaria, for instance, could reach parts of Europe, including the UK. Urban air pollution is likely to get worse and its associated ill-health effects exacerbated. Heat-induced deaths are likely to increase, especially among the elderly. Adverse weather conditions, such as storms and floods, will exact their own costs, both human and economic: lives will be lost, insurance premiums will rise. (article found here)

I feel like these 2 sections i chose express my concerns on this topic perfectly. Human health and agriculture are very important for obvious reasons. Clearly by now this word of global warming has become a house hold name with countless amounts of blogs and newsletters on this topic. Should we just sit back and watch this happen or try and do something about it?????

Food Chain ??????

(flickr)"The planet is warming, humans are mostly to blame and plants and animals are going to dramatic lengths to cope. That's the consensus of a number of recent studies that used wildlife to gauge the extent of global warming and its effects. While the topic of climate change is contentious -- including whether the planet is actually heating up -- a growing number of documented shifts in traits and behaviors in the wild kingdom is leading many scientists to conclude the world is changing in unnatural ways." (find out more)

• Marmots end their hibernations about three weeks earlier now compared to 30 years ago.

• Polar bears today are thinner and less healthy than those of 20 years ago.

• Many fish species are moving northward in search of cooler waters.

• A fruitfly gene normally associated with hot, dry conditions has spread to populations living in traditionally cooler southern regions.

Again these are serious issues that are going to affect our wild life which is essentially going to eventually affect us. It comes down to the food chain, and i don't know about you but i dont want to eat salad for the rest of my life.

Time Is Running Out

Recent successes in Global Warming include:

• Worked with allies in Congress to craft strong climate policy
• Coordinated U.S. scientists and economists statement with 1,700 signatures calling for emissions reductions
• Engaged aspiring writers and photographers to submit entries to an online book—Thoreau’s Legacy: American Stories About Global Warming
• Educated policy makers and mobilized activists on nation’s first program limiting carbon emissions from power plants
• Played lead role in developing a regional cap-and-trade program in the Midwest
• Helped win legislation in Minnesota to fund a study of cap-and-trade auctions
• Supported international climate negotiations by highlighting the role an agreement on reducing tropical deforestation can play in our report Out of the oods (info from)

(flickr)
"The world's scientists agree that the window to prevent the worst effects of global warming is closing. The United States must act quickly to reduce its carbon emissions at least 80 percent by 2050, but Congress has yet to act. In 2008, UCS worked with allies in Congress to craft such a policy, and bolstered these efforts by organizing and distributing a statement signed by more than 1,700 prominent U.S. scientists and economists calling for the needed reductions."
(more info here)

Basically time is running out, and i'm very thankful that people in high places are recognizing this. Again ill try and keep everyone posted as time goes on.

Boy Is IT Hot In Here!!!!!

7. Global Emissions Now Cause Problems For Centuries Into The Future

Global warming impacts will not disappear as soon as carbon emissions are stopped completely. The changes brought about by global warming will last for centuries, even with no more greenhouse gas emissions being released. It is critical to address the ecological crisis now, because waiting will just make the future even more bleak.

(image from flickr)

5. Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Fossil Fuels Have Increased Since The Kyoto Protocol Was Adopted

In 1992 when the Kyoto Protocol was signed, the intention was to lessen greenhouse gas emissions and global warming impacts, and to improve the ecological crisis. The astonishing fact is that in the years since the Kyoto Protocol was signed, there has been an increase by thirty five percent in the amount of carbon dioxide that is released around the globe. This is proof that the protocol alone is not effective, and other measures need to be taken as well. This is a big global warming problem caused by fossil fuel use global. (find more here)

It seems to me, and sure to you that my blogs have been leaning more towards these lists of things now. The reason I have chosen to do this is because i feel like throughout this course i have given just about every aspect of what exactly global warming is, and what it does. So from here on out i'm going list interesting things that hopefully will catch other readers eyes on this topic. Again please check the link, and i promise you will learn something new.

Global Warming Wrecks All the Fun!!!!!!!!!!!!

Global warming wrecks all the fun, and believe me it will in time if nothing is done about it. You don't believe me well how about (100 reasons why it will). Things such as fly fishing disappearing to wine drinking going down the drain this list will definitely shock and owe you. Most importantly though i hope this list will open your eyes to the real issue at (image from flickr) hand which is global warming.
Say Goodbye to Ski Competitions
Unusually warmer winters caused the International Ski Federation to cancel last year’s Alpine skiing World Cup and opening races in Sölden, Austria. Skiers are also hard-pressed now to find places for year-round training. Olympic gold medalist Anja Paerson: “Of course we’re all very worried about the future of our sport. Every year we have more trouble finding places to train.”

Say Goodbye to Ski Competitions
Unusually warmer winters caused the International Ski Federation to cancel last year’s Alpine skiing World Cup and opening races in Sölden, Austria. Skiers are also hard-pressed now to find places for year-round training. Olympic gold medalist Anja Paerson: “Of course we’re all very worried about the future of our sport. Every year we have more trouble finding places to train.”

Now I don't know about anyone else, but say goodbye to french fries. hmmmm i don't know about that. I'm just glad that i can joke about something amoungst all this insanity, and horrible news.

Lets take a look at another blogger who has something to say for another possible angle or opinion on this issue.

" (more on this here) Hundreds of students from more than 20 countries recently brainstormed ideas on combating climate change -- and they did it online using Google Docs & Spreadsheets. The kids had a blast coming up with solutions to address climate change, and we had a blast reading through their ideas and selecting the top 50 to feature on the Google Educators site. Then to top it off we took out out a full-page ad in today's edition of USA Today so the kids' great ideas would get noticed! Global collaboration has never been more fun and, when it comes to global warming, more necessary."

Again all i can say is that I found this list to be extremely interesting and i hope you do to thanks.

Check This Out !!!!!!!

(THE 33 FACTS ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING) I dont know what more to say other than please

take a look at this. i will list a few reasons that will hopefully catch your eye.

"1). The Earth was formed about 4,540,000,000 years ago.

2).In the beginning, the Earth's atmosphere contained very little oxygen (less than 1% oxygen

pressure).

3).Early plants started to develop more than 2 billion years ago, probably about 2,700,000,000.

4).Through photosynthesis, plants uptake carbon dioxide into the biosphere as organic matter, and release oxygen as a byproduct.

5).Through geologic time, oxygen accumulated gradually in the atmosphere, reaching a value of about 21% of atmospheric gases at the present time.

Lets take a look at another bloggers perspective on this ever growing concern also known as global warming. (another concerned blogger) "The smart charger controller will save car owners money by seeking lower electricity prices and synchronizing car charge times to match those overnight schedules. The device can temporarily interrupt charging when there is elevated stress on the system."

again this is another reason to let us know exactly what is happening in this ever growing problem of global warming.