Global Warming
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What is global warming, and how is it affecting the Earth with climate with its changes? Global warming, also known as greenhouse effect, is the increase of Earths average surface temperature due to effect of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels or from deforestation, which trap heat that would otherwise escape from Earth. Many believe the greenhouse effect is creating many problems that may occur in coming decades; However, I believe these problems have already started within the last couple of years. One major sign of global warming is the rapid change in weather patterns.
I may not be the only one who has walked outside to a snowstorm one day and the next day stepped into wonderful 60 degree weather. Describing that scenario, one would think I went to the airport, got on a plane, and landed in a state with nicer weather. That is not the case. Based on my observation, of the daily weather of New Jersey, weve had outrageous weather changes that I have not experienced in the previous years. I believe global warming is a valid theory, and it doesnt take a scientist to see how screwed up the weather patterns have been. It has been happening for a while now, but only now the effects are more noticeable and have reached dangerous levels on some occasions.
Hurricanes seem to have grown in size and force over the years. Hurricanes generally form over really warm ocean water, usually over 80F or even warmer. Warm ocean water provides energy for the hurricane and causes more evaporation which causes humid air and clouds to form. I believe that these intense storms/ hurricanes are caused because of the greenhouse effect trapping in warm air into the atmosphere causing the warming of ocean waters. According to the Natural Resources Defense council, the number of category 4 and 5 storms has greatly increased over the past 35 years. This statement alone proves that the waters are warming because of global warming. How else would a hurricane form without warm ocean waters?
Meteorologists say they have noticed more hurricanes late in the season and even after the season; a study done in 2008 also proved hurricanes have started earlier and lasting longer. Normally there are 11 named Atlantic storms; however, in this year there have been 19. New Jerseys hurricane season is mid-August through the end of October; Hurricane Sandy hit the last day of October, almost missing the hurricane season “deadline.”
Sandy struck the New York/ New Jersey area, leaving many Americans homeless, without clothes, and some without hope. Hurricane Sandy, merely a category 2 hurricane, raised many questions about global warming. Many say that it was a natural occurrence and global warming cant be blamed for the hurricanes destruction. However, scientists believe Arctic sea-ice melt may have contributed to the high-pressure system that prevented Sandy from moving out to sea.
The issue of global warming has increased dramatically because of melting ice caps all over the world due to climate change; it is difficult to deny the fact that it is causing negative change to the Earth. Specialists have been watching the Arctic region closely because the size of the polar ice cap has shrunk more than 20% since 1979. According