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| Courtesy: TopNews.in |
Climate and weather trends will be impacted over the next 500 years based on current pollution trends and observations scientists are making now. Over the last few centuries, the climate has been affected from many human activities. The two major factors that have altered the atmosphere are rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and the removing of vegetation. The elevated carbon dioxide levels will directly contribute to a rising average temperature over the next 500 years, in turn directly impacting the global warming. As humans are removing vegetation in order to create developments and more, there is less solar energy absorbed from the atmosphere. Also, vegetation helps recycle moisture back up into the atmosphere. Over the next 500 years, scientists are predicting a higher average temperature, a higher sea level, stronger natural disasters, and affected water supply/droughts. Humans can alter these current pollution trends and produce a different outcome by changing their behaviors and habits. As a population, we need to stop deforesting and removing vegetation as it is a pivotal piece to our weather and maintaining climate patterns over time. Also, we must come up with clear gases and emission as carbon dioxide and more are severely affecting our atmosphere and climate.
Prevalent and Stronger
If the current pollution trends continued, then in some ways the Earth would be different, but not all that different. Average temperatures would be warmer, and I believe the weather would worsen. Due to rising sea levels, some low lying areas would be gone, (areas such as New Orleans that are below sea level perhaps) storms would be more violent because the wetlands and other natural barriers would be gone. Due to pollution, acid rain would be more prevalent, and stronger. The free carbon in the air would acidify the ocean to a further extent and as a result of this, we would probably lose many species. We may also, of course, gain new species through adaptation. The world population will be significantly larger and harder to feed; this will be doubly bad as the heat may change soil conditions, rendering once viable farmland barren.
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| Courtesy: carbonme.org |
Carbon dioxide (as well as other gases, but I choose carbon dioxide as it is the most prevalent, and based on automobile trends it will continue) will be at unprecedented levels. Smog will be a problem, and by removing vegetation we will take away the planets carrying capacity for these elements. But overall, life would continue, and even when faced with this I'd be willing to bet a month’s salary that some people wouldn't care (it's a shame we won’t be around to see that bet.)
That is the bad thing about global warming, 500 years is a blink of an eye in the grand scheme of things, but it is several generations to us. Therefore, the biggest change we as a race need to make is the change that comes when we realize that even though we won’t be around to see it (or pay our bets) it is our problem. The solution cannot be found if we do not begin looking for it, we may not find it, but if we don't begin looking, how can we expect others too?
Changes are being made
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| Courtesy: galciv2.com |
We are making changes, but perhaps it is not enough, or a case of too little too late. Without education, we cannot expect people to understand the consequences we are creating. Selective harvesting should be applied rather than clear cutting vegetation. Trying to leave woodlands intact, and realizing there is a difference between a forest and a tree farm will go a long way, not only in local climate and species protection, but also in regards to diversity. Environmentally sustainable business practices should be followed; people often overlook the fact that what is waste to one company can be a great resource for another. Sustainable agriculture, crop diversification, and natural fertilization should also be used. As individuals we can make attempts to use vehicles less, carpool, and walk if your journey is under five minutes. For each of us this can also bring about another kind of green, insulating homes saves energy, and costs us less, servicing vehicles can reduce emissions and increase gas mileage. Some products can be sold for recycling, some can be recycled and improve our conscience, either way less of that material will be made causing less pollution.
I'm not sure that the steps I listed will even produce a different outcome; I doubt we can ever reverse it; it is after all a naturally occurring process. But it sure would be nice if we could stretch those 500 years into 5000 just by doing our part.
About the author:
Clark has been a writer for 4 years. You can check out his site or follow him on twitter @wallshark84
