The article I read focuses in on
the issue of rising temperatures and its effects on our societies. As the globe
continues to heat, having risen 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit in the past century, glaciers
have begun to melt, raising ocean levels and allowing for the evaporation of
more water. This then is leading to an increase in natural disasters and
extreme weather due to the excessive amount of water vapor that precipitates
and falls back down to the Earth in the form of blinding snow or torrential
rain. This is best exemplified by the devastation of Hurricane Sandy last fall,
which caused tens of billions of dollars in damages and killed at least 90
people, displacing even more. Scientists believe that these storms will
continue to strike, possibly even more frequently, as temperatures continue to
rise. In addition to these storms, the increase in levels of water vapor has
led to more powerful tornadoes as it releases heat into the atmosphere. Rising
temperatures have also altered the eco-system in many parts of the world.
Richard Palmer, an engineer at the University of Massachusetts, has found that
winter has becoming shorter, causing snow to melt earlier and droughts
throughout the American Midwest. In a broad sense, the areas that were already
dry are getting drier, and areas that have been historically wet are now being
drenched in downpours of rain. The article then moves on to reminisce about
great empires that have fallen due to climate change. The Ming Dynasty, which
ruled for only three years due to peasant revolts occurring because of lack of
food and water. So in addition to adapting to naturally occurring climate
change, humans will now have to expect its effects multiplied by global
warming. Finally, rising temperatures have affected the oceans particularly
because evaporation has caused concentrations of salt in the ocean, high enough
to damage life. At the end of the article, the writer then moves on to say that
our best hope is to continue monitoring these levels, but honestly seems
pessimistic about the future.
This
particular article is extremely relevant to our modern society, as it is a
problem we are all living with every day. People know that the glaciers are
melting and temperatures have been rising in the past decades, but most cannot
make the connection between these climate changes and recent natural disasters
such as Hurricane Sandy and the ongoing drought that is crippling the economy
in the Midwest. Therefore, an article such as this carries great importance
because it informs readers of the bigger picture that is global warming, and
how terrifyingly can affect all of us. For example, salt concentrations in the
oceans will kill wildlife, reducing the outputs of fishermen and making the
price of food rise.
I
personally was very impressed by this article’s ability to connect to our
society today, which has such an affinity to turn its back on issues like this.
Though their clear and interesting connections with problems that could affect
the average person, this article has a unique ability to reel in any reader, no
matter how educated or relevant. Some may say that the topic of suffering and
change in the future could make anyone listen, but that does not seem to be
true in this case. By constantly evoking the fears of the reader just by
stating facts this article became a call to action in itself without mentioning
what one can do to help, making its cause even more powerful. Although it was
filled with many great points, I felt that there was a need for a little more
emotion, taking into account the topic being discussed. First hand accounts of
the devastation rising temperatures can wreak would have complemented this
article well and further elicit the feelings of the reader.
Lippsett, Lonny.
"Storms, Floods, and Droughts." Oceanus Magazine. Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution, 1 Nov. 2012. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.
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