Swim, Forest, Swim!!!

Remember those early morning swim classes your parents forced you to go to, even when you begged them not to go. Well, as global temperatures start to increase and glaciers start to melt, they may come in handy if the human race survives that long.

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Global Warming:

Global warming is the long term increase of the average temperature of Earth's Climate. Globally, the average surface temperature has increased more than one degree since the 19th century. Some may think that one degree doesn't matter, but the fact is that it does matter. That one degree difference has had major impacts on our planet. Global warming has already had significant effects and they will only increase as we ignore the issue and temperatures begin to rise exponentially.

 

• Rise in sea levels- Global warming is accelerating the rate that sea levels rise as is melts glaciers and ice caps and increasing the threat of floods.
• Increase in wildfires- Wildfire rates are increasing and wildfire season in Western United States is getting longer with the increasing temperatures.
• More frequent and intense heat waves- Hot temperatures have been occurring more often than they did 60 years ago.
• More destructive hurricanes- Research shows that the intensity of hurricanes have increased since the 1970's.



Wild Fire: Picture from Union
of Concerned Scientists



Flooding: Picture by Tim Hayes

Melting Ice:
As climate change continues to be ignored, ice structures around the world are melting. Since the industrial revolution, Carbon dioxide and other heat trapping gases, greenhouse gases, have been increasing Earth's surface temperature. Human activities like burning coal or using gas producing cars are the main cause of the increase of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.

Carbon dioxide levels: Graph from NASA

Glacier in Antarctica: Photo from World Wildlife

Sea Ice in Finland: Photo from World Wildlife

Currently 10% of Earth's land area is covered by ice, 90% is in Antarctica and the remaining in Greenland. Scientists predict that if greenhouse gas emissions continue to go unchecked and ocean and air temperatures continue to rise, the Arctic could be ice free during summer by the year 2040 (that's simply astounding). Even if humans significantly cut back on emissions, more than one-third of the world's remaining glaciers will melt before 2100.
The melting glacial ice slows ocean currents as cold and warm water mix with each other and increases the sea level. Melting ice increases the sea levels, which increases coastal erosion and elevates storm power as warming air and ocean temperatures create more frequent and intense coastal storms. Right now, ice sheets in Greenland are disappearing four times faster than they were in 2003 and contribute to 20% of increasing sea levels. If emissions continue to rise, the rate of ice melt in Greenland is expected to double. If all the ice in Greenland were to melt, global sea levels are expected to raise by 20 feet.
As global ice continues to melt, ocean currents will continue to disturb weather patterns that has large global impacts. Raising water can flood global military bases, national parks and food supplies and coastal communities will face expensive (billions of dollars ) disaster recovery bills. Humans aren't the only ones that will be heavily impacted. As ice melts in the Arctic, wildlife like walruses and polar bears will lose their homes. Marine ecosystems like coral reefs will be destroyed and animal behavior worldwide would be altered.

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Summary: Pay attention during your swim classes, cause if we don't do something about Carbon dioxide emissions they will save your life.

Photo from Google Images