Environmental Science

I recently read an article about global warming because that is one of the most widely talked about issues in our world today. Before i started reading i had never really understood what people meant when they talked about global warming, “greenhouse gasses,” fossil fuels, etc. And i never really cared because things seemed fine to me: it was cold in the winter, warm in the spring, hot in the summer, and a little cool in the fall. i figured it was just some new topic that a bunch of scientists were a little too excited over, but i was wrong. The article i read explained what global warming was:a rise in the Earth’s temperature due to an excess in the burning of fossil fuels such as Carbon dioxide, Methane, and Nitrous oxide.  According to the EPA the major causes of Global Warming are

• Electricity Generation: 33.9%
• Transportation: 26.8%
• Industry: 18.8%
• Agriculture: 7.6%
• Residential: 7.6%
• Commercial: 4.7%

Not only is a rise in temperature an effect of global warming, but other effects include rising sea levels, increased extreme weather events, harmful effects on certain ecosystems, and the expansion in range of tropical diseases.  Major changes in transpotation and energy need to be made ASAP if the “slippery slope” of global warming is going to end. Hopefully in the near future new types of vehicles and fuels will be created so global warming will end or at least slow down.

So, for me, what first seemed like a just some topic off in the science world, is now a major factor in what i do in every day life. Just driving my car and being on the road with hundreds of other people proves that pretty much every person is a contributor to this rising situation. Global Warming will be a great topic to watch develop and continue on in the next few years.