The Next essays

The Next essays Global warming has made the probability of abrupt climate change a real threat to the future. The countries that surround the North Atlantic should expect, and prepare for a very cold future. While global warming has become a problem that no one can deny the evidence of, people overlook some of the consequences that such warming of the planet can cause. As awareness of global warming grows, many fail to be informed about the possibilities and probabilities of abrupt climate change. Although the world is warming up, some areas of the planet may be approaching another "Little Ice Age." Overwhelming facts indicate that global warming is occurring, and that it is becoming a serious issue that should be addressed by all nations around the globe. However, some of the effects and consequences of this growing problem are easily overlooked, or ignored. Opposition and contesting theories abound. Yet, ignoring and debating will not prepare for the probabilities that lay ahead. The planet is warming. The evidence of global warming is irrefutable. The worst part is that the warming is proceeding on an accelerating scale. Many factors contribute to the warming. Human factors cannot be denied when investigating the heating-up of the planet. The Earth's average temperature has been rising for at least 100 years, but in recent decades the rate of increase has itself been increasing. Eleven of the hottest years ever recorded have occurred since 1990, and the top five warmest years on record have all been in the last seven years. The polar regions are heating up much more rapidly than average. Alaska is now as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius) warmer than it was 35 years ago. Average summertime temperatures in Antarctica have risen 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 degrees Celsius) since the 1940's. The Greenland Ice Sheet, the worl's largest glacier, is growing thinner at a rate of about a meter (39 inches) per year. ...