Industrial pollution and global climate change

Ignorance is bliss, or so the saying goes; but what if that ignorance came with the price of destroying entire ecosystems? Although we've heard the phrase global warming in just about every news broadcast for the past decade, we still seem to be at a loss for what will happen if the delicate balance that gives us our temperate climates becomes off kilter.
A giant storm wouldn't form just out of the blue, flood part of the Earth, freeze a greater portion, sending lightning and wind storms that wipe out entire cities, and leave millions dead in just a matter of a few days like in the movie The Day After Tomorrow would it? We could survive another Ice Age that lasts hundreds, maybe even thousands of years with today's technology, couldn't we?
There is sufficient information to say that our planet is getting warmer. In the past 100 years, the Earth's temperature has risen around 1 Fahrenheit, which doesn't seem like much, but it truly has a larger impact than imagined. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is projecting a 3-10 rise in temperature by the year 2100. (National Geographic, 2008)
This temperature increase can dry up rivers and other water sources. In a severe drought condition, it is thought that an estimated 35% (around 1 million) of the Earth's species could disappear by the year 2050; some scientists say that that estimate is optimistic, at best. (Goodstein, February 2006) Glacier National Park in Montana has 27 glaciers; there were 150 in 1910. (National Geographic, 2008)
Science can only predict what is to come; however, the predictions scientists are forming come from the current trends they are observing. Most believe that global warming will lead to large-scale famine and drought. Rising temperatures will cause glaciers resting on top of mountains to melt completely. Many villages rely on the melting snow to fill their streams that water their crops and livestock. (Goodstein, February 2006)
Deserts will grow, destroying what was once farm land. A mini Ice Age could settle over Western Europe due to the shut-down of the conveyer belt that brings warm Caribbean waters north, giving places like Britain a milder climate. (National Geographic, 2008)
With glaciers melting not only from mountain tops, but also from the poles, ocean water levels will rise, changing the face of the Earth. Scientists are predicting a rise between 7 and 23 inches in sea level by the year 2100. A rise of just four inches would sink most of the South Seas islands and a large portion of South-East Asia. Around 100 million people live in these danger zones.
Florida and Louisiana are at risk of being flooded completely, destroying crops of fruits (such as oranges, strawberries, and melons) from Florida, and crops from Louisiana such as corn, cotton, and soy. Although neither Florida nor Louisiana are world producers, losing their contributions would still be felt, especially in the pocketbook.
Weather patterns will change and storms may become more severe. Hurricanes, tropical storms, droughts, heat-waves, and other natural disasters may become more intense and more frequent. Today's changing weather patterns supports this theory. Of the past twelve years, 11 of the hottest years have been recorded. (National Geographic, 2008)
Another dangerous possibility is looming: what happens if we can no longer control emissions finding their way into our atmosphere? It is called the Positive Feedback Effect, and it has the potential of making it impossible to control emissions, since we would be fighting Nature herself. Rising temperatures could release additional greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by freeing methane gas locked in permafrost and undersea deposits.
Carbon may also be released from sea ice with the melting of the glaciers. A rise in temperature will also cause an increase of water evaporation. Increased water evaporation will mean more cloud cover. More clouds floating about our atmosphere will act like a wool coat to our Earth, warming her more by not allowing heat to escape. (National Geographic, 2008)
Global Warming isn't going to just go away. This is a very real problem that humanity as a whole is facing. Even if we implemented clean air practices today, it would still take 'years' for these effects to show. Many greenhouse gases stay in our atmosphere years after they were released.
Technology isn't going to save us; our ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment will be our saving grace. As a developed country (as well as the largest contributor to global warming), the United States should step up and take the lead in protecting our future. We need to educate the public about the repercussions of not acting upon this impending disaster. No, the world won't look like it did in the movie The Day After Tomorrow; however, I doubt we'll like the true results of global warming any more.
References:
Goodstein, E. (January 2006). Climate Change: What the World Needs Now IsPolitics. World Watch, 19(Issue 1), 25-27.
National Geographic News. Global Warming Fast Facts. Retrieved March 12, 2008, from
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206 _041206_global_war
ming.html

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Adverse effects of acid rain

The term 'acid rain' is commonly used to mean the deposition of acid component in rain, snow, fog, dew, or dry particles. They are the result of air pollution. When any type of fuel is burnt, lots of different chemicals are produced. The smoke that comes from a fire or the fumes that come out of a car exhaust don't just contain the sooty grey particles that you can see - they also contains lots of invisible gases. Some of these gases (especially nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide) react with the tiny droplets of water in clouds to form sulphuric and nitric acids. The rain from these clouds then falls as very weak acid - which is why it is known as "acid rain".

Acid rain has an adverse effect on forest, freshwater and soil, killing off insects and aquatic life forms as well as causing damage to building and having possible impact on human health.

It is thought that acid rain can cause tree to grow more slowly or even to die. As it falls on a forest it trickles through the leaves of the trees and run down into the soil below. Some of it find its way into streams and then on into the river and lakes, thus effecting its creatures.

On other hand acid rain can affect trees by dissolving and washing way the nutrients and minerals in the soil which help in their growth. It is one of the major causes of the release of harmful substances such as aluminum into the soil. Somewhere, acid rain wear away the waxy protective coating of leaves, damaging them and preventing them from being able to photosynthesize properly.

On lakes and river water, acid rain has a diverse effect. Both the lower Ph and higher aluminum concentration in the surface water that occur as a result of the acid rain can cause damage to fish and other aquatic animals. At pHs lower than 5 most fish eggs will not hatch and lower pHs can kill adult fish. As lakes become more acidic biodiversity is reduced. Acid rain has eliminated insect life and some fish species.

Soil biology can also be seriously damaged by acid rain. Some tropical microbes can quickly consume acids but other microbes are unable to tolerate low pHs and are killed. The hydronium ions of acid rain also mobilize toxins and leach away essential nutrients and minerals of the soil. The effects of acid rain can last for generations, as the effects of pH level change can stimulate the continued leaching of undesirable chemicals into otherwise pristine water sources, killing off vulnerable insect and fish species and blocking efforts to restore native life.

On human health, acid rain have been shown to cause illness and premature deaths. Acid rain can also cause damage to certain building materials and historical monuments. Acid rain can cause weathering on ancient and valuable statues and has caused considerable damage. This is because the sulfuric acid in the rain chemically reacts with the calcium compounds in the stones (limestone, sandstone, marble and granite) to create gypsum, which then flakes off. This is also commonly seen on old gravestones where the acid rain can cause the inscription to become completely illegible. Acid rain also causes an increased rate of oxidation for iron. Visibility is also reduced by sulfate and nitrate in the atmosphere.

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By: Richa Sinha
Article Source: http://www.bestglobalwarmingarticles.com

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