There has been a drastic change in the climate in the last 50

years, both environmentally and socially. An exponentially increasing amount of research is

occurring to discover more about the drastic changes that are happening in our environment that
only seem to be increasing. Human intervention is said to be a likely cause to this global
warming sensation. Its been said that ...there's a more than 90 percent probability that human
activities over the past 250 years have warmed our planet (Global Climate Change). Since 1950,
the amount of Carbon Dioxide in the Earths atmosphere has rocketed from three hundred to now
four hundred parts per million. (Global Climate Change) These changes can all be connected
back to the beginning of humanitys industrial revolution and the creation of CO2 forming
inventions.
When President Taft created Glacier National Park in 1910, it was home to an estimated
150 glaciers. Since then the number has decreased to fewer than 30, and most of those remaining

have shrunk in area by two-thirds (Glick, 1).

According to a USGS study of glaciers, glaciers have been melting at a rate faster than
ever before in recorded history. There are three glaciers that the USGS has been studying for the
last fifty years to track the rate of melting that has occurred. The melting of glaciers has been
said to be contributing to the rising sea level world-wide as well as reducing spring water run-off.
The global climate change has impacted numerous areas of the world and their various
climates. Interestingly enough, the melting of glaciers has dangerously impacted a number of

areas across the globe. For example, areas such as California have been affected by more severe
droughts because there is less water run-off. In New Orleans, Louisiana, sea level is rising which
is threatening more dangerous storms. (The Guardian). Sea level has not only been rising in New
Orleans, but in oceans across the planet. Its been shown that the melting of glaciers is not the
only cause to the rise of sea level, but also the rising of global temperature is having an impact.
A stronger greenhouse effect will warm the oceans and partially melt glaciers and other ice,
increasing sea level. Ocean water also will expand if it warms, contributing further to sea level
rise (Global Climate Change). These changes can be attributed to climate and precipitation
changes that have arguably been caused by human involvement.
The question of human involvement has been shown to be part of environmental
degradation. A few theorists say that since the beginning of humanities industrial revolution,
the addition of greenhouse gases and use of fossil fuels have added to global warming. Humans
started using machinery which required fuel, which in turn produced gases such as CO2. Once
released into the atmosphere, CO2 traps incoming heat, which then remains inside the
atmosphere-global warming. Naturally, the world will go through periods of global warming as
well as ice ages- as been proven by geological history. Although, since humans have created
technology which in turn produce high levels of CO2 and other green-house gases, theres been
an obvious and drastic change in the earths temperature.
This increase in temperature has been shown to be obvious because of the shocking rate
at which the glaciers of the earth are melting. The rate of this glacial melt is more extreme than
in geologic, recorded history. Therefore, human involvement has obviously been a factor in this
change in the environment.

There are ideas floating about as to how to control this emission of greenhouse gases to
lessen the impact of humans. Cities have taken initiative to create more accessible public transit
which is a step in the right direction.
Other ways that global warming can be slowed are different sources of energy. These
energy sources have been slowly becoming more available and inexpensive. Solar and wind
energy are two options that are not extremely popular but are efficient and effective. Also,
alternative fuel sources to oil are far off but possible options to help reduce the impact of global
warming on the earth.