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TJ Mace

Professor Pieper

English 1001

19 November 2017

The Effects of Global Warming

The theory of global warming has interested people for many years. Scientists have

always argued whether global warming is real and occurring right now, or if it is just a myth and

a hoax. While they are continuously arguing about this, the environment is taking a serious hit.

Plants, animals, and entire ecosystems are being altered by global warming and humans are the

cause. There have been many studies that show how devastating global warming can be to the

environment, and yet there are some people that deny that global warming is not real. With the

evidence from these studies, one can prove that global warming is in fact, not a myth, but a real

and occurring problem for the environment in many ways and humans are the cause.

One way that global warming is a problem for the environment is that with the rise of

temperatures, many different species of animals are migrating to new ecosystems and wreaking

havoc there. Michael Hopkin, a writer for Nature, reports the findings of C. Parmesan and H.

Galbraith about how the current rise in temperature is causing rival species into contact with

each other and how this could change the ecosystem. One example of this is, “the red fox, which

is already widespread across North America but is now pushing north, threatening the weaker

Arctic fox, says Parmesan” (Hopkin). With the migration of the red fox, competition for almost

everything needed for survival will occur between the two species and the red fox will win. The

result being either the Arctic fox being forced to migrate or going extinct due to the lack of

resources. Another example of this happening comes from Ker Than, a writer for Life Science,
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stating that “many fish species are moving northward in search of cooler waters.” This can be a

huge problem for not just the environment, but also humans as well. With the migration of fish,

predators of these fish, for example sharks or bigger and more aggressive fish, may migrate with

their prey or they could stay where they are and find a new source of food. This might cause a

rise in shark attacks due to the lack of prey for the sharks.

Along with many animals migrating to different ecosystems, global warming is also

causing other subtler effects. One example of these effects is “birds altering the timing of their

arrival at breeding grounds, causing them to have less food and space” (Hopkin). If the birds do

not have enough food or space, the population of the birds will decrease due to the fact that they

cannot support their young. Along with changing their reproduction routine, some birds have

changed their migratory routine to sync up with the warming climate (Talk). Another example of

these effects is, “Canadian red squirrels are breeding about 18 days earlier”. Now, this does not

seem to be bad, but this is happening to many types of animals, not just the Canadian red

squirrel. Even insects are being effected. Both the Edith’s checkerspot butterfly and a gene in the

fruitfly Drosophila are migrating north in search of cooler climates (Than).

Global warming is not just altering the lives of animals, it is also affecting the plant life.

One way is positive, while the other is a neutral change. The positive way that global warming is

altering plant life is that “some plants are thriving in areas where their growth was limited

before, thanks to temperature changes that provide more water, heat, and sunlight” (Than). This

is a positive effect that comes from global warming. The neutral way that global warming is

altering plant life is some plants like, columbines and wild geraniums are blooming earlier than

before (Than). These two occurrences are not necessarily bad but they were caused by global

warming.
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Another part of the environment that global warming is effecting is the ecosystems. Many

ecosystems are being changed and even destroyed by global warming. The biggest ecosystem

that is being effected is the ice caps. They are slowly melting away. Eventually there will not be

any left. On the website, Thoughtco, according to Earth Talk, a website dedicated to answer

questions about the environment, “ecosystems that animals have spent millions of years adapting

to rapidly transform in respond to climate change, reducing their ability to fulfill the species’

needs.” In response to the ecosystem not being able to fulfill species’ needs, they will leave in

search of a new one, causing the ecosystem that they find to change. It is a never-ending cycle of

ecosystems changing.

The last part of the environment that global warming is effecting is humans. According to

Earth Talk, “a World Wildlife Fund study found that a northern exodus from the United States to

Canada by some types of warblers led to a spread of mountain pine beetles that destroy

economically productive balsam fir trees” (Talk). These beetles are going to change the economy

for balsam fir trees drastically. Along with being effected economically, humans will be put

more at risk to animal encounters. With the rise in temperatures, many species will start

migrating to different environments that can fulfill their needs. Some animals will migrate into

populated areas and may cause harm to people.

Scientists have speculated what the cause of global warming is for years. Extensive

research has shown that humans are to blame for global warming. Earth Talk states, “many

scientists believe greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide emissions from human activity are to

blame. Left unattended, temperatures may rise by an additional 2-10 degrees by the end of the

century” (Talk). This is a serious problem and it needs to be fixed.

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All of these greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide emissions are extremely harmful to the

environment. These gases are leading to the destruction of the tropospheric ozone. Without this

ozone, some regions may experience a decrease in precipitation. These chemicals also are

leading to challenges for many different species (Noyes). Pamela D. Noyes states, “Moreover,

the rapidity of climate change-induced shifts in habitats and trophic food webs could affect

contaminant toxicity by altering exposure pathways and increasing susceptibility of some

populations, especially those already under stress.” The exposure to these chemicals is causing

not only the animals, but their habitats, to change.

Even with all of this evidence that global warming exists, there are still some people that

disagree and think that is not human-made. They too also have their own research about why

global warming is a myth. These people suggest that global warming is a natural occurring

phenomenon. Edmund Contoski, a writer for Liberty, reports on the findings of Sir John

Houghton, first chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, about how global

warming is a myth. He says, “In the last 1.6 million years there have been 63 alternations

between hot and cold climates, and no indication that any of them were caused by changes in

carbon dioxide levels.” Along with that, he says, “Manmade emissions of carbon dioxide were

not significant before worldwide industrialization began in the 1940s. They have increased

steadily since. Over 80% of the 20th century’s carbon dioxide increase occurred after 1940 - but

most of the century’s temperature increase occurred before 1940” (Contoski). Both of these

statements say that the carbon dioxide from humans is not the cause of the climate change.

Everyone is led to believe that carbon dioxide is the main cause of climate change. It is

not, based on the evidence from Edmund Contoski. Carbon dioxide is a very weak greenhouse

gas. Edmund says, “Water vapor is a strong greenhouse gas and accounts for at least 95% of any
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greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide accounts for only about 3%, with the remainder due to

methane and several other gases.” Even though carbon dioxide is a small part of the greenhouse

effect, 97% of it comes naturally from volcanos, swamps, rice patties, fallen leaves, and even

insects and bacteria (Contoski). All of which point to global warming being a natural occurring

phenomenon.

Contoski also states that the warming of the earth is not necessarily a bad thing. Those

who oppose him that say global warming will result in “food shortages and a loss of biological

diversity through the extinction of species,” he has evidence that none of these predictions will

happen. Contoski states, “A warmer climate would mean longer growing seasons and would

make agriculture possible in areas where it isn’t today.” Instead of there being a food shortage,

food would be plentiful because of the warm climate. Polar bears, which have been portrayed as

going extinct due to global warming, are actually increasing in numbers. “Today there are 22-25

thousand polar bears, compared to 8-10 thousand 40 years ago and only 5,000 in 1940, before

the big rise in carbon dioxide,” states Contoski.

Regardless of if global warming is a myth or not, everyone needs to start making a

difference if they still want to live on Earth in the future. People can do many different things to

help stop or slow down global warming. One way is to use less energy. The less energy that one

would use, the less resources that are wasted. Another way that one could help stop or slow

down global warming is to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. One could do this by

carpooling, walking, or even biking to places that one would need to go. Another option is that

one could even switch to biofuel. The last way that one could help stop or slow down global

warming is by spreading the word. If one would get the word out about what global warming is

doing to the Earth, people may join in and help stop global warming.
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Global warming is a huge problem that is happening right now and the environment is

taking a serious hit because of it. Plants, animals, and the ecosystems that they live in are being

destroyed and humans are the cause of it. Without the environment all life on Earth will perish.

Works Cited

Contoski, Edmund. "Global Warming, Global Myth." Liberty, vol. 22, no. 8, 2008, pp. 35.
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Hopkin, Michael. “Global Warming Alters US Wildlife.” Nature News, Nature Publishing

Group, 9 Nov. 2004.

Noyes, Pamela D., et al. "The Toxicology of Climate Change: Environmental Contaminants in a

Warming World." Environment International, vol. 35, no. 6, 2009, pp. 971-986.

Talk, Earth. "How Is Wildlife Affected by Global Warming?" ThoughtCo, 24 Jul. 2017.

Than, Ker. “How Global Warming Is Changing the Wild Kingdom.” LiveScience, Purch, 21 June

2005.