The United States government came out with a 145-page report on global warming this week, determining that the global warming from this century could quite possibly cause drastic changes in the national climate, including potentially severe droughts, flooding and erosion of coastal areas.
The document, which is based on computer models and historical data, is titled "Climate Change Impacts on the United States." The report's results conclude that global warming in this century could bring about mass migrations of species and substantial shifts in agriculture.
The experts who were involved in the study have concluded that average US temperatures could possibly rise to a greater degree than projected warming for the planet as a whole. What this translates into is more summer urban heat waves and gentler winters across the nation.
Along with that, the threat of drought could become a reality. This easily seems far-fetched, being that studies have shown that nationwide precipitation rose 5 -10% in the 20th century and is estimated to rise another 10% by the end of the 21st century.
However, despite these projections, the western United States may be in trouble due to the fact that hotter conditions enhance evaporation. As temperatures rise, the report projects that the rate of heat-related deaths could double or triple in the Midwest, where the temperature during the summertime has historically been temperate. Along with that, many of the nations ecosystems that have been suffering for a long time, such as alpine meadows, coral reefs, coastal wetlands and Alaskan permafrost, will likely deteriorate or even disappear altogether.
Regardless of this information and analysis, experts believe that the "bulk" of the nation will be able to adapt to the changes. However, is adaptation the answer to our problems? We have been "adapting" our environment excessively since the advent of the Industrial Revolution. With all of our adaptation, is it possible that we have gone overboard with the use of certain technologies?
For example, let's think about the cars that are parked by yourself and your neighbors on your block. We use fossil fuels in order to make our vehicles go. When those fuels are burned, they produce a lot of greenhouse gases. As a result, more heat is trapped - and, scientists say, the earth's thermostat is nudged up. With every engine contributing to global warming, you can now imagine the multitude of cars that are on the roads every day in every city, town and/or province, affecting the planet we live on. "It is like pushing the fast forward button - speeding up the process, accelerating what may be part of the natural process," says oceanographer Sylvia Earle.
Earle believes that we are at a crossroads right now, with the ball being in our court so to speak. "This is a pivotal time in history, and I think as such we should take the responsibility pretty seriously and look at what we can do," she says.
Just what can we do? For starters, there is a need for people to change the lackadaisical attitude that currently exists about the usage and maintenance of the earth. Secondly, with a renewed consciousness, we should become better informed about what actually causes global warming. Lastly, we should implement that knowledge, like for example, not driving cars so much. By doing these things, our future on this earth may be one that is much safer and healthier, Insha Allah. Also, because we will be more considerate of the creation of Allah, we will be receiving reward from Allah for the efforts we are making to preserve and uphold the covenant of being Allah's trustee on the earth.
Brief But Useful Facts
The 10 warmest years on record (since the 1880s) have taken place in the last 15 years. The family of greenhouse gases includes carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, chlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorinated carbons. Carbon dioxide is believed to be responsible for 70% of global warming.
Statistics taken from the Union of
Concerned Scientists
