Annotated Bibliography On Global Warming Gore, Al. An Inconv
Annotated Bibliography on Global Warming Gore, Al. An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do about It. Rodale, 2006.
This publication, based on Gore’s slide show on global warming, emphasizes the urgency of the crisis. It discusses how a thin atmosphere is being thickened by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, resulting in increased infrared radiation trapping and Earth's warming. Gore attributes 80% of greenhouse emissions to human activities including burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and cement production. The book highlights environmental impacts such as melting glaciers threatening polar bears and penguins, bleaching coral reefs, and rising sea levels. It also notes how global warming affects human life, citing Alaska’s shorter winter drives, floods, droughts, and intensifying hurricanes. The source aims to inform the audience and motivate global action, relying on scientific data for credibility. It provides foundational knowledge on greenhouse gases and their effects, serving as a solid base for understanding human and ecological impacts. This source will support research on biological effects of global warming and aid in structuring an argumentative essay, especially by illustrating the physical processes behind climate change and specific consequences affecting organisms.
Camille Parmesan and Hector Galbraith’s “Observed Impacts of Global Climate Change in the U.S.” (2004) summarizes scientific findings on how climate change alters plant and animal distribution and interactions within ecosystems. It notes shifts such as earlier blooming and breeding periods, changing geographic ranges, and increased risks of extinction for rare species. For example, the red fox now encroaches on arctic fox territories, threatening its survival. The report also discusses changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels linked to lengthening growing seasons, affecting ecosystem processes. Although limited to U.S. observations, its scientific foundation lends reliability. The information will help illustrate how species are currently impacted and can be used to draw parallels to human impacts. For example, the decline of plants converting CO₂ into oxygen illustrates potential effects on human health. The report’s focus on ecological shifts offers valuable evidence, though it’s less specific to individual human biological effects.
Paper For Above instruction
Global warming remains one of the most pressing environmental issues of the 21st century, demanding immediate and concerted efforts worldwide. Scientific research demonstrates unequivocally that human activities, chiefly the combustion of fossil fuels, have significantly contributed to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. These elevated greenhouse gases trap more infrared radiation, leading to a rise in global temperatures and widespread ecological disturbances. This essay explores the impact of global warming on ecological systems and human life, emphasizing the urgency for policy changes and societal shifts backed by scientific evidence.
Al Gore’s book, "An Inconvenient Truth," serves as a foundational text in understanding the gravity of the global warming crisis. Gore vividly describes how the Earth's atmosphere, though incredibly thin, is becoming thicker with greenhouse gases, chiefly carbon dioxide, which accounts for 80% of human-made emissions. These gases trap heat, raising Earth's temperature, and consequently, causing glaciers to melt, polar bears and penguins to lose their habitats, and coral reefs to bleach and die. The author combines scientific data with compelling examples, such as shrinking Alaska highways and rising hurricanes, to illustrate the tangible effects of climate change on human populations and ecosystems. Gore's call to action stresses that the planetary emergency requires urgent intervention—an appeal rooted in science and moral responsibility (Gore, 2006).
Moreover, scientific studies, like those summarized by Parmesan and Galbraith, reveal that climate change has already begun to reshape biological communities within the United States. Changes include earlier flowering and breeding, shifts in geographic ranges, and increased extinction risks for vulnerable species. For example, the red fox’s expansion into arctic fox territories exemplifies ecological imbalance caused by rising temperatures. Such shifts threaten biodiversity and disrupt ecosystem functions critical for human survival. These scientific observations underscore the interconnectedness of ecological health and human well-being, illustrating that protecting biodiversity could bolster resilience against climate impacts (Parmesan & Galbraith, 2004). Despite geographical limitations, these findings reflect broader global trends and reinforce the necessity of mitigation strategies.
The ecological consequences of global warming have profound implications for human health and safety. Melting glaciers and rising sea levels threaten coastal cities, while increased frequency and severity of hurricanes pose direct risks to communities. Changes in crop-growing seasons and water availability can lead to food insecurity and health issues. For instance, elevated temperatures and altered precipitation patterns are fostering conditions conducive to vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue, which thrive under warmer climates (Smith et al., 2014). Additionally, the deterioration of ecosystems hampers natural processes such as pollination and oxygen production, vital for human survival. The interconnectedness of ecological and human systems makes combating climate change not only an environmental concern but also a moral obligation to safeguard future generations.
To effectively address global warming, policy initiatives must be rooted in scientific consensus and social responsibility. This includes transitioning to renewable energy sources, implementing stricter emission standards, and fostering international cooperation. Education campaigns are also crucial for raising public awareness and motivating behavior change. Examples of successful initiatives include the Paris Agreement, which demonstrates global commitment to emission reductions (UNFCCC, 2015). Encouraging technological innovations, such as carbon capture and storage, can also play a role. Combating climate change requires a multi-layered approach encompassing scientific understanding, political will, and societal participation. The stakes are high: failure to act could accelerate environmental degradation, exacerbate natural disasters, and threaten human health worldwide.
In conclusion, scientific evidence decisively demonstrates that human activities are driving global climate change, with severe consequences for ecosystems and human communities. The melting of glaciers, shifting species distributions, and increased natural disasters exemplify these impacts. Addressing this crisis demands urgent policy action, societal engagement, and international cooperation. If concerted efforts are made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to sustainable practices, humanity can mitigate the worst effects of global warming. Conversely, inaction could result in irreversible damage, threatening global stability and well-being. Therefore, recognizing the science-backed urgency of this issue is the first step toward meaningful change for a sustainable future.
References
- Gore, Al. (2006). An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do about It. Rodale.
- Parmesan, C., & Galbraith, H. (2004). Observed Impacts of Global Climate Change in the U.S. Pew Center on Global Climate Change.
- Smith, K. R., Woodward, A., Campbell-Lendrum, D., Chadee, D., Honda, Y., & Liu, Q. (2014). Human health: Impacts, adaptation, and co-benefits. In Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. IPCC.
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). (2015). The Paris Agreement. Retrieved from https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement.
- Hansen, J., Sato, M., & Ruedy, R. (2012). Climate Change: From 1800s to Present. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
- IPCC. (2021). Sixth Assessment Report. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
- McKibben, B. (2019). Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out? Henry Holt and Company.
- Stern, N. (2007). The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review. Cambridge University Press.
- Ramanathan, V., & Feng, Y. (2009). Air Pollution, Greenhouse Gases, and the Climate. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(49), 20456–20463.
- World Wildlife Fund. (2020). Living Planet Report 2020. WWF."