Climate change have been occurring for millions of years now only that what is happening today is significantly destructive enough compared to previous occurrences. Climate change can be simply described as a sudden change in weather patterns over long periods of time such as extreme heat or the frequency of flooding. It can have devastating effects to human civilization such as newer diseases, flashfloods, earthquakes and other calamities. Weather patterns today provide us an indication that we are heading into an environmentally chaotic future.
What better way to measure climate change than to monitor the current situation of the Arctic Ice cap. In 1994, a United States Cost Guard-owned icebreaker went on a journey to the North Pole encountering thick packs of ice ranging from six to nine feet thick. The captain of the ship, Marc Rothwell, recalled that they never encountered any problem with strong waves as the ice prevented them from developing. Today, the open sea has expanded giving us an idea that much of the ice seen before has now melted and joined the sea water.
Studies showed that the Arctic is indeed warming twice as fast compared to other parts of the planets. The increased temperatures are melting the ice caps turning them into sea water which in turn accelerates the melting process. Also, the warmer Pacific Ocean water is also passing through the Arctic basin further melting a larger area of ice. The rapid melting of ice caps is expected to increase temperature levels to record highs. It will also significantly increase water levels making more places prone to flooding and more vulnerable to storm surges.
If you have been hearing the news lately, you may have heard about the flashfloods in China that killed over 50,000 people and the wildfires in Russia which threatened to destroy its capital city. Studies also indicated that the year 2010 will be the warmest year all throughout the history of the planet. While we are already experiencing the negative effects of climate change, efforts by government with regards to climate policy have been dull. In fact, the senate democrats have rejected the proposal to instill a climate policy bill.
The recent economic crisis has also snatched the attention of most governments. The governments of various nations are quite busy solving their economic woes while also forgetting the responsibilities they need to do for their environment. Without adequate attention poured unto a climate bill, we will be facing an environmentally devastating future. The lives of our sons and daughters are totally dependent on the decisions we make today. Countries and nations should cut on greenhouse gas emissions and create an environmental policy that will restore and normalize the environment. If we are really concerned about saving Earth, we should really act now.
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