.
The article states that the greatest single step America can take in stopping global
warming is to adopt more fuel-efficient vehicles. The Corporate Average Fuel Economy
(C.A.F.E.) act requires all new cars to get at least 27.5 miles per gallon, and light
trucks to average 20.7 mpg. Cars and light trucks consume 40% of American oil and emit
20% of the nation's carbon dioxide. Furthermore, the average sports utility vehicle
gives off about 100 tons of carbon dioxide in its lifetime. The new gasoline-electric
hybrid vehicle will average 45 miles per gallon, thereby nearly doubling fuel efficiency
in the average car. There are many other ideas for cutting gas consumption, for example:
aerodynamic designs; lighter materials; and front-wheel-drive transmissions. This is an
outstanding article because it offers a practical and real solution to the global warming
problem.
Davis, Lee. Environmental Disasters: A Chronicle of Individual, Industrial, and
Governmental Carelessness. New York: Facts on File, 1998. 126-128. The article points
out that as governments of the world continue to overlook the global warming problem,
the situation continues to get worse. The effects of global warming will have dire
consequences such as: hurricanes; floods; and intense heat. Consequences of global
warming are already being felt across the globe. For example, more than 800 recently
died in a heat wave that burned through the Midwest. They are feeling the heat overseas
as well being that England just experienced its hottest summer in over 200 years.
Furthermore, if global warming continues, the polar ice caps will melt and raise sea
levels up by about six feet. This would be disastrous to low elevation countries and
pacific islands. This is a good article because it offers everything one would want to
know about global warming without quoting any scientific jargon.
Forest, Chris E., Peter H. Stone, and Henry D. Jacoby. "Human Influence on Climate."
Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy 16.4 (2002): 47-51. The article states
that humans are not necessarily to blame for the climate change. The author uses the
metaphor of a man saying he has gained weight because he has eaten too much. The writer
states that eating to much is a faulty conclusion because four elements are involved in
weight gain: the potential for error in measuring it; natural changes in body weight;
an understanding of bodily functions; and a record of food intake. The author then
parallels this example to the conclusion that humans are responsible for global warming.
He claims that people do not possess the means to understand the four factors that have
lead to the conclusion of human involvement in global warming. Humans do not have the
technology to fully measure the atmosphere, nor the ability to eliminate the margin of
error. People also lack a full understanding of nature and certainly do not have a complete
record of the earth's climate. This is a good article in the way that it states that humans
might have contributed to global warming, but it would be premature to jump to that
conclusion at this time.
Hosansky, David. The Environment A to Z. Washington: Congressional Quarterly Inc.,
2001. 106-10. The author states that if global warming is allowed to continue, it
could have severe environmental effects. There are several disasters that could be
triggered by global warming: rising sea levels; disease outbreaks; and severe weather
systems. To help stem the effects of global warming, instead of merely slowing it down,
many politicians are looking to the government to create new technology that will reduce
carbon dioxide levels completely. Several environmentalists believe that the United States
should take care of the global warming problem for two reasons: because it is the only
country with the resources to take care of it; and the United States is responsible for
one-fifth of the worlds greenhouse gasses. This is a truly great article because it offers
facts that even a layman can understand, as well as giving accurate statistics on the problem.
"Imagine no restrictions on fossil-fuel usage and no global warming!" Journal of
Environmental Health 65.4 (2002): 32-33. Researchers are studying a method of extracting
carbon dioxide directly from the air, which would allow continued use of fossil fuels
without contributing to global climate warming. The method involves removing carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere, which would reduce the amount of greenhouses gasses.
Additionally, the carbon dioxide that has been removed and stored can be converted into
fuel. Because this process uses existing air, it does not need to be placed in any specific
location, such as hot spots of carbon dioxide. The predicted cost of this procedure is equal
to about twenty cents per gallon of gas, so it is very economically viable. This is a good
article because not only does it offer prevention of further warming, it provides a means
to repair the damage that has already been done by global warming. However, this is only a
study, so there is no proof as of yet that it will solve the problem of global warming.
Jennings, Lane. "Climate Change: What we can do." The Futurist 36.1 (2002). The article
states that there are several things people can do to in order to help solve the current
global warming crisis. Individuals can help by flying and driving less, as well as increasing
their amount of biking and telecommuting. One can also help by eating less beef and instead
embracing a more vegetarian lifestyle. Groups of people can contribute by organizing such
events as a "Car Free Sunday." Businesses can help by installing environmental friendly lights,
insulating roofs and windows, and farming in a more sustainable fashion. Nations can donate
to the solution by funding mass transit, promoting solar power, and letting non-polluting
energy sources compete fairly in the stock market. None of these individual ideas can solve
the global warming crises, but if implemented collectively on a wide scale program they will
have a positive influence on the environment. This is a good article because it offers simple,
easy to follow instructions for each level of society.
"State Impacts - Oklahoma." Online Posting. 8 Oct. 2002. EPA: Global Warming:
Impacts. 18 Feb. 2003 http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/ImpactsStateImpactsOK.html.
The article states that Oklahoma climate has potential to change even more. In the last century
the average temperature in Stillwater, Oklahoma has increased .6 degrees. Furthermore,
precipitation in Oklahoma has increased by 20% in many parts of the state. Higher temperatures
have increased the number of heat-related deaths, especially for single elderly people. With
rising temperatures the rivers in eastern Oklahoma are likely to dry up, which will deplete
reservoirs and add mineral deposits to the remaining waterways. Consequently, the lakes and
ponds will disappear, but the entire state of Oklahoma will turn into a floodplain. The forests
are at risk as well because the warmer weather leads to a greater risk of forest fires.
Global warming threatens the Midwest as much or more that it does the rest of the world.
This is a good article because it applies directly to the current conditions of Oklahoma.
"The Melting Continent." Environment 44.4 (2002). A great ice shelf in Antarctica has
collapsed due to warmer temperatures. The ice shelf is approximately 650 feet thick and has
a surface area of 1,250 square miles, which is about the size of Rhode Island. The warmer
temperatures in Antarctica are climbing due to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
The Antarctic Peninsula has been warming 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit faster than the usual rate
of global warming. As a result, five ice shelves have already begun to recede, forfeiting
landmass to the ocean. Many scientists believe that rising temperatures are causing small
ponds to form on the surface of the ice shelves. The water then journeys toward cracks in
the ice, which deepen until the ice shelf eventually falls apart. This means that the
Antarctic ice shelves are more susceptible to global warming than most other lands. This
is an excellent article because it provides proof that global warming is providing a
detrimental effect on nature.
Ulph, Alistair, and David Ulph. "Global Warming, Irreversibility and Learning." The
Economic Journal 107.442 (1997): 636-50. The question addressed in this paper is what
damages done to the earth affect the policies concerning the emissions of greenhouse
gasses. One view, known as "learn-then-act," states that laws regarding gas emissions
should be lifted so humanity can study and better understand damages done to the earth.
The authors state that this is a dangerous theory as whatever damage done to the earth
by global warming is most likely irreversible. They claim that this would be a very risky,
as well as an unnecessary gamble. The article then provides very complex mathematical equations
to prove its point. Overall, this article gives the scientific side of global warming's causes
and consequences. This is an excellent article because it proves without a shadow of a doubt
that global warming is real and is destroying the environment.
Vitousek, Peter. "Beyond Global Warming: Ecology and Global Change." Ecology 75.7
(Oct.1994): 1861-76. The article states that human actions are responsible for climatic
consequences that are having effects on the Earth's ecosystems. Three causes are identified
as the direct cause of global warming: escalating amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere;
changes in the biogeochemistry of the earth's nitrogen cycle; and the ongoing development of
land. Due to the increase in nitrogen fertilizing, nitrogen levels in the atmosphere have
skyrocketed. In fact, more nitrogen has been produced by humanity than by all natural
pathways merged. The author establishes two major points: The global climate changes are
affecting people now; and humans must be more certain in global issues. This is an
excellent lecture as it covers the entire spectrum of the global warming issue.