| Global warming is highly controversial. There are | | | | There are several proposed plans for preventing an |
| several studies and reports being generated to | | | | increase in temperatures and water levels. The |
| support both sides of the argument. One argument | | | | Supreme Court in California has proposed stricter |
| states that global warming is not the massive global | | | | regulations on car emissions. CO2 emissions from cars |
| issue it is purported to be. While the other argument | | | | are just part of the pollution problem creating the |
| clearly shows evidence that global warming is | | | | greenhouse effect. The burning of fossil fuels and |
| occurring and it is a large problem. In order to | | | | land use are creating changes in the carbon dioxide |
| understand the reports on global warming it is | | | | levels. Studies have shown that carbon dioxide has |
| important to establish what the global warming | | | | increased by 31%. Cutting down the rainforests have |
| theory really is. Global warming is the increase in | | | | created more carbon dioxide to be in the Earth's |
| average temperature both in surface air and oceans. | | | | atmosphere due to a lack of plants to soak up the |
| Another section of global warming is considered the | | | | available carbon dioxide. |
| greenhouse effect. | | | | With the burning of fossil fuels, car emissions, and |
| The greenhouse effect shows that the increase in | | | | lack of plant life in some areas the carbon dioxide will |
| temperature is leading to a lower atmosphere. The | | | | keep increasing. To prevent this increase we are |
| greenhouse effect supports the thought that the | | | | trying to create environmentally friendly cars, |
| ozone is being affected by the rise in carbon dioxide | | | | establishing stricter regulations on current |
| and methane. The above are generalizations about | | | | automobiles, replanting forests, and changing to |
| both theories in order to simplify it and answer | | | | natural gases to avoid burning fossil fuel. The question |
| further questions. The rise in temperature is affecting | | | | will this be enough, is difficult to answer. While we |
| coastal communities. It is important to understand | | | | may reduce carbon dioxide production, once we start |
| how coastal communities and residential and | | | | a chain of events it is difficult to ascertain if we can |
| commercial real estate values in low-lying areas will be | | | | stop it. |
| affected, when, how, and prevention methods. | | | | As individuals we can stop driving our cars for the |
| The Environmental Protection Agency, Consad | | | | littlest things. In other words we can become more |
| Research Corporation, NRCM, and IPCC are just a | | | | economic in the uses of our resources. We can use |
| few of the environmental research companies | | | | less energy or at least create energy efficiency in |
| studying global warming. In a recent study completed | | | | our personal lives, we can also recycle goods. Natural |
| by the IPCC the prediction that global warming will | | | | product use is another idea in order to eliminate more |
| have a significant impact on coastal communities was | | | | carbon dioxide production. |
| found. Global warming is melting the ice on the Earth's | | | | The coastal communities that will be affected are |
| surface. Places such as Antarctica, Greenland, Alaska, | | | | those in low altitude areas. The Caribbean, North |
| Alps, Andes, and the Rockies are seeing an increase | | | | Carolina's Outer Banks, Japan, and other Asian |
| in their receding glaciers. Glaciers around the world are | | | | countries will be affected. The best protection for |
| receding around one foot to one mile per year. The | | | | these coastal communities will be stopping the |
| melting water is flowing into our water systems | | | | increase of sea level. In other cases, sea walls or |
| increasing the elevation of seawater. The IPCC found | | | | retaining walls can be built to help keep the water |
| that seawater levels have increased 4-5 inches since | | | | from reaching the homes, storefronts, and our lives. |
| 1900. They are also predicting that sea levels will rise | | | | Dredging to reduce sea level and increase landmass |
| at least 2.5 feet by 2100. | | | | will need to be done in every country that will be |
| The first part of global warming is the climate change. | | | | affected. The last option is moving. People may have |
| With the climate change we will be experiencing an | | | | to abandon their homes to save their lives from rising |
| increase in temperature around 1 degree Celsius to | | | | levels and storms. |
| 5.5 degrees Celsius by 2100. Other effects of climate | | | | Cutting down carbon dioxide emissions, bringing |
| change include having varying weather patterns. | | | | awareness to individuals regarding global warming, and |
| Hurricanes, snowstorms, and rainfall have been | | | | monitoring the Earth's changes will help save the |
| increasing in certain areas around the world. Each time | | | | coastal communities. Part of the affect will be in the |
| an increase in the amount of rainfall or snowfall | | | | land values and investments in coastal communities. |
| occurs we are gaining more water. While it is true | | | | While the land values are not decreasing at the |
| that evaporation will take care of some of this extra | | | | moment there is every possibility that in fifty years |
| rainfall and plants will help take in the water we will | | | | there will be a decrease in land values due to an |
| still see an increase of water levels. The other side of | | | | increase in insurance rates. Insurance companies are |
| this is creating warmer drier areas. Places like the | | | | not going to want to insure homes for a reasonable |
| desert will become drier from the higher | | | | cost when the sea level increases to a higher danger; |
| temperatures. It is also true in some areas that coral | | | | therefore people will not want to purchase land in a |
| reefs are becoming visible on the surface because of | | | | danger zone. |
| evaporation. | | | | |