Karen Dang

Professor Kim Sibson

English 231C

04/27/2017

The Negative Effects of Global Warming

on Plant, Animals, and Humans

Introduction to Global Warming

Global warming has been one of the most controversial yet underestimated topics since

the early 2000s. Over the years as global warming continued to emerge into todays society, the

more intrigued society became. This very topic has divided our world into two completely

different categories: The avid believers and the skeptics. More scientists began to research for an

answer as to what was causing the planet and atmosphere to act out in these harsh ways. They

found that not only does global warming drastically effect the atmosphere, but it also effects

humans, plants, and animals. Scientists have reported that global warming could lead to various

types of cancer, respiratory illnesses, and cardiovascular mortality (Patz, Campbell-Lendrum,

Holloway, Foley, 2005). Typically, articles about global warming do not tend to analyze the

effects on plants and animals. Scientists have proven that animals are exposed to similar health

risks which could limit their numbers or even bring them to extinction (Bradshaw, William,

Christina M. Holzapfel, 2006). As the years progress, the research and proof behind global

warming will strengthen and the divide upon society will continue to deteriorate. Scientists are
hoping for new inventions and methods of a clean environment without drastically changing the

lives of people.

Problem Statement

Whether global warming is a real concept or not, there is statistical data that shows

drastic changes in the environment. The biggest complication this topic faces is the non-

believers. Due to conspiracy theories and industry trends, people who do not believe in global

warming become the main contributors. People either believe conspiracy theories because it goes

along with their prior beliefs or they see that the companies are coming up with products that

have a greener thumb. Therefore, they continue to contribute to the pollution of the atmosphere

subconsciously. Unfortunately, these people along with everyone else and animals are affected

by global warming. In this study you will learn that how global warming has affected the planet

and how it all ties back to it affecting us human beings. Further studies can help prove that

climate change is real and is slowly killing all living things. Researchers can implement what

they have found on a smaller and quicker scale so it would convince people sooner.

Causes of Global Warming

Carbon emissions, garbage, and other pollutants are causing these drastic changes within

our atmosphere. The main source of global warming is carbon emissions and the main source of

carbon emission stems from automobiles and factories. The two main parts that contribute to

global warming is gasoline and the engine. The car burns through gas then releases carbon out

the exhaust pipe. The majority of society believes that idling your car, rather than turning the

engine off then back on, saves gas which essentially reduces the amount of carbon release from
their car, but researchers behind global warming have proven this to be a myth. Leaving a car

idle for 15 seconds actually wastes more gas then cutting the engine off then back on (Hayden,

2009). This article by Hayden, only briefly discuss the role of factories and garbage in carbon

emission therefore making it a one-sided article. This article goes straight to the point and does

not allow an explanation for the audience. This can cause confusion for the audience and can

lead to misconstrued points. Pollutants such as perfume/cologne, hairspray, Lysol, and improper

disposal of trash, play a smaller yet lethal role in global warming as well (MacMillan, 2016). The

only downfall from this article has to do with specificity. It talks about what contributes to the

pollution that goes on but does not specify how these items are contributes. This article does not

discuss what happens to the air and spray once it is activated and in the atmosphere. There is also

no comparison to other pollutants. This could leave the intended audience to wander if these

minor pollutants really matter which could cause them to become careless.

How Pollution Effects the Climate

High amounts of pollution in the atmosphere causes a vast change in the climate. Most

people believe that global warming is when the weather is warmer or cooler than expected, but it

extends beyond that. Global warming is a bubble of trapped gasses that causes severe changes in

weather patterns. Global warming has been linked to melting ice caps, sea levels rising,

acidification, more powerful tornados and hurricanes, heavier rainfall, and droughts (MacMillan,

2016). All the effects of global warming connect with one another. An example of this would

include warmer climates in the artic region causes ice caps to melt which then causes sea levels

to rise (MacMillan, 2016). Researchers have found that the ocean has absorbed anthropogenic

carbon dioxide emission which causes the water to become more acidic (Davis, 2007). In recent
years scientists have found that warmer oceans are causing harsher hurricanes (Hopkin, 2006).

These three articles have a solid foundation and the only problem that arises from them is a clear

explanation. All articles provide solid and reliable data to back up their claims, but lack a clear

explanation. For instance, with the hurricane scenarios, the data behind climate changes and

changes within the ocean but does not lay out how both interact and cause a more powerful

hurricane.

The Effects on Global Warming on Plants and Animals

When researching global warming, many people, including scientists and researchers,

overlook how climate change can effect plants and animals. Plants and animals play big,

functional role in our ecosystem. Plants thrive in certain whether conditions: Some plants thrive

in the cold and others thrive in the desert-like climate. Scientists have reported that seasons are

coming in earlier than expected and causing changes in plants and animals. These changing

weather patterns effects the nutrients and development of plants. Warmer winters on the

mountain means less snowfall to keep the soil warmer and insulated which results in the death of

roots and runoff (Walsch, 2008). This then creates dead zone where no plants or animals can

survive. Various forms of algae are the main source of nutrients for underwater creatures, but

warmer waters are causing these algae plants to die along with these underwater species

(Thomas, Cameron, Green, Bakkenes, Beaumont, Collingham, Erasmus, Siqueira, Grainger,

Hannah, Hughes, Huntley, Van Jaarsveld, Midgley, Miles, Ortega-Huerta, Peterson, Phillips,

Williams). Unusual weather patterns are also affecting animals who live on-land. An example

would be deer fertility. Deers whose reproductive instincts are determined how long days are

and birthing is determined by the blooming of flowers are decreasing in numbers (Cho, 2015).
When the season changes 36 days prior to their expected, it causes a contrast in food availability

and birthing times (Cho, 2015). Other species have been reported to come out of hibernation

before their food source becomes available (Walsch, 2008). In this section of study there is a gap

that does not cover the main group of plants and animals. In the plant section of this study, there

is no specific plant that was studied. This leaves room for the audience to question if global

warming effects the plants that play a role in peoples everyday lives. This also extends to the

animal portion of this study. People are interested the plants and animals that play a role in the

ecosystem daily, and not random plants and animals. This data also lacks statistics. Although

there is data and proof of a decline in animal and plant populations there is no percentage or

number that reveals the true extent of global warming.

The Effects of Global Warming on People

Drastic climate changes can also cause major health problems ranging from to increase

chances of an asthma attack to heat-wave related death to cardiovascular mortality in humans.

This century alone has presented an elevation in heat-wave related deaths (Pruitt, 2017). Strokes

and dehydration are more heat related instances that have occurred more frequently. Many

factors come into play when talking about linking climate change to respiratory problems. These

problems all start off with the air that we breathe. Majority of the air the people breathe is

congested with different pollutants. Pollen, greenhouse gases, and allergens pollute the air that

we breathe causing respiratory diseases and asthma to multiply in number of people effected

(D'Amato, Gennaro, Cecchi, D'Amato, Annesi-Maesano, 2014). Another main source of

respiratory problems stems from rapid fluctuating temperatures (D'Amato, Gennaro, Cecchi,

D'Amato, Annesi-Maesano, 2014). Society believes that pollution only occurs outdoors but the
truth of the matter is that pollution is everywhere. Light, noise, and talking a minor factors of

pollution that can add up over time (Pruitt, 2017). Although this article provides visual data and

statistics to back up their claims, it does not directly address the health risks. These articles did

not specifically state how pollution and global warming causes these illnesses but provided the

data that shows an increase in health problems.

Methodology

I am starting my research paper off by looking for the answers for my initial research

questions. With this search I will find basic answers will address the most common questions,

myths, and find new questions that need to be addressed about global warming. After this data is

gathered I will then use Google Scholar or the Old Dominion library database to dig further into

my topic. Before using these articles, I must check their sources for credibility purposes. After

gathering all the data I need, I will then select the sources that I feel benefit my research the

most. The criteria I used to determine what sources to use are credibility, amount of topics

covered, and how well the topics were covered. After this, I made a survey with questions that

help prove my point about global warming. I then walked around and asked fifty-three people to

do the survey on my phone. I then gathered the statistics from my survey and put them into my

paper. Using these articles and survey will help my research in two ways. The first way it helps,

is that it will provide my research paper with credibility. Secondly, it will explain my initial

questions in detail as well as adding on to that area of my research. In the case that there is any

conflicting data within my research, I would further look into their sources and what method they

used to get that data. As soon as all the data is gathered I will summarize each sections of study

and incorporate it all into my paper.

 Findings

In my survey, I asked various questions ranging from their views on global warmings to

what they know about the effects of global warming. When asked, I found that only thirty-two

percent of Old Dominion Students truly believed in global warming. That only turns out to be

seventeen people of the fifty-three that took the survey. One of the questions on the survey asked

people, In what ways, do you try to reduce global warming? If you answered recycling, please

list the ways that you recycle. The top two answers were that people recycle paper and drinking

from water bottles instead of plastic bottles. Although the majority of people do not believe in

global warming, seventy-six percent of people say that they try to recycle and five percent of

those people say they recycle because they care about the environment. Even more shocking,

only two people admitted to knowing the full effects of global warming. Overall, not a lot of

people believe in global warming and its effect on plants, animals, and humans. My survey

revealed that people jokingly talk about global warming and how its effected their lives.

Discussion

Our stubborn society has put up a blockade that has kept us from finding a solution to

global warming. The solution is easier than it appears to be as we just need to go back in time

and take out some unnecessary pollutants. As more research submerges in the future, scientists

hope that they can raise more awareness for the skeptics. With all the research that has been

acquired and accumulated over the years, society can only hope for a solution that fits everyones

lifestyle. As of today, there are already some healthier, eco-friendly choices that have been

implemented into todays society unnoticed. Small inventions like the electric car and reusable
tissues and bottles. Reducing the industrialization of the planet and co-existing with mother

nature will positively affect individuals. As stated earlier in the paper, humans, plants and

animals all play a major role in each others lives therefore creating that chain reaction. Scientists

are hoping that if these changes occur important species, like the bumblebee, would make a

comeback, plants would be more likely to thrive, and people would be healthier beings.

References:

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