Final Synthesis Essay

Human activity helps the earth. Not many people say that, but there are far too many who do. Granted some human activity does help the earth. For example, planting trees or making turbines. How often though, do we see people planting trees or turbines turning in the sky? In today’s world we see more trash than trees. Although many believe that the earth is benefiting from human activity, the facts show that the earth is more like suffering.

One example of how human activity is impacting the earth is carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon dioxide is a gas that is vital to life on earth. So why would emissions of this be bad? Carbon dioxide is also a heat-trapping gas. Too much of it in the atmosphere raises the temperature of the planet. One example is the ice melting in Antarctica. Polar bears and other animals are moving farther inland and sea levels are rising, which will cause problems in cities like New York. A second example is the changing weather patterns. El Niño, which started in 2015, has caused drastic snow storms, floods, and storms. How can the earth benefit from carbon dioxide emissions when it’s melting homes and affecting humans?

Black carbon is produced by burning trees, animal fuels, and diesel exhaust. Just like carbon dioxide, black carbon also produces a heat-absorbing layer that causes the earth’s temperatures to increase. One result of black carbon is the rising temperatures in the arctic. Over the last century, temperatures there have risen by 3.4-degree-Fahrenheit. Half of that rise was contributed by black carbon. Another effect is the changes in weather patterns in South Asia and West Africa. These areas have seen reduced rainfall. Black carbon also affects the Himalayan glaciers. These glaciers melt and threatening water supply for the people that live there. As seen by the evidence black carbon, produced by humans, does not help out the earth at