Once upon a time, Mammoths, Saber tooth tigers, and other extraordinary animals roamed the earth. Before man, there were other species that ruled this blue planet. However, evidence shows that the species that lived here many years ago have cease to exist today. The ideas of evolution and destruction still leave us asking questions about events that have affected our planet. Throughout the history of our world we can see the evidence of past ice ages that have allowed us to look deep into our history, not just as a human race, but also as life in general. Many scientists, geologist, and theorist have tried to figure out what our planet has in store for us next. They have analyzed the possibility of a great glacial coverage also known as an ice age. Through the ice age history, causes, and present debates we can glimpse at what happened and what may happen in the future. So, what if an ice age came today? What would happen to humanity? Sometimes the answers can lie in the past, but will this history repeat itself, causing mass destruction to the world, as we know it?
When analyzing future ice ages, it is crucial to understand their past. Ice Ages date back to when the first form of life began some 3.6 billion years ago. According to science and other studies the Earth has undergone eleven ice ages. While some last longer than others, they all carry the same effect, global glaciations. It is hard to explain what really causes ice ages to occur, although there are many theories. It is an uncommon phenomenon that occurs approximately 150,000 years and last a couple million. So, if that’s the case why are so many people concerned about it today? It could be the fact that, although scientist, geologist, and theorist have an idea of wh...
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...ed that the equator, north and south poles were in different locations throughout the history of the world. Plate movements can cause uplift in continental blocks. These uplifts can change the patterns of the ocean and atmosphere. With changes like these, the climate is also affected. Scientists believe this is a factor leading towards the development of ice ages. A. Wegener proposed the theory of Continental Drift in 1922. He takes into consideration that if continents can slide around on the globe, it could bring them into regions of colder climates. As a result ice sheets could develop. Along with Wegener, A.P. Coleman introduces the Change in Elevation Theory. Coleman wrote, “The theory requires that all the land of the world was elevated 3,000 feet and was lowered again three times.” High elevation is directly associated with less moisture in the atmosphere.
15. The pictures above show how the continents on Earth’s surface have changed position over a very long period of time. What explains this change? (S6E5e, f)
Continental drift- led to the change in the physical features of land, its position and a change in ocean currents.
People are responsible for higher carbon dioxide atmosphere emissions, while the Earth is now into the Little Ice Age, or just behind it. These factors together cause many years discussions of the main sources of climate changes and the temperature increasing as a result of human been or natural changes and its consequences; even if its lead to the global warming, or to the Earth’s cooling. In their articles, “Global Warming Is Eroding Glacial Ice” by Andrew C. Revkin and “Global Warming Is Not a Threat to Polar Ice” by Philip Stott, both authors discuss these two theories (Revkin 340; Stott 344). Revkin is right that global warming is taking place. Significant increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is due to human activities combined with natural factors such as volcanic emissions and solar radiation – all together they lead to climate changes and temperatures rising. At the same time, other factors such as deforestation contribute to environmental changes for some glaciers not less than air pollution. However, during global warming not all regions of the planet are affected in the same way, local warming and cooling are both possible during these changes.
Firstly, there are copious requirements that must be adhered to before an ice age can transpire. The most integral pieces of these requirements are: the declination of earth temperature levels and formation of gigantic glaciers; where, gigantic glacier formation is dependent on temperature levels. In addition, gigantic glaciers and ice sheets cannot develop if global temperatures continue to increase. In fact, recent studies have shown that average global temperatures have augmented over the past century: “The coldest conditions of the last 560 years were between AD 1570 and 1730, and in the nineteenth century. Unusually warm conditions have prevailed since the 1920s, probably related to a relative absence of major explosive volcanic eruptions and higher levels of greenhouse gases"(Bradley & Jonest, 1993, p.1). As, the earth's temperature c...
...lision, sea levels were lower. The poles began to gain ice caps. Due to all the ice, the sea levels dropped even more. With the sea levels decreasing, there was more land between continents for animals to travel across. Due to the continually cooling climates, the earth entered an Ice Age. The lower sea levels and new mountain ranges contributed to it. There were a lot more ice caps than there are today.
Several mass extinctions have occurred during the Earth’s history. The Cretaceous – Tertiary Boundary (K-T) Extinction caused the loss of at least three-quarters of all species known at that time including the dinosaurs. The cause of this mass extinction is a controversial subject among scientists but the fossil evidence of it’s occurrence is abundant.
Many of these causes could be prevented fairly easily. If people today would just follow some simple rules, none of these would be as big as they are now.
of species due to a variety of causes. Included is out competition, depletion of resources
Biodiversity loss can lead to extinction, and hurt human life. It is our responsibility to take care of the environment. We bring in machines that harm the environment and destroy animal life. We need to limit ourselves on how much land and resources we consume. There are major issues that are causing species to become extinct and hurt our way of life and other animals do to the change in food chain.
The warming of the Earth is known more commonly as global warming. Maybe this subject is going to be fought over for centuries while we squander the time we have left, but even if we did stop doing the things that cause global warming, it will not bring it to a standstill. The main cause is pollution, and although scientists say that crude oil will be a thing of the past, alternatives to it will be created. Whether you consider the future to be one hundred years away or just a second, the conception of the future is always the same. There are numerous views on the future, but each one says the identical thing.
Currently, scientists believe that once an ice age has been triggered, oceanic circulation currents can change and the mixing of the oceans cools the southern hemisphere. As glaciers begin to accumulate in the northern hemisphere, solar heat is reflected off the snow which leads to further cooling.
... temperatures will drop so low that the “Ice Age” will began. After the polar ice caps melt, we will experience the effect of the frozen freshwater entering into the conveyor belt system that circulates warm water around the Earth and the cold freshwater will dilute the warm salty water and effectively turn off the ecosystem. Then the possible end of days or "Ice Age” will be in affect.
Nowadays it is common to read articles in newspapers and magazines regarding biodiversity issues. Human beings have been knowingly and unknowingly destroying biodiversity since their existence. Biodiversity is the measure of the variety of species of animals living in an area. Forests are usually areas with high biodiversity while deserts are the opposite. Human beings have always destroyed biodiversity either by deforestation, or by some other means. Biodiversity depletion is a natural phenomenon. But the present levels of biodiversity depletion are many times higher than the natural rate. Recently the levels of loss in biodiversity have started causing global concern. Some of the main causes for loss in biodiversity are alteration of habitats, increasing levels of pollution and human population growth.
Our planet has managed to survive and thrive for about 4.54 billion years. In the last 2 million years we have caused enough damage and destruction to make our world “broken” beyond repair. We will not be able to get back the world we once had. The reason behind this is global warming, specifically, the increase of the global temperature due to the burning of fossil fuels and the release of greenhouse gas emissions into our atmosphere. If we do not make the issue of global warming a priority in today`s society, our entire way of life will be at risk. There are many reasons why so many people believe global warming should be a concern. Thoroughly examined points include: scientific predictions, rising temperatures, human causes, drastic climate changes and animal adaptations. Though there are several points arguing how global warming should not be a concern, the reality of the matter is that it needs to be taken into consideration on a global scale before it is too late, as to do nothing would have devastating implications on humankind.
As Robert Frost once said, “ Some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire.” This excerpt can relate to the idea of global warming. Global warming can be defined as an increase in the earth's average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in climate and that may result from the greenhouse effect. During the past 10,000 years the earth has been in an ever-growing cycle that has significantly changed the climate. These changes are becoming more prevalent in our world today in the past 150 years. Scientists have been analyzing the causes and effects of the greenhouse effect and many other issues that global warming has presented. As John Houghton states in his book, Global Warming the Complete Briefing, on page 2 “ The 1980s and 1990s were unusually warm. Globally speaking, the decades have been the warmest since accurate records began somewhat over a hundred years ago and these unusually warm years are continuing into the twenty-first century.” There are countless records that show that our world as a whole is getting warmer, and the facts cannot be disputed. Everyone in the world today is experiencing the effects of global warming. These effects might be small now, but if we don’t protect our planet now then the consequences will greatly be increased.