Global warming is something that I have always wanted to learn more about because it is such a controversial topic. There are people who believe that it is happening, and those who think it is not as drastic. Before I formulated my own opinion, I wanted to do my own research in order to get some scientific background. What I found was shocking to me, and I thought I would share it with all of you! This is not meant to sway anyone's opinion in any way, but I just thought that some of this research was really very fascinating.

I first read through an article titled “Climate Change: How Do We Know?”, which provides viable information regarding the evidence of climate change. NASA published this article, and it touches on several matters, including the rise in sea level, the rise in global temperature and ocean water temperature, the melting of icebergs, the increase in natural disasters, and the increase in acid present in the ocean. To supplement this evidence, the article includes graphs and statistics so that readers can fully understand the drastic state the earth has entered as a result of climate change. In order for humanity to understand that it is their choices and actions that are causing these things to happen, they need to be convinced. It is one thing to hear what is going on, but to see it in the form of graphs is much more compelling. People also hear of a few basic changes in the climate, such as increased pollution and decreased air quality from emissions. However, many are unaware that it goes beyond that. For example, people tend to think, “One more person recycling water bottles will not change the state of the entire earth.” This causes people not to want to make simple lifestyle changes like this, when in reality, these changes could make a big difference in the long run.

The second article I found is published by the same source, and it is titled “The Consequences of Climate Change.” This article discusses what could happen to earth in the future if global warming continues to worsen at the same rate. NASA claims that climate change could become an eternal occurrence. Several consequences of continual climate change include a rise in temperatures, the alteration of precipitation patterns, more frequent droughts and heat waves, much stronger hurricanes, a rise in sea levels, and an arctic in which all the ice has melted. This article proves to be a good supplement for the previous article because it shows how quickly matters can become worse. It proves that human actions have a much greater affect on the planet in the long run, giving them the incentive to make changes now before it is too late. If more people are aware that the little things do matter, while it may not completely reverse all of the damage global warming has caused, it can prolong the period of steady climate change before things spiral out of control.

I know this is only a small amount of research, and probably just touches the surface of a much bigger issue, but another thing I discovered is just how many academic articles are published about global warming. So many scientists are so eager to share what they have learned from their research with the community, as well as ways we can help slow down the process.

I know that it is occurring at a fast rate, but that doesn't mean we can't do something to make a difference. For example, recycling plastic bottles! When we simply throw away bottles, it increases the amount of pollution on our planet, and therefore affects the air quality. By simply putting a separate box for recycling next to the garbage can, we can make a huge difference in the long run. Secondly, we need to actually eat all of the food we buy at the store, and be less wasteful. So much energy is invested in packaging and processing food, and when it is wasted, so is the energy used to make it. Finally, try different modes of transportation besides driving whenever you can, and if you have to drive, carpool! This can help to decrease the amount of emissions let into the atmosphere, and can improve the air quality. So, whenever you can bike, walk, or jog somewhere, do it! These are only a few of simple solutions we can all make, but if enough people do these things, they can have a much bigger impact than we might think!