Negative Effects of Human Activity on Near Earth Space

Introduction

Human activities have the potential to affect the near earth environment beyond what humans had earlier anticipated and failure to change behavior could lead to effects that will be reflected back to this race itself. The focal point of this paper is to discuss the different aspects of negative effects that could be caused by Global Warming. The paper shall dwell on these effects under the following headings.

Physical effects

Human activities can exert an effect on the physical environment because of the increased accumulation of unnatural gases within the near earth atmosphere that could eventually cause heightening temperatures. If this occurs, then the earth may undergo glacial retreats in which the volume and height of glacial features will subside. In line with the latter is the possibility that there could be arctic shrinkage coupled with rising sea levels. What this could lead to is excessive precipitation hence further increases in the amount of extreme weather events such as flooding and droughts. Reduced growing seasons especially in the African region will be on the rise due to climate change. The areas suitable for crop growing, the length of growing seasons, and amount of food produced are expected to decline as the years progress. The risk of hunger and water shortages is projected to remain very high in several developing countries. Heat waves, which pose a great deal of health risks, are expected to increase in Southern, Central and Eastern Europe. It should be noted that such physical changes are reversible but the time required to enforce such changes is no less than one thousand years.

 

 

Biological effects

Besides the latter issues, the world is likely to witness extinction of certain plant and animal species. This is largely because most of these organisms have grown accustomed to certain forms of climate and they cannot exist in other conditions. This issue receives scientific backing in the phenomenon of evolution where only organisms that can adapt to changing environmental conditions survive. In other words, human activities could propagate a struggle for survival among species of the earth. In fact, certain studies have shown that human activity could cause an extinction of about one thousand animal species and one hundred plant species.

Economical effects

The temperature increases in the near earth environment may be reflected on the earth and this could lead to higher cases of floods or droughts. Consequently, humans are likely to suffer from such excesses because it will be difficult to carry out usual economic activities. Resources will become scarce and in the process of trying to acquire these resources, conflicts may arise thus leading to war. One only has to analyze the root causes of conflict in third world countries to understand what unpredictable weather patterns could do to the whole earth.

Human activities in the near earth space could lead to new weather patterns that can subsequently affect agricultural yields. The effects of climate change on industry and societies will vary across the continents. The most vulnerable communities and industries are those very dependent on climate sensitive resources and those in the coastal and river flood plains. Poor communities, having less ability to adapt and are depending on the environment for local food and water resources will be the most vulnerable.

Since the level of economic soundness is directly dependent on a country’s ability to feed its populations, then this could cause economic recessions for a number of countries around the world. It should also be noted that regions that were previously considered as bread baskets might no longer be so. In fact, trade routes may have to change with new individuals controlling the world economies. It is also likely that those areas that were dependent on rivers or streams for growth of food and cash crops may have to minimize this dependency since heightened temperatures within the near earth environment is likely to cause minimal summer stream flows. Reduced tourism in nearly all European countries posing economic challenges in the sector is also expected. Mountainous areas are expected to have reduced snow cover reducing the winter tourism while southern areas will have reduced summer tourism. Reduced water levels are expected to affect the hydroelectric power industries and we can just project what amount of loss this could be to most industries that depend on power to run their daily productions.

Societal

Excessive human activities in the near earth environment can alter weather patterns on earth thus leading to migration of disease vectors into certain parts of the earth that had previously not been affected. Consequently, the western world may start experiencing cases of malaria, yellow fever, cholera and other diseases that had been previously associated with tropical nations. Increased diarrheal diseases and toxicity of cholera are expected to rise in the Asia continent due to the increase in water levels.

Conclusion

Human activity has a direct effect on the level of accumulation of gases within the near earth atmosphere that could affect weather and climatic conditions negatively. This will eventually cause economic, political, physical and social effects that will have been propagated by these physical changes.

 

Bibliography

Houghton J. T. (2009), Global warming: the complete briefing, 32 Avenue of the Americas, New York: Cambridge University Press

Keppleer, Frank. “Global warming: the blame is not with the plants.” 4 March 2009 http://www.mpg.de/english/illustrationsDocumentation/documentation/pressReleases/2006/pressRelease200601131/index.html

United Nations Environmental Programme. “Are Human activities contributing to climate change?” 4 March 2009http://www.gcrio.org/ipcc/qa/03.html

Ruddiman, William. “Earth’s Climate Past and future.” 4 March 2009 http://www.whfreeman.com/ruddiman/