The Effects of Global Warming on Rain Forests Essay Example

The Effects of Global Warming on Rain Forests Paper Contents of Paper Global warming is the rise in the average temperature of Earths atmosphere and oceans since the late 1 9th century and its projected continuation. It has affected many parts of our world, most known and some unknown. One area of Earth that has been affected in particular is the rainforests. Although the effects of global warming can seem immeasurable, because humans and forests alike have been blamed for current conditions, global warming is causing plants and vegetation to grow at alarming rates, animals in the rainforests to go extinct, and ultimately it will cause changes in human life. There is no doubt that the tropical rainforests of the world are in danger. Every hour approximately six species of life in our tropical rainforests are strayed. Experts agree that the number one cause of extinction in the tropical rainforests is due to the destruction of the tropical rainforests environment (as cited in Pants (2012). Some scientists believe that the effects of gl obal warming are not easily measurable. According to (Kerry, 2008) we cannot accurately measure the effects of global warming on the rainforests. Kerry (2007) writes, One reason is the complexity of the system, in which land surface processes are tightly coupled to the atmospheric hydrodynamics. Another reason is that the climate has a highly regional hereafter, and the adjacent Andean topography is so steep it cannot be resolved properly. (Para. 2). Although measurements may not be accurate, it is a known fact that we have seen some dramatic changes in the worlds tropical forests. Since global warming causes higher temperatures in our atmosphere, it affects all life on earth. Higher temperatures in rainforests cause plants and trees photosynthesis rates to decline. As a result, this causes stunted plant growth and reduces the forests capacity to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, (Ignition, 2003, Para 5) and carbon dioxide is he most serious agent of global warming (Reuters, 2004). According to Reuters, (2004) studies suggest, Carbon Dioxide levels have risen by 30 percent in the past 200 years. This is due to emissions from automobiles and forest burning (Para. 6). We will write a custom essay sample on The Effects of Global Warming on Rain Forests specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Effects of Global Warming on Rain Forests specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Effects of Global Warming on Rain Forests specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Research also shows that the Tropical Rainforests itself contributes to global warming. According to (Ignition, 2003) because of deforestation, large amounts of CO, Methane, and Nitrous Oxide is released into the atmosphere from freshly cut, decomposing, or burnt trees. Also, live trees release a substantial amount of water vapor. This moisture contributes irately to the greenhouse gases. Research from (Reuters, 2004), shows that, the growth of large trees in the Amazonian rainforests have accelerated over the past novo decades while the growth of smaller ones has slowed. For example, an independent study that was conducted (Reuters, 2004), 18 undisturbed plots in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon were monitored since the asses. Of 115 tree genera, they found that two became significantly more common and 14 became significantly rarer over the 1 5 years of the study. The winners tended to be tall, relatively fast-growing canopy trees, while the users tended to be slower-growing trees that live their whole lives in the dim depths of the forest below the canopy No past anomalies in rainfall Were found that might explain this pattern of change. A second, independent set of study plots nearby showed similar changes (Para. 12). It seems there is a cloud of death that lives among the plant and animal life in rainforests. As a result there is an increasing competition for light, water, and nutrients in the soil. Because oftenest changes, places like the Amazon Rainforests are at risk of being lost much sooner than they ever should. Recently, there have also been numerous animals that have gone extinct in our rainforests. Because of global warming, forests are experiencing warmer climates, which means that animals whose population would thinness be controlled by the colder climates are flourishing. Species that have adapted to the cold depend on mountaintops for shelter. When climate and humans alike ravish their homes, they now have nowhere to go. Additionally, the extinction of tropical species can be attributed to global warming. For example, (Greeters, 2011) list the Golden Toad, the Madeira Large White Butterfly, and the Java Tiger s being extinct currently due to global warming and its affects. Animals in the rain forest are not the only species that are affected by global warming. There are other animals that live in different ecosystems that are in danger of becoming extinct due to these effects. There are far too many to name, but here are a few: Canadian polar Bear; South American Sea Turtles; American North Atlantic Whale; Chinese Giant Panda; Indonesian Orange-tan; African Elephants; and Indian Tigers. (Worldwide Endangered Animal List, 2012) Not only will global warming affect the animals and plants of the rain forest, but unmans will be affected as well. Millions of plants and animals help humans to understand and treat a lot Of disease and ailments that are exclusive to humans. By losing our rain forests to global warming and human activities, humans lose things like maple syrup, peanuts, coffee, strawberries, chocolate, trout, honey, and many, many, more things that are an expected norm for humans. All living creatures, especially humans, will gain more pollen and grass weed which causes allergies, fire hazards which threaten our homes and communities, rising water levels, and a treasure trove of other great and rebel things that can occur. Global warming has many causes and many effects. Although animals and plants dont have the mental capacity to worry about things such as global warming, it is something that humans should be concerned about. Humans contribute to deforestation, and green house gases everyday. The temperature in our atmosphere has risen and is causing the death of forests ATA much higher and alarming rate. This destructive pattern that has been started will eventually compromise the very air that we breathe. Humans have the capacity to learn, understand, and ultimately make changes that will benefit all life on earth.

History of popular culture Essays - Parades, Mardi Gras, Carnival

History of popular culture Essays - Parades, Mardi Gras, Carnival History of popular culture 'Functions of festivals in Early Modern Europe...' University level Essay History of Popular Culture 'What were the functions of popular festivals, etc. in Early Modern Europe? And why did the authorities, civil and ecclesiastical seek to control or suppress them?' In Early Modern Europe festivals were the setting for heroes and their stories, to be celebrated by the populace. They posed a change from their everyday life. In those days people lived in remembrance of one festival and in expectance of the next. Different kinds of festivals were celebrated in different ways. There were festivals that marked an individual occasion and weren't part of the festival calendar, like family festivals such as weddings and christenings. Some took place at the same time every year and were for everyone, like community festivals like the different saints' days. Pilgrimages took place all year round. Annuals festivals like Christmas and Midsummer always took place on the same day every year. In those days the average village in Western Europe celebrated at least 17 festivals annually, not counting family occasions and saints' days. Some festivals, such as Carnival, lasted several days or sometimes even several weeks. In the Netherlands Carnival started every year at the 11th of November (St. Martin) and culminated in a big festival of 'Dranck, pleijsier ende vrouwen' (Drink, fun and women) at the end of the Carnival period, preceding the period of Lent. Festivals were meant to take the minds of the people off their everyday life , off the hard times and their work. Everyday life in Early Modern Europe was filled with rituals, both religious and secular. Songs and stories played an important role in their lives, although they sometimes adjusted the details of the legends and stories to fit the way they thought a certain festival should take place. Popular culture was mixed with ecclesiastical culture in many ways. The story of St. John the Baptist is a good example of this. The ancient ritual of bathing and lighting fires during Midsummer's Eve was a remnant of a ritual from the pre-Christian period. Fire and water, symbols of purification, could be seen as the tools of St. John the Baptist, and therefore a combination of the two elements of popular and ecclesiastical culture was obvious. It looks as if the Medieval Church took over the festival and made it theirs. The same thing happened to the Midwinter Festival, which became linked with the birth of Christ, on 25 December. There are many more examples to be found, such as the connection between St. Martin and geese caused by the fact that the St. Martins Day (11 November) coincided with the period during which the people used to kill their geese in the period preceding the Christian period. Carnival plays a special role in popular culture in Early Modern Europe. It is a great example of a festival of images and texts. It was a popular festival, taking on different forms in different regions of Europe. Aside from regional variations, these differences were also caused by factors such as the climate, the political situation and the economical situation in an area. On a whole Carnival started in late December or early January and reached its peak upon approaching Lent. The actual feast, taking place at the end of the festive period, could take days and would usually involve large quantities of food and drinks. The festival took place in the open air in the centre of a town or city. Within a region, the way Carnival was celebrated varied from town to town. The festival was a play, with the streets as a stage and the people as actors and spectators. They often depicted everyday life scenes and made fun of them. Informal events took place throughout the Carnival period. There was massive eating and drinking, as a way of 'stocking up' for Lent. People sang and danced in the streets, using the special songs of Carnival, and people wore masks and fancy-dress. There was verbal aggression, insults were exchanged and satirical verses were sung. More formally structures events were concentrated in the last days of the Carnival period. These events took places in the central squares and were often organised by clubs or fraternities. The main theme during Carnival was usually 'The World Upside Down'. Situations got turned around. It was an enactment of the world turned upside down. Men dressed up as women, women dressed up as men, the rich traded places with the poor, etc. There was physical reversal: people standing on their heads, horses going