Climate Change
The causes and effects of climate change are especially prominent in Europe. Climate change is occurring due to carbon dioxide and other gasses trapping sunlight and warmth in Earth’s atmosphere. This causes the temperatures to raise, which have many other effects stemming from it. Firstly, Europe has some of the most highly industrialized countries, such as Italy and Spain. Most to all of Southern Europe is an MDC, and 70 percent is urbanized as of 2015. This means that 70% of the population is in a city, using transportation that emits gasses, and using buildings that use electricity. Europe is also experiencing the effects of global warming. Southern Europe is expected to raise 2-3 degrees in Celsius over the summer. Due to the temperature raises, the glaciers around Europe are melting, and this increases the sea level by 3 mm. Rising sea levels can be dangerous and affect housing and permanent structures near the shore. Also due to warmer temperatures, the plants are blooming earlier and organisms such as zooplankton, are producing more of their species, which interrupts the sea ecosystem. Animals that survive in colder weather are also being affected because the temperatures needed to live are found at higher altitudes. This causes migrations up mountains. The last effect of higher temperatures is the water cycle. Higher temperatures, the highest ever, cause water to evaporate, condensate, and precipitate faster and in larger portions. More evaporation in some areas, especially Southern Europe, cause droughts. In the fall and winter, more floods occur, which destroys ecosystems. Even if Southern Europe, Europe as a whole, or even the world started helping the climate change cause, it would take many years to fix the Earth.
The causes and effects of climate change are especially prominent in Europe. Climate change is occurring due to carbon dioxide and other gasses trapping sunlight and warmth in Earth’s atmosphere. This causes the temperatures to raise, which have many other effects stemming from it. Firstly, Europe has some of the most highly industrialized countries, such as Italy and Spain. Most to all of Southern Europe is an MDC, and 70 percent is urbanized as of 2015. This means that 70% of the population is in a city, using transportation that emits gasses, and using buildings that use electricity. Europe is also experiencing the effects of global warming. Southern Europe is expected to raise 2-3 degrees in Celsius over the summer. Due to the temperature raises, the glaciers around Europe are melting, and this increases the sea level by 3 mm. Rising sea levels can be dangerous and affect housing and permanent structures near the shore. Also due to warmer temperatures, the plants are blooming earlier and organisms such as zooplankton, are producing more of their species, which interrupts the sea ecosystem. Animals that survive in colder weather are also being affected because the temperatures needed to live are found at higher altitudes. This causes migrations up mountains. The last effect of higher temperatures is the water cycle. Higher temperatures, the highest ever, cause water to evaporate, condensate, and precipitate faster and in larger portions. More evaporation in some areas, especially Southern Europe, cause droughts. In the fall and winter, more floods occur, which destroys ecosystems. Even if Southern Europe, Europe as a whole, or even the world started helping the climate change cause, it would take many years to fix the Earth.
Land Usage
Land is limited over the whole world, but we don’t often pay attention to how we use it. Destroyed land in Europe is often the cause of many problems. In Southern Europe, the land is often a victim of construction, farming that leads to overgrazing, deforestation, and forest fires. When the land endures these, it becomes flat and the soil becomes loose. This makes the land more prone to flooding. The loose soil becomes more prone to erosion. In many places in Europe, the minerals in the soil get eroded away, leaving poor, loose soil insufficient for growing crops. In Southern Europe, soil erosion is a large issue due to the coast and many water features nearby. When the soil gets eroded into the coast, fertilizers and pesticides are eroded with it, and can damage marine ecosystems.
Land is limited over the whole world, but we don’t often pay attention to how we use it. Destroyed land in Europe is often the cause of many problems. In Southern Europe, the land is often a victim of construction, farming that leads to overgrazing, deforestation, and forest fires. When the land endures these, it becomes flat and the soil becomes loose. This makes the land more prone to flooding. The loose soil becomes more prone to erosion. In many places in Europe, the minerals in the soil get eroded away, leaving poor, loose soil insufficient for growing crops. In Southern Europe, soil erosion is a large issue due to the coast and many water features nearby. When the soil gets eroded into the coast, fertilizers and pesticides are eroded with it, and can damage marine ecosystems.
Acidification
Acidification is most commonly takes the form of acid rain, rain with a PH of less 5.. This occurs when factories or cars emit sulfur and nitrogen dioxide into the atmosphere. These elements get into the rain droplets, then drop back into the ocean or on the land. Acid rain is dangerous to humans, animals and plants because it gets into the water drinking supply, and then we ingest chemicals. Acid rain can cause cancer in humans. Not only is acid rain damaging to humans and animals, but it also damages historical monuments, buildings, and any structure. The chemicals cause the buildings and structures to wear away quicker. Many historical monuments around the world are degrading due to acid rain.
Acidification is most commonly takes the form of acid rain, rain with a PH of less 5.. This occurs when factories or cars emit sulfur and nitrogen dioxide into the atmosphere. These elements get into the rain droplets, then drop back into the ocean or on the land. Acid rain is dangerous to humans, animals and plants because it gets into the water drinking supply, and then we ingest chemicals. Acid rain can cause cancer in humans. Not only is acid rain damaging to humans and animals, but it also damages historical monuments, buildings, and any structure. The chemicals cause the buildings and structures to wear away quicker. Many historical monuments around the world are degrading due to acid rain.
Forest Degradation
Trees are a large part of the the Earth. They help us receive oxygen, they provide food and shelter for animals, and they provide a view. Then why do we keep harming them? In Europe there are 60,000 forest fires yearly, with damage that can’t be fixed. This figure is most likely to increase in the next decade or so due to droughts becoming more common. Forests are also destroyed with the extreme opposite; flooding. Severe floods cause the uprooting of the trees themselves, or the mineral rich soil. Next, pollution and acid rain cause trees to die due to poisoning from the chemicals. Lastly, humans cut down trees for lumber. Trees are especially useful for paper and plastics, yet we must damage many forests to suit our need.
Trees are a large part of the the Earth. They help us receive oxygen, they provide food and shelter for animals, and they provide a view. Then why do we keep harming them? In Europe there are 60,000 forest fires yearly, with damage that can’t be fixed. This figure is most likely to increase in the next decade or so due to droughts becoming more common. Forests are also destroyed with the extreme opposite; flooding. Severe floods cause the uprooting of the trees themselves, or the mineral rich soil. Next, pollution and acid rain cause trees to die due to poisoning from the chemicals. Lastly, humans cut down trees for lumber. Trees are especially useful for paper and plastics, yet we must damage many forests to suit our need.
Ozone Depletion
The ozone layer is the layer of gasses that protect the earth from receiving too much, highly concentrated UV. Though greenhouse gasses are building up in the atmosphere, the ozone layer is breaking down. Ozone depletion is caused by the release of toxins and chemicals that travel to the atmosphere. These toxins such as fire extinguishers and foaming agents, break down the ozone layer. The effects of ozone depletion are increased victims of skin cancer, more sunlight that is getting trapped under greenhouse gasses, and damage to the eyes. If more sunlight enters the Earth, it can intensify the water cycle, which will cause more floods and damages to ecosystems. Europe is a major factor in Ozone Depletion, releasing ⅓ of the emission of toxic, ozone depleting substances.
The ozone layer is the layer of gasses that protect the earth from receiving too much, highly concentrated UV. Though greenhouse gasses are building up in the atmosphere, the ozone layer is breaking down. Ozone depletion is caused by the release of toxins and chemicals that travel to the atmosphere. These toxins such as fire extinguishers and foaming agents, break down the ozone layer. The effects of ozone depletion are increased victims of skin cancer, more sunlight that is getting trapped under greenhouse gasses, and damage to the eyes. If more sunlight enters the Earth, it can intensify the water cycle, which will cause more floods and damages to ecosystems. Europe is a major factor in Ozone Depletion, releasing ⅓ of the emission of toxic, ozone depleting substances.