Energy consumption and the environment


 

Global Warming Events

Global warming is a phenomenon that is wayby climactic change. At present, South of
beyond and over the level of awareness of theFresno for instance, gets only 8 inches of
man on the street, but whose impact is feltrain annually; the residents depend on the
by him wherever he is.in every nook aroundmelting of Sierra Nevada's snowpack to
the world, in our very residences, in everycompensate. But this will be where the main
geographical location in fact. Everyone isproblem would lie with warmer temperatures,
starting to feel its impact in our dailythe Sierras may not be able to hold that much
lives. Already there are indications of thewater anymore. This spells disaster for
sad plight of the earth's climate in someCalifornia's $32 billion agriculture
areas of the US that are blessed with veryindustry. San Joaquin Valley produces nearly
good  climate.50% of the US supply of fruits and
vegetables, San Joaquin County ranking 5th in
There is ample evidence of the effects of athe  countries  total agriculture production.
changing climate in California, for example.
Records show that in the half century thatThis is a painful eye-opener; global warming
passed, temperatures in winter and springhurts not only the physical environment, but
have been warmer. There has also been aalso society and the economy. Worst of all
recorded drop in the level of spring snow inrealizations is: mildly put, it was initiated
low elevation to mid-elevation mountains.by human activities and it is perpetrated by
Blooms show up a couple of weeks earlier,human  indifference.
while snowpacks are also melting earlier by 1
to 4 weeks. This is very much related to theSan Joaquin Valley may, for the most part of
worldwide increase of average temperatures bythe year, be dry. Not the case for the area
1 degree Fahrenheit over the last 100 years.north of the valley. Higher sea levels
It is important to note that the US is the(another dangerous consequence of global
biggest contributor to air pollution thatwarming) would pose a danger for the Delta
traps heat (CO2 emissions from cars, trucksareas like Stockton and Sacramento. They
and industrial plants) and causes globalstand the risk of being flooded, especially
warming. Such kind of activities is projectedStockton which is at sea level. Seawater
to be the gauge at how much warmer theseeping inland would destroy agriculture that
state's climate will become as it is also athrives  on  fresh  water.
scientifically projected that California
temperatures will rise by 4.7 10.5 degreesAnother consequence that is not as highly
Fahrenheit in this century. If state laws andfelt as the effect of global warming on water
Washington declarations prevail, emissionsand land resources, is the effect of warmer
could be cut and consequently contain thetemperatures on the quality of air. San
temperature rise to around 3 to 5.6 degreesJoaquin Valley will suffer from poorer air
Fahrenheit.quality; as it is, it is shoulder to shoulder
with LA and Houston in not so healthy air
In addition to warmer climate, continuedquality.
abuse and misuse of the environment can cause
corollary incidents of widespread wildfires,These are no laughing matters. Foreseeing the
as well as reduced production and quality ofdismal developments, state leaders are
agricultural  harvest.starting to legislate to address global
warming concerns by cutting greenhouse gas
San Joaquin Valley, according toemissions. Last year saw California as the
climatologists, may also bear the brunt ofvery first state to implement a law limit
global warming. There are existing problems,emissions of these dangerous gasses.
like water shortage, that can be aggravated



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