Global Warming Events

Global warming is a phenomenon that is wayare existing problems, like water shortage, that
beyond and over the level of awareness of thecan be aggravated by climactic change. At
man on the street, but whose impact is felt bypresent, South of Fresno for instance, gets only 8
him wherever he is.in every nook around theinches of rain annually; the residents depend on
world, in our very residences, in everythe melting of Sierra Nevada's snowpack to
geographical location in fact. Everyone is startingcompensate. But this will be where the main
to feel its impact in our daily lives. Already thereproblem would lie with warmer temperatures, the
are indications of the sad plight of the earth'sSierras may not be able to hold that much water
climate in some areas of the US that are blessedanymore. This spells disaster for California's $32
with very good climate.billion agriculture industry. San Joaquin Valley
There is ample evidence of the effects of aproduces nearly 50% of the US supply of fruits
changing climate in California, for example. Recordsand vegetables, San Joaquin County ranking 5th in
show that in the half century that passed,the countries total agriculture production.
temperatures in winter and spring have beenThis is a painful eye-opener; global warming hurts
warmer. There has also been a recorded drop innot only the physical environment, but also
the level of spring snow in low elevation tosociety and the economy. Worst of all realizations
mid-elevation mountains. Blooms show up a coupleis: mildly put, it was initiated by human activities
of weeks earlier, while snowpacks are also meltingand it is perpetrated by human indifference.
earlier by 1 to 4 weeks. This is very much relatedSan Joaquin Valley may, for the most part of the
to the worldwide increase of averageyear, be dry. Not the case for the area north of
temperatures by 1 degree Fahrenheit over thethe valley. Higher sea levels (another dangerous
last 100 years. It is important to note that the USconsequence of global warming) would pose a
is the biggest contributor to air pollution that trapsdanger for the Delta areas like Stockton and
heat (CO2 emissions from cars, trucks andSacramento. They stand the risk of being flooded,
industrial plants) and causes global warming. Suchespecially Stockton which is at sea level. Seawater
kind of activities is projected to be the gauge atseeping inland would destroy agriculture that
how much warmer the state's climate will becomethrives on fresh water.
as it is also a scientifically projected that CaliforniaAnother consequence that is not as highly felt as
temperatures will rise by 4.7 10.5 degreesthe effect of global warming on water and land
Fahrenheit in this century. If state laws andresources, is the effect of warmer temperatures
Washington declarations prevail, emissions could beon the quality of air. San Joaquin Valley will suffer
cut and consequently contain the temperature risefrom poorer air quality; as it is, it is shoulder to
to around 3 to 5.6 degrees Fahrenheit.shoulder with LA and Houston in not so healthy air
In addition to warmer climate, continued abusequality.
and misuse of the environment can causeThese are no laughing matters. Foreseeing the
corollary incidents of widespread wildfires, as welldismal developments, state leaders are starting to
as reduced production and quality of agriculturallegislate to address global warming concerns by
harvest.cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Last year saw
San Joaquin Valley, according to climatologists,California as the very first state to implement a
may also bear the brunt of global warming. Therelaw limit emissions of these dangerous gasses.