BY HANNA RITCHIE
Long time residents of the Flathead Valley are likely accustomed to the abundant snowfall which comes with the wintry months. However, this year, those fond of such weather have been left in serious disappointment. The lack of fresh white powder on the ground leaves many such residents to wonder what the cause of this scarcity of snow may be. Many people chalk such things up to global warming. If this is the case, Bigfork needs to focus on the cause and what can be done to prevent it.
The Merriam Webster dictionary defines global warming as “an increase in the earth's atmospheric and oceanic temperatures widely predicted to occur due to an increase in the greenhouse effect resulting especially from pollution.” The “greenhouse effect” is when heat from the sun becomes trapped in the earth’s lower atmosphere due to the release of greenhouse gasses into the air. The main greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are methane, water vapor, ozone, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide. There are many ways humans release these gasses into the atmosphere daily, such as deforestation, fertilizers, and livestock. Deforestation emits carbon dioxide that was previously stored in trees, fertilizers increase nitrous oxide, livestock account for 100 million tons of methane emissions per year, and additionally, the largest emissions of greenhouse gasses come from the burning of fossil fuels. According to NASA, “humans have increased atmospheric [carbon dioxide] concentration by more than a third since the Industrial Revolution began.” This makes sense considering the many ways humanity uses oil, natural gas’s, and coal. The human race depends on these fuels to heat homes, run vehicles, power industry and manufacturing, and provide electricity. In short, they are a vital part of modern life. However, they are not renewable and certainly do not do the atmosphere any favors. According to the British Geological Survey, “eleven of the twelve warmest years since 1850 occurred between 1996 and 2006. Average global temperatures have risen by about 0.74°C between 1906 and 2005”. Not only that, but the oceans’ temperatures have also been on the rise. The top 700 meters have increased by 0.4° Fahrenheit since 1969. Greenland and Iceland have also fallen victim to this climate change: Greenland has suffered the loss of 281 billion tons of ice per year between 1993 and 2016, while Antarctica lost an average of 119 billion tons during the same time. It is clear to see that if action is not taken, then the ice sheets will continue to melt, temperatures will rise, and the oceans will continue to heat. However, if this does not sound like an ideal future, there are many ways to prevent the issue of global warming from becoming worse. Using renewable energy is one obvious way to cut down on carbon dioxide emissions. Carpooling with a friend, riding a bike to any feasible destination, or choosing an electric vehicle are great ways to combat the greenhouse effect. Saving water by taking shorter showers and turning off the sink while brushing teeth can also reduce carbon emissions due to the energy it takes to pump and heat water. These things may seem small and insignificant, but it takes more than one person to change the climate. Things are not going to change unless the majority of people are actively trying to defeat climate change. Humanity only has one planet, so it needs to be preserved it as best it can. |