Effects in Our Localities

A. Unusual Weather Patterns

Many of us may have noticed the unexpected shift of weather patterns for the past moths. Normally, April and May is the time for us to enjoy the heat of the sun as a break from our usual activities. However, we were partly shocked due to the occurrence of typhoons this summer. Tropical depression ‘Dante’ and ‘Crising’ caused significant damages within the country as observed by PAGASA. All of these are attributed to Global Warming.(Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090422-200830/Summer-rains-unusual-may-be-global-warming )

1. Effects on Human Activities

Students suffer from global warming during an unexpected flood in our school. (Photo courtesy of Mr. Reynald M. Cacho)

Global warming prevents us from enjoying certain activities that are appropriate for the season. An example is going to beaches and resorts during summer. We are fond of spending days on the beach to cool ourselves, but with the changing weather pattern, typhoons and storms come even during summer.

Problems are also encountered even during the rainy season.

Skiing activities have been canceled abroad due to warmer winter. Natural Christmas trees are also being threatened. (Source: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/09/climate_100.html )

2. Effects on other Organisms

Plants and animals as part of our complex ecosystem are greatly affected by the changing weather. Species living in a particular area may not adapt to the environment. Some lost their natural habitats, like bears, goats and sheep. Others are deprived of their natural food sources causing their species to die. Examples are the cods and koala bears. Sadly, this may happen eventually in our midst. (Source:http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/09/climate_100.html )

B. Change in Food Production

Agriculture and food production are greatly affected by global warming. Some areas experience weather at its extreme, posing possible threats to plants and animals that serves as our food source.

On a global scale, warming temperatures have caused annual losses of roughly $5 billion for major food crops, according to a study by the Carnegie Institution and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

From 1981-2002, warming reduced the combined production of wheat, corn, and barley—cereal grains that form the foundation of much of the world’s diet—by 40 million metric tons per year. The study, which was published March 16 in the online journal Environmental Research Letters, demonstrates that this decline is due to human-caused increases in global temperatures.(Source: http://thefraserdomain.typepad.com/energy/2007/03/global_warming__1.htm )

1. Effects on Fruit trees

Some of  fruit trees in our area had bore less fruit in the pass months. Examples are mango trees. Normally, mangoes abound during summer. But it seems that the trees produced less, even in other barrios and towns.

The mango is an example of a fruit tree that depends its yields on the weather. It is seasonal by nature and weather changes affect it. Other trees may suffer the same fate as the problem continues.

2. Effects on Major food Crops

Findings on staple food crops from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) indicate that for every increase of one degree Celsus in temperature in the tropics, yields decrease by as much as 10 percent.

Also, global warming gives rise to more violent weather disturbances. Hurricanes, typhoons and droughts become more common, destroying food crops and denuding the land.

Pests multiply rapidly, damaging food crops like rice, corn and sugarcane. (Source: http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20070504-64005/Global_warming_and_agriculture )

3. Human implications

Humans might suffer the consequences of the decrease of food supply.

Food shortage may occur because the supply of food can hardly meet the demand, causing starvation especially among the poor. Drought plays a major role as seen in this video clip:

(Source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0EEXWyhjM8)

C. Abnormal Change in Temperature and its effects on us

As earlier discussed, global warming is all about a change in temperature. We have been experiencing it. Temperature shifts on a daily basis, affecting our health, activities and our lives.

Studies show that 150,000 people had died worldwide due toclimate-change-related diseases. Incidents of heat stroke, heart attacks, dengue, malaria and respiratory illnesses have increased in our town.