The Heat is on: Global Warming is of Grave Concern
Joseph W. Bateman
Issue date: 4/25/06 Section: Opinion
Forget the instability in Iraq. Forget sleeper cells of Al Qaeda. Global warming is the most serious threat facing our nation and the generations to come. The word threat isn't even an accurate description because it implies uncertainty. Rather, global warming is a phenomenon that is affecting us right now. If you're thinking of year-round summer allowing for a wardrobe exclusively of flip-flops and shorts, think again.
Just three years ago, the European heat wave had people basking in body bags instead of getting some rays. The cities became Death Valleys with high temperatures climbing past 104 degrees. In France alone, the death toll climbed to 15,000 with morgues in Paris unable to meet the demands of the never-ending influx of bodies. After the tenth day the heat subsided, but not before claiming the lives of 30,000 people across Europe.
Recently, NASA scientists released an analysis of the recorded temperatures of 2005. Their analysis showed last year was one of the hottest in recorded history; tying 1998 for the hottest year ever. What's even more alarming is NASA's data showing that of the 20 hottest years on record, 19 occurred after 1980.
Although these figures alone start to raise some eyebrows. Global Warming is more than an increase in temperatures. From droughts, flooding and hurricanes, global warming is responsible for extreme weather related events. During the period from 1980 to present, the U.S. experienced 67 weather-related disasters that caused over $350 billion dollars in damage, according to National Climatic Data Center. In 1998, seven of these weather disasters manifested. Along with holding the record for hottest recorded temperatures, this was the most events in one year.
In 2005, weather-related disasters presented themselves in the form of Hurricanes Wilma, Rita and Dennis, causing over $22 billion in damages and an estimated 82 deaths. Along with the hurricanes, a spring-summer drought gripped the Midwest with over $1 billion in damages.
Just three years ago, the European heat wave had people basking in body bags instead of getting some rays. The cities became Death Valleys with high temperatures climbing past 104 degrees. In France alone, the death toll climbed to 15,000 with morgues in Paris unable to meet the demands of the never-ending influx of bodies. After the tenth day the heat subsided, but not before claiming the lives of 30,000 people across Europe.
Recently, NASA scientists released an analysis of the recorded temperatures of 2005. Their analysis showed last year was one of the hottest in recorded history; tying 1998 for the hottest year ever. What's even more alarming is NASA's data showing that of the 20 hottest years on record, 19 occurred after 1980.
Although these figures alone start to raise some eyebrows. Global Warming is more than an increase in temperatures. From droughts, flooding and hurricanes, global warming is responsible for extreme weather related events. During the period from 1980 to present, the U.S. experienced 67 weather-related disasters that caused over $350 billion dollars in damage, according to National Climatic Data Center. In 1998, seven of these weather disasters manifested. Along with holding the record for hottest recorded temperatures, this was the most events in one year.
In 2005, weather-related disasters presented themselves in the form of Hurricanes Wilma, Rita and Dennis, causing over $22 billion in damages and an estimated 82 deaths. Along with the hurricanes, a spring-summer drought gripped the Midwest with over $1 billion in damages.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Anonymous
posted 4/25/06 @ 10:10 AM MST
i think that global warming is coming and unless we take care of the earth it will happen before we die and we need to be careful
Anonymous
posted 4/25/06 @ 11:37 AM MST
global warming is the biggest thing to happen to this word we lived throught it 1 time befor be can do it again. the ice caps are malting n to much fresh water is entering the ocean that it self will do alot more damage , plus the ocean level with riase n flood th land like befoe when we came to this land in the firsty time. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 4/25/06 @ 3:45 PM MST
u need to get bar graphs!!
Anonymous
posted 4/26/06 @ 6:52 AM MST
how long before global warming affects us
Anonymous
posted 4/27/06 @ 12:45 AM MST
Good article! Global Warming is one of the biggest threats to our nation. Another is Global Dimming! Another is WMD's (Nukes,Chemicals,Germs). Another is Islam (You must be either converted or killed). (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 4/27/06 @ 1:34 PM MST
I might believe in global warming if the Third Way communists weren't pushing the environmental agenda so hard. The three musketeers of environmental radicalism - Mikhail Gorbachev, Al Gore and Maurice Strong have an idea to make environmentalism a religion. (Continued…)
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