The Greenhouse Effect, is this world coming to an end anytime soon?

This planet has been around longer than any of us can remember. Many a times this planet has endured natural hardships such as volcanic eruptions, high level earthquakes, an ice age, and many hurricanes and tornadoes. Even asteroids and comets have collided with the earth and the earth endured it all. The planet was supposed to be destroyed by 2001, then again by 2012 according to the Mayan calendar, however, it was not and everything is still working as it should be. The truth is, no one knows how the earth is going to end, the only thing that is known, is that something called 'the greenhouse effect' will most likely have something to do with the end.

To put it simply, 'the greenhouse effect' is where radiations from the sun break down or penetrate the atmosphere allowing the radiations to hit the earth directly with no filter. Humans contribute to 'the greenhouse effect' everyday, all around the world by doing things as simple as starting their cars, or using foam cups instead of plastic. In reality it is not possible to make every human being in the world 'go green' and try to save what we still have, there are just to many humans. But it is sad to know that to help stop 'the greenhouse effect' you could simply reuse plastic bottles, you could simply buy disposable diapers for your child (they break down a lot easier), or you could walk to nearby places rather than drive (or carpool!). There are so many simple things that we as humans could do to slow down the deterioration of this planet, but most of us don't.

When thinking about 'the greenhouse effect' and wanting an example of what it is happening to earth, take an ice cube, a magnifying glass and some natural sunlight and hold the magnifying glass over the ice cube and direct the ray of sunlight that catches the glass to the ice cube. The ice cube is going to melt at a decent speed. It is not just the heat that melted that ice cube but the radiation from the sun. Now, picture the same scenario only with out the magnifying glass and a glacier instead of an ice cube. The radiations that gets past the atmosphere hits the glaciers, causing them to melt which in turn makes sea levels rise and is slowly throwing this earth off balance and causing a lot of floods. This is called global warming one of the main results of 'the greenhouse effect'.

Along with rising sea levels because of melting glaciers, the weather, and basic make-up of the earth is being altered as well. Due to more rain, more evaporation, and harsh radiations hitting the soil, the ground is becoming dry and soon will be unfit to use to grow fruits, vegetables, or produce of any kind. Without plants we loose some insects, and then the food chain begins to crumble all together from there. Also, storms have been becoming more violent in recent years, this is dangerous because these storms have the potential to turn our grassy lands that were once filled with colors and life into a barren, hot desert void of much life.

The earth was made to function as a unit. Everything was made to work together and when one function of the world is thrown out of order, everything else is thrown into a chaotic mess. Within the next decade, if things do not change we will be going two or three days without seeing sunshine because all the gases that are getting trapped in the ecosystem are going to block it out. We are also going to be wearing air masks because fresh air will be a thing of the past. Our children are going to grow up in a dark world that once use to be so full of life.

Yes, it is true, 'the greenhouse effect' is leading us to the end, but still no one knows how or when. Will the earth end in a large flood caused by the melting ice caps? Will the world end from a crumble in the food chain? Will the sea levels rise to high and tip the world towards the sun to be burnt up? Each of these possibilities are scary to think about, yet each one still a possibility. Maybe it is time we took the time to recycle or do little things to hold off global warming, every bit helps.

Written by : Shannon Garcia, United States

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Edited by: Rajesh Bihani ( Find me on Google+ )