Global warming

Since the late nineteenth century, scientists have observed a gradual increase in the average surface temperature of the planet. This heating has reduced snow-covered areas in the northern hemisphere, and has caused many of the icebergs floating in the Arctic Ocean to melt. Recently, it has also been observed how, due to the increase in temperature, large portions of Antarctic ice have been separated from the rest of the pole mass, thus reducing the size of the frozen continent. Global warming has a detrimental effect on the climate, health, agriculture and wildlife.

Global warming has caused an increase in temperature average surface of the Earth. According to the “Encyclopedia of Global Warming” due to the fusion of portions of polar ice, sea level underwent a rise of 4-8 inches during the past century, and it is estimated that it will continue to rise. The magnitude and frequency of rainfall also had increased due to increased evaporation of the bodies of surface water caused by the increase in temperature. As it says in the “Encyclopedia of Global Warming” scientists estimate that the average temperature of the Earth's surface can reach up to 4.5 º F with increases during the next 50 years (2001-2050), and up to 10 º F during this century. This increase in water evaporation will result in an increase in the intensity and frequency of the hurricanes and storms. Also, it will cause the soil moisture to be reduced due to the high rate of evaporation, and the sea level will raise an average of nearly2 ft. off the coast of the Americas and the Caribbean.

An increase in the temperature of the surface of the Earth will bring an increase in respiratory diseases and cardiovascular infectious diseases caused by mosquitoes and tropical pests, and prostration and dehydration due to heat. The cardiovascular and respiratory systems are affected because, under conditions of heat, the person must exert more effort for any activity, putting more pressure on those systems. Moreover, as the tropics are extended to higher latitudes, mosquitoes and other pests responsible for dengue, malaria, cholera and yellow fever in the tropics will affect a major portion of the world population, increasing the number of deaths from these diseases.

According to D. Macias and Gorriz Garcia the evaporation of water from the ground surface and increase in magnitude and frequency of rainfall and flooding, soils will become drier, easily to lose nutrients, and be removed by the runoff. This will have changed the characteristics of the soil, making farmers to adjust to the new conditions. The need for irrigation will be essential during times of drought; due to evaporation. High temperatures will drive the reproduction of some insects, such as the whitefly and locusts (a type of hope) that cause plant diseases and affect crop production.

Due to climate change and

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