The effect of energy consumption can be physically seen all around the world. The climate is constantly getting warmer causing glaciers to melt. This then leads to a rise in sea level. Ultimately this could lead to a loss of homes for animals and death.
In fact it is estimated that temperatures are expected to rise 1.4-5.8 degrees Celsius by the end of the 21st Century. A simulation predicted that a 4 degree Celsisus rise would eliminate nearly all the world's glaciers[1]. The melting of glaciers then triggers the rise in sea levels, which is estimated to be between 1 and 2 mm/yr [2]. Water dwelling animals could then become extinct, killing off a lot of the food chain. Obviously this is an extreme case right now, but green house gases and energy consumption effects need to be studied in order to prevent this situation from happening.
Below are some pictures of melting glaciers over the years [3].
Glacier National Park, Montana
Pedersen Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
Qori Kalis Glacier, Peru
[1] Morgan, Jennifer. 2011. WWF. Going, Going,Gone!: Climate Change & Global Glacier Decline.Retrieved from https://icon.uiowa.edu/d2l/lms/content/viewer/main_frame.d2l?ou=1372240&tId=1925439.
[2]Douglas, Bruce. 1997. Department of Geography, University of Maryland. Global Sea Rise: A Redetermination. Retrieved from https://icon.uiowa.edu/d2l/lms/content/viewer/main_frame.d2l?ou=1372240&tId=1925439
[3]Treehugger,2011. Glacier Pictures. 8/30/20011. Retrieved from http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/04/5_stunning_before_after_pictures_melting_glaciers.php
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