The Arctic and the Antarctic regions play very important roles. How? First, like the human eyes, they are the mirrors to the soul; they are the first to manifest adverse effects like global warming. We witness these changes rather most drastically in these polar regions. Another correspondingly direct effect of global warming is: any change in the polar conditions affects those of all the other regions.
Once the polar ice melts, this flushes more freshwater from the region's rivers, consequently holding the ocean from circulating fast enough, thereby causing higher sea levels. With more ice melting, more land and bodies of liquid water are exposed to the heat of the sun. These two, which naturally absorb more heat than snow and ice, causes more warming oceans and land masses. Worst of all is borne by the Arctic's perennially frozen soil - melting of the polar ice releases the greenhouse gases (carbon and methane) trapped within. This is very dangerous as the Arctic permafrost contains a third of the planet's total soil carbon content.
Man-made emissions would fade in comparison is all this carbon were released. The National Center for Atmospheric Research has also predicted that the Arctic could be ice-free starting 2040 and sea ice reduced by 80% in the next couple of decades.
Warming of the Arctic has already been felt and is now a cause for apprehension. According to the Polar Bear Specialist Group (the absolute scientific authority on everything involving polar bears) several (5) of their populations in the world are now stamped as declining.
Just recently, the US. Fish and Wildlife Service (USF & WS) announced that the polar bears who once roamed the territory freely may soon be classified under the list of endangered species. The agency has, in fact, done the initial steps already formally proposing to do such that, include the polar bears in the critical registry. This alarming announcement has, in effect, granted the request (later escalating to a demand by way of a lawsuit against the USF & WS) of 3 organizations (the Center for Biological Diversity, the National Resources Defense Council or NRDC, and Greenpeace.
For years, these three have been urging the US government precisely to act on the problem. It could be victory for the group, but not much since it has taken the concerned authorities this long ; it will now take painstaking effort to save the polar bears from extinction. An NRDC executive strongly referred to global warming as the one major threat to the survival of the polar bears. He urged further to stop delaying the action and to go full-force; no more half-measures.
Enlisting the species as endangered is not even the culmination of the unified effort; it is only the initial part of a long process. It should take the US Fish and Wildlife Service around one year to study the proposal before they decide on an action to take. Meantime, there is imminent danger that the polar bear would totally lose its sea-ice habitat as this one year rolls by. Loss of sea ice also means loss of their main source of food which are ice seals. This could also result to more mortality as the bears would tend to cannibalize their ranks in the absence of prey. Why? Mainly because enlisting a species as endangered does not necessarily mean ready plans would immediately be implemented.
Steps would involve a stoppage on all activities that threaten the bears survival, before developing and implementing of a recovery plan are put to order by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Faced with the rate greenhouse gases are being emitted from the Arctic, this will indeed be a daunting task.
Talking about populations, it is not just that of the polar bears which lie victim to global warming. The Inuits, (a member of the Eskimo peoples living in northernmost North America down to eastern Canada and Greenland) depend on the sea ice for food. The dismal and continued shortening of their hunting season by 50% has had drastic effects on their lives.
Will it not be long till a people and an era vanished from the face of the earth? Can we do something about it?
According to Reuters Health, the effect of global warming has had a significant impact on asthma sufferers because the seasons have lengthened and plant life growth and weeds are scattering vast amounts of pollen and other related allergens. In addition, trees that do not typically flower annually, such as beech, are growing better and may begin to grow in climates further north where they are not typically present; thus, increasing the number of people suffering from its affects.
As the climate changes, more pollen and smog-induced asthma is likely to surface. Dr. Paul Beggs, an environmental health scientist from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, indicates that allergy-triggering pollen such as ragweed and birch trees are linked to increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Because asthma is often triggered by allergens, this also increases the prevalence and severity of symptoms that asthma sufferers face.
Paul Epstein, Associate Director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School backs up this theory as he has concluded that the incidence of asthma in the United States has increased nearly four times since 1980. Due to the extended warmer seasons which produce increasing amounts of pollen and other allergen triggers, we must find a way to help combat and minimize the symptoms that may people are suffering with on a daily basis. Although decreasing greenhouse gases is possible if we minimize the burning of fossil fuel, some people don't want to, or feel they are unable to purchase a 'green' vehicle, use energy efficient appliances, drive less, recycle, etc. These changes would dramatically minimize global warming and provide ease to allergy and asthma sufferers.
Thankfully, we don't have to rely on people making these changes-ultraviolet germicidal light provides a solution. Because the average person spends over ninety percent of his or her time indoors, UV disinfection is extremely effective in minimizing allergic and asthmatic symptoms.
Many people feel that since they spend a great deal of time indoors that they are not subject to allergies. However, the small gaps that most of us have near windows or doors allow allergens to penetrate into our homes making us susceptible to a variety of particles that can trigger allergies or asthma. UV air purifiers utilize ultraviolet light to kill such allergen triggers as mold, fungi, mildew, dust mites, pet dander, and smoke. As these airborne microorganisms (which are often unseen) pass by the ultraviolet light of a UV air purifier, their DNA is mutilated, causing them to be inactive and unable to trigger allergic symptoms.
Additionally, AHPCO Cell technology which is found in some UV air cleaners is far superior to the older stand alone UV lamps and catalytic oxidation methods which use only one catalyst. AHPCO Cell technology is the latest advanced oxidation technology that consists of a proprietary, high-intensity broad spectrum UV lamp in a hydrated catalytic cell. Low-level ozone is produced in the cell, the majority of which is converted into airborne hydro peroxides (H2O2), hydroxyl ions (OH-), super oxide ions (O2-) and ozonide ions (O3-) via the quad-metallic catalyst. The technological combination found in some UV air purifiers has been proven to emit cleansing ions that treat indoor air and eliminate harmful indoor air particulates.
Ultraviolet lamps and light bulbs provide the protection from harmful particulates that we all face on a daily basis by destroying VOC's (volatile organic compounds). Unlike other methods that some people rely on such as vacuums and air purification methods that don't utilize the power of ultraviolet light or negative ions, the results are limited. However, with UV clarifiers, the indoor air is cleaned, purified, and freshened as the UV sterilizer employs UV light to cleanse the air of harmful particulates that further irritate allergen sufferers and the lungs of individuals afflicted with asthma.
With so many benefits, UV disinfection is one of the most beneficial things a person with allergies or asthma can do to improve his or her well-being. UV air purifiers are a cost-effective means of taking away the discomfort that comes along with breathing in allergens and minimizing the effects of asthma. And being unsurpassed in its natural ability to destroy airborne microorganisms, ultraviolet germicidal light can allow you and your family the relief and comfort of breathing easily in your own home.
Both Gordon Petten & Mary Coyle are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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