What are the Effects of Global Warming?

Changes in Crop and Plant Life

In the mid-latitudes (this includes most of the United States), the amount of moisture in the soil will probably decrease in the summer. Higher temperatures will melt the snow earlier in the year and the land will have a longer time to dry out. Crops that now grow in these regions may not survive this added warmth and dryness. But other changes, such as the amount of rainfall and local temperature differences, may affect which crops will do well and which ones will not. Again, scientists are not really certain what will happen in each region.

Warmer Northern Polar Winters

Winters in the northern polar zone could be 18 degrees warmer according to some studies. This increase in temperature could cause sea ice to melt, which can result in a rise in sea level. Just how much it will rise is not clear. Surprisingly, some scientists do not think there will be warming in the southern polar areas!

Changes in the Amount of Precipitation

As it gets warmer, there will be more evaporation from large bodies of water. This increased evaporation will cause more clouds and more rainfall. Scientists are pretty certain that there will be increased precipitation in the northern polar zone, but in other areas they are not as sure. Some regions may actually have less rainfall than there is right now.

Other Possibilities

Some scientists think that there may be more hurricanes as a result of global warming. However, there are so many factors that lead to tropical storms like this, that it is uncertain what will happen. Also, some scientists think that certain diseases will become more widespread. One of these diseases is malaria, which is spread by mosquitoes. Some say that an additional 20 percent of the world's population, which would include southern parts of the United States, could live in areas where you can get malaria.

Back to Global Beginners.