9 Form Reading Comprehension II Semester

0. Climate change is one of the biggest problems facing the world today. But what is it exactly and what could the future hold for us?  The planet's climate has constantly changed throughout history. Previously this was due to natural processes. However, many scientists believe the changes we have seen over the last century are mainly due to man's activities.The earth is kept warm by greenhouse gases. Without these the world would be extremely cold. The problem is that man's activities have produced extra greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide which have increased temperatures further. 

1. Scientists fear that by the end of the century, temperatures will have risen by 1.5 to 6 degrees. This means that there could be more rain in many parts of the world, a greater number of hot days and fewer cold ones. Other areas, however, will see less rainfall. It is also feared that the polar ice sheets could be greatly reduced.

2. Further food for thought is that increases in temperature will cause the level of the seas to rise. This is because the sea absorbs atmospheric heat, making it expand and thus rise. In addition, glaciers and the polar ice sheets will melt.The net result could be a rise in sea levels of up to five meters. Such changes will inevitably lead to flooding, and the catastrophic floods that happen every hundred years might occur every decade.

3. Our health will also be affected, as scientists believe, a warmer world will be an unhealthier place. Warm winters will mean fewer deaths from extreme cold, but bacteria that normally die in such cold spells will thrive in the warmer weather and spread infections further. Heat waves will cause more deaths from heart attacks, increases in skin cancer and more food poisoning. According to this view, it is only a matter of time before diseases from warmer zones spread to new areas.

4. Wildlife and plants will not remain unaffected. Less winter snow and hotter summers will have an enormous impact on life. Rising sea levels will reduce dry surface areas, leading to less food and shelter for other species. The most dramatic impact will be felt at the poles where many creatures depend on the ice to survive.

5. Farming practices could be altered. Scientists predict that changes in the weather will mean that we will be able to grow some crops further north. For instance, the UK could see vineyards and sweet corn. On the other hand, drier summers could destroy crops that need more water Longer warm periods could also mean more pests that could damage agriculture even more than usual.

6. There are skeptics, however. Some scientists remain doubtful about the greenhouse effect. They say the climate has changed in the past and that it is too complex to make predictions about. They also say it is unlikely that such an intricate system could be affected by one part as small as greenhouse gases. Such opinions are in a minority, though.

7. Greenhouse gases can stay in the air for a century. If we cut emissions immediately, we probably will not be able to halt change in the short-term. However, we might slow down change, which would give the planet a chance to adapt, such as allowing species to alter migration and feeding patterns. It would also give us a chance to do something about the problem.