Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
change. And if they are burned, they emit the CO
2
stored in them, increasing the atmospheric
store of that gas. Experts disagree about the impact of the current decline of tropical rainforest
on global atmospheric balance, but the majority opinion is that its contribution to the green-
house equation is measurable, if not significant.
Figure 18-6:
Large quantities
of carbon dioxide
in the atmo-
sphere greatly
contribute to the
global green-
house effect.
Winners and losers
If you live in an area that experiences a cold winter, then you may be excused for thinking that global
warming can't be all bad. If continued increase in global warming comes to pass, then clearly some
lands will benefit. For example, large parts of Canada and Siberia that are now too cold for agricul-
ture are likely to become productive land.
But mathematical models predict that large, productive areas in the middle latitudes will dry up and
become desert. Clearly, sea level will rise, resulting in coastal inundation and an overall decrease in
land available for settlement. And with that will come salt-water intrusion of neighboring aquifers,
resulting in an overall decline in the global supply of potable water. For these sorts of reasons, most
models forecast more losers than winners should the warming trend continue. And that is likely given
continued and growing consumption of fossil fuels.
Taking on the Challenges of Tomorrow
Thischapterbeganbydescribingenvironmental eventsinChesapeake Bayintermsofitsconnections
to a much broader geographical expanse. In a manner of speaking, the same applies to you. Wherever
you live, you are part of an environment that, by virtue of dynamic mechanisms, is connected to other
places that may be miles away or next-door. While the results may affect you, you also have the capa-
city to effect results. Specifically, as citizens of a democracy, you have the opportunity to participate
in decision-making that can effect at varying scales the quality of the world in which you live. Fol-
