Dear Future President of the United States of America,

The Earth has changed a lot over time, especially with the climate. Global warming has become a large debate not just in America, but the World. There are many ways that we as people can help every day to lessen the effects of global warming. Instead of thinking of ways to resolve the issue, it is time to put our knowledge to action! A lot of people say that we have all the time in the world, while it gets worse every single day.

One effect of global warming is the polar ice melting into the oceans at a rapid speed. In September of 1984, there was 1.86 million square kilometers thick of ice cap; This September there is 110,000 kilometers of old ice. Old ice is thicker and is disappearing at an alarming rate. The old ice is melting because there are lesser amounts of the old and larger of the new ice. The new ice grows fast in the winter, meaning it melts fast in the summer. When all of the ice is fully melted, the land will disappear because sea levels will increase. The ice has been drifting out of the Arctic for the last 30 years. In the 1980’s the multilayer ice made up 20 percent of all sea ice, and now it is reduced to 3 percent. Scientists have been monitoring the ice amounts over a span of time with microwave instruments to get the data. Instruments and tools similar to these will help us gain better knowledge of what is to come.

The largest effect of global warming that has been discussed is the sea levels rising. The level of water in oceans and seas has been rising at a rapid speed since the twentieth century. Each decade, the water has risen by another 0.6”. This will result in subsidence and tidal flooding frequently and more severe weather. The two major effects of this is loss of land based ice and thermal expansion. The oceans have been absorbing 90 percent of Earth's heat, making the water warmer. In the U.S., approximately 40 percent of the population lives on coastal land, and 8 out of 10 major cities are on coastal land. The U.S. and many other countries will get absorbed by water if this is not put to an end. It is not just the land that matters, but the people and the wildlife too.

When people think of wildlife, they usually think of animals and living creatures. In fact, animals, birds, and plants are all affected by global warming. Why are the animals affected? Greenhouse gasses are the main cause. Bonfires, driving, flying on a plane are all ways that greenhouse gasses are burned to cause pollution. If the rate of global warming stays the same, one-fourth of the wildlife population will be cut. Some birds don’t even migrate anymore, and the sea level rising and melting ice also has a large impact on wildlife. For example, a sea level rise of 50 centimeters could cause sea turtles to lose their nests. Over 30 percent of sea turtles in the Caribbean have affected nests. Also, dolphins need small, shallow waters for raising their calves. Rainfall patterns affect dams, which affect fish and birds. Polar bears are suffering on the ice and sinking with the ice. People and water are not the only things that are at risk, we all are.

Future President, do you want our world to die off? It is crucial that global warming should be the main focus of how to stop other issues from forming.

Emmaline W.