released. Another greenhouse gas is methane: “Methane absorbs infrared radiation 25 times moreeffectively than carbon dioxide, making it an important greenhouse gas despite its relatively low concentration” (490). There have been many studies on how methane is released into the atmosphere. Methane in the atmosphere is “generated by biological activity related to rice cultivation, leaks in domestic and industrial gaslines, and the digestive process of domestic livestock, especially cattle” (490). An environmental effect of global warming is the fact that higher temperatures will lead to a change in the water cycle. Some places may experience more rain. Warmer temperatures will cause a greater amount of evaporation from lakes, rivers, and oceans. In some areas this could be good, and in others it could be considered bad. In northern regions of the United States, an increase in the temperature and amount of rain could actually extend the growing season of crops. This would in turn mean more money for farmers in the northern region. It could also hurt some farmers. Too much rain is bad for some crops. Certain areas will actually get less rain, which would lead to more droughts and have a negative impact on crops. Warm and wet weather is usually a factor Rounds 3that promotes tropical storms. Global warming would lead to tropical storms’ appearing with greater frequency. More rain will also force plant life to adjust. Forests and plant life migrates naturally, but scientists say that global warming would cause them to migrate at a much faster rate. If the climate changes the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says, “some forest species in North America will shift by as much as 300 miles to the north” (www.pirg.org/enviro/global_w/fact.htm). If a region is getting more rain and plants on the border of that region need rain to survive, they will naturally begin growing in the ...
