Open Blog #2

Last week I attended a lecture prepared by Dr. Richard Hilderman titled "Climate Reality" that was organized by S.A.G.E. and promoted by G.L.E.A. Dr. Hilderman was a professor at Clemson University and has been giving this speech for many years. He updates it frequently to illustrate even more, the drastic effects humans are having on the environment. In this lecture he covered many topics that are relevant to global warming and the burning of fossil fuels, such as the ocean acidification, rising water levels, decline in agriculture and loss of life. He highlighted the significant impact human are having on natural geologic cycles and that the speed with which they are now occurring is extremely dangerous. To supplement this depressing information he did expand upon solutions to the planet’s carbon dioxide problem through alternative fuels.

            In my Environmental Science class we have also been covering a topic Dr. Hilderman touched upon-ocean acidification. The drastic effects of this carbon-related issue are not well known because it is not visible to most humans. The general public has been informed that the ocean sequesters carbon, a beneficial function that decreases atmospheric concentrations. However, the increasing surge of carbon into the air has had dire consequences on the pH of the ocean. The rising acidity is preventing some organisms from forming their shells and in some cases it is dissolving them. This is major concern for the stability of food chains and for the future of human seafood consumption because this issue is most prevalent where fishing is most profitable.

            While there are many greenhouse gases and sustainability problems carbon is still a leading contributor, affecting more areas and other resources that we are not yet fully aware of. The decrease in carbon dioxide emissions should still be a main concern.