Global Warming and Malaria - Article Example

The food chain depends upon the vegetation of the earth. Forests are an integral part of vegetation. Man has cut down the vast forest reserves in the name of industrialization and rapid urbanization. Moreover, the rural masses depend upon the wood from the forests to keep their kitchen fires alive.

The loss of forest cover has resulted in an unstable rainfall pattern. There is a reduction in annual rainfall in those areas where forest covers have been depleted. For example, poor or only moderate rain in the National Capital Region during June-September 1999, amply demonstrate that our rainfall patterns are no longer the norm as they were a decade ago. The imbalance of proper supply of oxygen adversely affected all living organisms. Air pollution has increased. Forest covers minimize soil erosion during floods and are also, a natural habitat for wildlife. With the reduction in their size, the fertile land, as well as wildlife, has been seriously affected. Several wildlife species, like Dodo, have become extinct. The temperature in the forest covers has increased at an alarming rate. If afforestation measures are not taken around the globe, posterity may have to pay heavily in terms of the costs of environmental degradation.

The ozone layer surrounds the atmosphere of the earth and protects us from harmful solar radiation. It also protects the earth from overheating. However, Chloro Fluoro Carbons (CFCs), Carbon Monoxide, and other gases rise up in the atmosphere and form compounds with Ozone gas. Thus the density of Ozone gas is reduced above the surface of the earth in the upper atmosphere. This phenomenon is termed an Ozone Hole. This hole allows the harmful ultraviolet rays to pierce through the atmosphere and fall onto the surface of the earth. The earth gets heated up and the living beings are also exposed to these rays. If these unhealthy trends continued, then polar ice caps would melt which would eventually raise the ocean levels.

Due to the melting of the polar ice caps, ocean levels would rise. So, low levels areas of the earth would be submerged. There would be small land left for us. For example, low-lying areas would be submerged first due to the melting of polar ice caps.

If the poles of the earth get heated up due to Ozone holes, the ice would melt and would flow into the oceans. This would result in dangerous imbalances. So, the axis of the earth would shift. This could result in earthquakes. This natural disaster has already affected many nations; India, Iran, Mexico, the USA, and China are examples.