Pathfinder: Global Warming, Global Threat?
This pathfinder has been created to aid those in search of answers to the ongoing debate over the threat of global warming. There exist varying opinions on the subject, but they inescapably fall into two categories, either global warming poses a serious threat to the inhabitants of the earth, or it does not. This pathfinder should help ease your navigation through masses of information on the subject matter; it will allow you to search credible resources, and argue your position from a knowledgeable standpoint.
This book is an impressive summary of key environmental terms and ideas, which will serve as an essential source for all subjects of the environmental nature.
Greenhouse: The 200-Year Story of Global Warming
Christianson, Gale E. New York, NY: Walker and Company, 1999.
This book gives insights as to how humans put themselves into today’s modern predicament. It also documents ways in which we can solve our own problems. It is an essential work to read for a topic of this nature.
The
following documents were acquired from the Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center
after a search for “Global Warming.” http://mkt1.med.iacnet.com/k12a
This is a database of scholarly articles that have viewpoints of either side of
an argument. The articles are well
cited, and credible.
Global Warming Is a Serious
Threat
This article discusses the science of global warming, explaining how and why it occurs. It describes how the destruction of rainforests worsens the problem, and many of the possible consequences.
Global Warming Is Not a Serious Threat
This article provides arguments for global warming not being a threat. It states that there is no consensus among scientists, talks about why CO2 is blamed, and states that global warming may actually be a good thing. Knowing both sides to an argument is the first step towards winning it.
Greenhouse America: A Twenty-First-Century
“Wild Card”
This article discusses the possibilities of a lowered farming production due to global warming. It predicts future changes in the environment for the worse.
Global Warming Is a Serious Environmental
Threat
This document discusses various reasons as to why it is a threat, and does some forecasting on how global warming will affect the weather.
The Global Environment Is Deteriorating
This article documents various reasons as to why the global environment is deteriorating, one of them being global warming, and it also discusses problems associated with global warming.
The Environment Is Improving
This article deals mainly with the population concern for the planet. It nullifies all arguments for population growth being a problem by citing statistics that show that the population is actually tapering off, and that new technology is finding ways to support the ever-growing population.
The Media Exaggerate Environmental Crises
This article shows how environmental groups have been using the media for years to make environmental issues sound bigger than they are. The media manipulates problems to look like “should” to the public, which usually means exaggerating the problem.
The
following documents were located on the EPA’s website dealing with global
warming. http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming
The EPA is the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency, and in their
work, they do a great deal of research into global warming.
Emissions
http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/emissions/index.html
This article defines the major greenhouse gasses,
and gives a background information of how they occur, naturally and man-made.
Climate
http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/climate/index.html
This article gives general information on how the
greenhouse effect works, and it’s life sustaining abilities. It gives a table showing the global
temperature trend for the past 120 years.
The article also gives NASA’s projections of climate change if global
warming continues.
Water Resources
http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/impacts/water/index.html
This article shows the projected impact of global warming on water resources around the globe. It discusses the changes in waterway navigation, hydropower, water supply and demand, environmental quality and recreation, and flood control.
Planet
Earth; The Climate Puzzle. Videocassette. Dir. Gregory Andorfer. WQED
Pittsburgh,
1995. 58min.
After
The Warming. Videocassette. Dir. James Burke. Ambrose
Video Publishing, Inc, 1998. 110 min.
Warnings
From the Ice. Videocassette. Dir. Rob Gardner. WGBH Boston Video, 1998.
60 min.
Why
“Waste” a Cool Planet: MSW Solutions to
Global Climate Change. Dir. EPA. The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000. 120 min.
This
Pathfinder was created by Gregory Zajaczkowski on 4/21/02