Movie "Day After Tomorrow" depicts reality

The movie "Day After Tomorrow," in which global warming causes worldwide catastrophe, may not be so far-fetched after all. Another study has shown that glaciers are quickly sliding into the ocean, giving everyone cause for concern. Governments and individuals must finally sit up and realize that their actions are causing this phenomenon. If we don’t do something about it soon, we are only speeding up the demise of our planet.

All the talk about global warming that was dismissed as simply another concern for the tree-hugging hippies is turning out to be frighteningly true. Global warming is a real concern for all life on Earth. Environmentalists have predicted that the temperature increase may melt nearly all glaciers within the next 100 years.

If that does happen, the shorelines will all change and smaller islands will be swallowed up by the massive ocean growth. In addition, there will be a shortage of drinkable water. If all the world’s governments do not take steps against global warming, devastation will surely follow.

In two different scientific studies from climate researchers and NASA show Antarctic glaciers moving into the Weddell Sea following the breakup of the Larsen B ice shelf in 2002. An ice shelf is a surface attached to land on one side, but mostly floating in the ocean. NASA’s research proves that the ice shelves act as stability for glaciers, which are slowly moving massive pieces of ice, by keeping them from sliding, according to Reuters.

After the breakup of the Larson B ice shelf, glaciers moved up to eight times faster, according to climate researchers. Antarctica’s glaciers are steadily melting away. When the ice shelves melted, they barely affected sea levels. The difference between ice shelves and glaciers is that the latter, which normally sit on land, instantly affect the sea levels when they slide into the oceans.

Antarctica seems to be responding to the global warming faster than other areas of the Earth. Over the last 60 years, temperatures have risen by nearly five degrees. This rise in temperature is more dramatic in Antarctica than any other area of the world. Over the last 30 years, ice shelves have lost more than 5,200 square miles of area.

Global warming is cited as a reason for the change. Warmer temperature causes the ice shelves to melt and break, and sea levels rise due to the amount of water being added to the oceans. The coastlines will be changed also from the increase.

Another reason for concern is the Ross Ice Shelf. If this shelf melted with the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, it could raise the ocean levels by 16 feet. Those in the central United States may have less to worry about, according to researchers at Iowa State and St. Louis University. Though it will still heat up, especially during summers, the central United States is slated to be affected by higher temperatures during nights and winters, but less so than other regions in the world. Because of these findings, scientists will be researching global warming in different regions to test the reactions of different areas to warming.

Global warming is blamed on human actions. Gas emissions from cars, factories and other energy machines cause the change. The reduction of rain forests and increase in livestock also contribute to the ozone depletion, causing atmospheric warming. Skeptics still maintain that the phenomenon is natural, not caused by human actions, but there is too much evidence to the contrary. Skeptics of the theory will have to open their eyes to the truth, and start to do something to prevent such a quick change for life on Earth.

We shouldn’t have to say this, but since nothing has been done, it needs to be said again. There are practical solutions to global warming, including curbing the use of fossil fuels. Governments, individuals and corporations need to work together against global warming. America, as the largest polluter, especially must take initiative on this issue. The Kyoto Protocol should be reenacted by all nations to stave off disaster.

"Day After Tomorrow" has a hopeful ending, but the reality will be very grim if we do not take immediate steps against global warming.