Al Gore's Latest Mission
When he was Vice President of the United States, Tennessee native Al Gore worked for the American people. Now he's taking on an even bigger project: working to protect the planet. Gore is worried about global warming. He helped make a movie, An Inconvenient Truth, to teach others about the subject.
Greenhouse Gases
Why is Gore so worried about global warming? Scientists who study the climate think that human activity is causing Earth's temperature to rise.
The problem, they say, is our use of fossil fuels—fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas that formed deep inside the earth over millions of years. Burning fossil fuels releases energy that powers our cars and creates electricity for our homes and schools.
Burning fossil fuels also releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. When light from the sun reaches the earth, some of its energy is reflected back into space. But greenhouse gases trap that energy close to Earth's surface. The sun's heat energy can't escape, and the atmosphere warms up. During the last 100 years, the amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere has increased rapidly.
Rising Temperatures
When people think about global warming, they often imagine it in faraway places. It's true that places like Antarctica and the North Pole are feeling the heat. The effects of a changing climate, though, are felt around the world—even in Tennessee.
A recent study by the National Aeronautic and Atmospheric Administration (NASA) found that summer temperatures in eastern U.S. states could be 10 degrees hotter by 2080. In Memphis, they said, the average summertime high could be 100 degrees!
Danger to Animals and People
Hundreds of insects, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles make their homes within Tennessee's borders. As the state warms, the habitats of those animals could be endangered. More than 30 types of songbirds, such as the scarlet tanager, breed in Tennessee. Hotter days may send them flocking to cooler states instead. Fish like brook trout could disappear from Tennessee's streams.
People, too, will be affected by climate change. Many experts predict that global warming will cause stronger droughts, floods, and storms. Those weather changes could hurt the state's farmers. Meanwhile, forest fires in drought-stricken places could threaten homeowners and hurt the state's timber industry. Global warming could also take a toll on human health. Cases of diseases like asthma could increase as the weather gets hotter and drier and carries more dust.
Any Good News?
The good news is that thanks in part to Al Gore's efforts, more Americans are finally beginning to pay attention to the threat of global warming. Gore's popular movie won an Academy Award. More scientists are looking for ways to reduce our use of greenhouse gases. More families and businesses, too, are looking for ways to save energy.
How Can You Help?
You can do your part by using less energy. Ride your bike instead of getting a ride in the car. Turn off the air conditioning when you leave the house. Switch off the lights, computer, or television when you aren't using them. Humans have the power to change the planet. Working together to save energy, we can put the brakes on global warming and keep our planet healthy.