Is it hot in here, or is it just me?

According to NASA, the CO2 level has never been as high as it has been starting in 1950. They attribute this to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that increase the temperature of the Earth. Cores collected from Antarctica, Greenland and tropical glaciers shows that the Earth's temperature reacts to a change in the Earth's orbit, the sun and greenhouse levels.

The increase in CO2 levels cause sea temperatures to rise which melts glaciers which in turn causes sea levels to rise. On land, we see an increase in temperature causes drought. Carbon dioxide that gets to the sea causes the sea to become more acidic. Coming from living in the desert, I know first hand what it's like to feel like there is not enough water to go around. Restrictions are placed on how often and when people are allowed to water their grass throughout the year. Part of the world is flooding and the other is drying up. We have also been seeing spontaneous catastrophic events that may not have been as bad before such as flooding, harsh winters and longer summers.

Lake Nyo Eruption

This is Lake Nyos. It is located in Cameroon, Africa. On August 21, 1986, the lake suddenly exploded as a result of a build up of CO2 gas that resulted from a nearby volcano leaking the substance into the lake. The eruption sent CO2 gas 16 miles killing all people by asphyxiation almost instantly. 17-1800 people died on top of their cattle. Since CO2 is denser than air, anyone who was at a higher elevation survived but I couldn't find how many survivors there were. The volcano still leaks CO2 into the lake, but a pipe has been placed in the bottom of the lake to give the gas a way to escape at a slower rate to keep the lake from exploding again. A problem that is being faced now is the weakening of the lake walls. If the walls break, then contaminated water could be spilled as far as Nigeria.

West Nile?!?! Get the bug spray!!!

West Nile Virus is caused by coming in contact with an infected mosquito. According to the CDC, once infected, the victim may see symptoms within 2 to 15 days of being infected. Symptoms include fever, headaches, tiredness and body aches. (CDC) This year we have seen the highest prevalence in the United States. The CDC has reported 1,590 cases just in this year alone. According to Dr. David J. Dausey, who is a chair of the public health department at Mercyhurst University claims the increase of cases as a result of an increase of moisture from an early spring as well as temperature. Mosquitoes thrive in hot and moist conditions. Where there is standing water, mosquitoes will be there also. The outbreak of West Nile is concentrated in the southern states as well as a few up north but Texas may be the worse. According to Dr. David L. Lakey, who is the commissioner of the Department of State Health Services in Texas says that Texas has seen 783 cases this year in which 95% needed hospitalization. The last epidemic occurred in 2003 but it doesn't come as close to the outbreak this year. I would like to ask those people who do not believe in global warming what the reasoning for this increase is. All signs point to climate change. Below is a picture from the CDC which shows West Nile activity as of August 28, 2012.

 

CBS West Nile Article 

CDC article