Answers to the 15 questions (No.13-No.15) Posted by Aoi

Q13. Can creatures adapt to the effect of global warming?

A13. As you know, global warming affects not only humans but also animals. So, many species on earth are now exposed to the severe environment. I’ll tell you how animals survive and adapt to the new environment. There are mainly two ways for animals to keep on living. The first way is to move to a new land. It’s becoming hotter and hotter now, so some animals like pikas started to look for a new habitat. They are moving to a northern area to find a comfortable place for them. This way is not an adaption, but I think that it’s also a reasonable way because they don’t need to change their lifestyle rapidly. And, the second way is to adapt themselves to a new environment. This is a main content of this question. Take insects and birds, for example. The temperature of the world is getting higher and higher, so the period of four seasons are affected more or less. Thus, insects and birds make the best of the situation. Insects emerge earlier and birds lay eggs earlier than usual. I think they are so smart that they will survive under the hard environment for a long time. I also thought that humans should contribute to their life. For example, we should prepare for a sanctuary for animals. If so, animals won’t die out and we’ll be happy because we can protect ecosystem.

Reference1: What Helps Animals Adapt (or Not) to Climate Change? (2018, April 03). Retrieved from http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2018/03/30/helps-animals-adapt-not-climate-change/

Reference2: How Do Animals Survive in Global Warming? (2017, August 04). Retrieved from https://doris-net.eu/animals-survive-global-warming/

Q14. How long will four seasons last?

A14. There are four seasons in the middle-latitude area, spring, summer, fall and winter. But, the situation starts to change. Scientists are now trying to find out how each season lasts, but they haven’t finished researching on it. So, I can’t clearly answer how long four seasons will last. I’ll tell you about the current seasonal situation instead. Generally speaking, the effect of summer is becoming stronger and stronger not only in Europe but also in America. In America, Winter is becoming warmer and warmer. Of course, various kinds of problems are caused by the change of temperature. In warm winter, reservoirs are seriously affected because snow can’t bear warmth. In Europe, people feel that the period of summer is extended because they feel hot in March. As I introduced some examples now, traditional four seasons start to be destroyed. So, I think that we need to accept this fact. In the long history, the climate of the earth has changed many times, so we have to get used to a new climate pattern. What should be done is to develop items to make our life comfortable. If we can do it, we will survive and four seasons will appear again.

Reference1: Four Seasons of Warming. (2016, February 17). Retrieved from http://www.climatecentral.org/gallery/maps/four-seasons-of-warming

Reference2: Summer in March? Warming Climate Alters Europe's Seasons. (2016, April 04). Retrieved from https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/04/160404-climate-change-Europe-early-summer/

Q15. The relationship between global warming and virus. What’s the effect on virus?

A15. In terms of the relationship between global warming and virus, we will come to a turning point. But, it sadly means a bad thing. Global warming affects a temperature, so the earth is getting hotter and hotter. In cold areas like the Arctic, permafrost is melting now. This is a big problem. It’s widely known that the melt of ice affects sea level, but there is also a problem which is hard to solve. Some kinds of viruses are trapped in ice for thousands of years because of the coolness. They can’t become active if a temperature is not appropriate for them. But, it is becoming warmer and warmer. Imagine that a lot of viruses are activated at the same time. In the worst case, countless people on earth will die because of a new virus. I think that this is the biggest problem which is caused by global warming. What can we do to prevent the problem? The feasible countermeasures are not so many, but scientists can research inside ice and get data of viruses. Ice is not totally melted yet, so viruses don’t start to move quickly. I think that now is the last chance to think about the solutions of viruses which might affect us in the near future.  

Reference1: Fox-Skelly, J. (2017, May 04). Earth - There are diseases hidden in ice, and they are waking up. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20170504-there-are-diseases-hidden-in-ice-and-they-are-waking-up

Reference2: Bulman, M. (2017, May 05). There are deadly viruses hidden in melting ice, and they're waking up. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/global-warming-ancient-viruses-expose-dormant-thousands-fortitude-years-scientists-warn-a7719201.html