Changing Climate

You have likely heard about Global Warming and about Greenhouse Gases, but have you stopped to think that these phenomena effect our region too?

Greenhouse gases are named so because they act like the glass in a greenhouse, trapping the heat in the atmosphere, warming the earth. The atmosphere has been able to maintain a fine balance of greenhouse gases to keep the earth's various climates consistent, until this century.

Nowadays, people are producing more and more greenhouse gases to lead the modern lives we live. Burning fossil fuels to drive cars and heat homes, lets off carbon dioxide (CO2). Other greenhouse gases include methane from garbage dumps, and manure, nitrous oxide from chemical fertilizers, and hydrocarbons like CFC's emitted from the production of various chemical products.

With all of the extra greenhouse gases being produced, temperatures around the globe are increasing. In Atlantic Canada, we will be effected because the warmer temperatures melt the polar ice caps causing the sea level to rise flooding our coastlines and low lying areas further inland. Rises in temperatures on land and in the water will effect plant and wildlife which is able to survive, and effect the make-up of fish populations. Scientists are even predicting that because of Atlantic Canada's proximity to the melting ice caps that we might actually experience colder weather and waters!