| Global warming is a phenomenon that is | | | | Sierras may not be able to hold that |
| way beyond and over the level of | | | | much water anymore. This spells disaster |
| awareness of the man on the street, but | | | | for California's $32 billion agriculture |
| whose impact is felt by him wherever he | | | | industry. San Joaquin Valley produces |
| is - in every nook around the world, in | | | | nearly 50% of the US supply of fruits |
| our very residences, in every | | | | and vegetables, San Joaquin County |
| geographical location in fact. Everyone | | | | ranking 5th in the countries total |
| is starting to feel its impact in our | | | | agriculture production. |
| daily lives. Already there are | | | | This is a painful eye-opener; global |
| indications of the sad plight of the | | | | warming hurts not only the physical |
| earth's climate in some areas of the US | | | | environment, but also society and the |
| that are blessed with very good climate. | | | | economy. Worst of all realizations is: |
| There is ample evidence of the effects | | | | mildly put, it was initiated by human |
| of a changing climate in California, for | | | | activities and it is perpetrated by |
| example. Records show that in the half | | | | human indifference. |
| century that passed, temperatures in | | | | San Joaquin Valley may, for the most |
| winter and spring have been warmer. | | | | part of the year, be dry. Not the case |
| There has also been a recorded drop in | | | | for the area north of the valley. Higher |
| the level of spring snow in low | | | | sea levels (another dangerous |
| elevation to mid-elevation mountains. | | | | consequence of global warming) would |
| Blooms show up a couple of weeks | | | | pose a danger for the Delta areas like |
| earlier, while snowpacks are also | | | | Stockton and Sacramento. They stand the |
| melting earlier by 1 to 4 weeks. This is | | | | risk of being flooded, especially |
| very much related to the worldwide | | | | Stockton which is at sea level. Seawater |
| increase of average temperatures by 1 | | | | seeping inland would destroy agriculture |
| degree Fahrenheit over the last 100 | | | | that thrives on fresh water. |
| years. It is important to note that the | | | | Another consequence that is not as |
| US is the biggest contributor to air | | | | highly felt as the effect of global |
| pollution that traps heat (CO2 emissions | | | | warming on water and land resources, is |
| from cars, trucks and industrial plants) | | | | the effect of warmer temperatures on the |
| and causes global warming. Such kind of | | | | quality of air. San Joaquin Valley will |
| activities is projected to be the gauge | | | | suffer from poorer air quality; as it |
| at how much warmer the state's climate | | | | is, it is shoulder to shoulder with LA |
| will become as it is also a | | | | and Houston in not so healthy air |
| scientifically projected that California | | | | quality. |
| temperatures will rise by 4.7 10.5 | | | | These are no laughing matters. |
| degrees Fahrenheit in this century. If | | | | Foreseeing the dismal developments, |
| state laws and Washington declarations | | | | state leaders are starting to legislate |
| prevail, emissions could be cut and | | | | to address global warming concerns by |
| consequently contain the temperature | | | | cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Last |
| rise to around 3 to 5.6 degrees | | | | year saw California as the very first |
| Fahrenheit. | | | | state to implement a law limit emissions |
| In addition to warmer climate, continued | | | | of these dangerous gasses. |
| abuse and misuse of the environment can | | | | Concerned agencies are also actively |
| cause corollary incidents of widespread | | | | advocate awareness of global warming and |
| wildfires, as well as reduced production | | | | encourage helpful measures. The |
| and quality of agricultural harvest. | | | | University of the Pacific continually |
| San Joaquin Valley, according to | | | | conducts campaigns for the cause. |
| climatologists, may also bear the brunt | | | | Recycling is highly recommended anything |
| of global warming. There are existing | | | | from bottles, to cans, to paper. So is |
| problems, like water shortage, that can | | | | lesser driving and the use of |
| be aggravated by climactic change. At | | | | fluorescent bulbs over incandescent |
| present, South of Fresno for instance, | | | | ones. These are very simple solutions |
| gets only 8 inches of rain annually; the | | | | which can be easily done by everyone, |
| residents depend on the melting of | | | | but are usually overlooked and |
| Sierra Nevada's snowpack to compensate. | | | | disregarded. If only everyone would |
| But this will be where the main problem | | | | stand up to the challenge now! |
| would lie with warmer temperatures, the | | | | |