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