Leander High School's online student-run newspaper

The Roar

Leander High School's online student-run newspaper

The Roar

Leander High School's online student-run newspaper

The Roar

Get the Facts Straight: SAG-AFTRA and WGA Strike
Just Keep Swimming
Get the Facts Straight: Fentanyl
Things You May Not Know About LHS

Things You May Not Know About LHS

February 7, 2023

New Years Resolutions

New Years Resolutions

January 30, 2023

Francesca Kent
Francesca Kent
Photojournalist

Radioactive Cockroaches Discovered

By Ashley Bagwell

   Imagine a world where the skies are stained orange, the air is so thick that it almost hurts to inhale, the summers start fires where the winters freeze the ground and radioactive cockroaches roam the earth. Maybe it isn’t the fault of this generation, but that doesn’t matter, because this is the first generation that can actually do something to reverse the trend.

   The previous generation is impeded by the chains of habit, after decades of thinking global warming is a hoax, a large number of adults are inclined to still preach their ‘facts,’ no matter how misguided they may be. Two of the main debates in society today are over two questions,” is the climate warming,” and “are humans causing climate warming?”

   The general retreat of mountain glaciers during the past century is one example of evidence that the climate change is happening. A second point of discussion is the rate of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. There is a natural readjustment process which works very slowly, but pales in comparison to the rapid rate at which we move CO2 into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels. Natural carbon removal can’t keep pace, so the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere increases.

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    This brings us to the third topic, the greenhouse effect, a natural warming process. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and certain other gases are always present in the atmosphere. These gases create a warming effect that has some similarity to the warming inside a greenhouse, hence the name “greenhouse effect.” The increased gases trapped in the atmosphere enhance the green house effect and additional heat further warms the atmosphere and Earth’s surface.

   This brings us to the question, “are humans causing the climate change?” While the Earth maintains a natural carbon balance, allowing upset concentrations of CO2 to gradually return to their natural state, the rapid production of CO2 makes this impossible. There is growing evidence which indicates that humans now have a noteworthy impact on climate. Even so, it is difficult to identify humans as the only cause of case by case events or local climate changes.

   As a generation we can do our part, no matter how small, to ensure a healthier planet for future generations. The future where the skies are stained orange, the air is so thick that it almost hurts to inhale and the summers start fires where the winters freeze the ground doesn’t have to be a reality if everyone does their part. Turn the lights off when you leave a room, unplug your phone charger when it isn’t in use, recycle, and consider joining the school environmental group, Green Paws. Together we can save the planet.

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