Reviews of the Articles about Global Problems Essay

Reviews of the Articles about Global Problems - Essay Example Soil, which is composed of organic and inorganic components, is an integral part of terrestrial life and many organisms including humans are greatly dependent on this vast resource. The organic or living components which are constituted by thousands of microbes, fungi, nematodes, mites and gophers play a vital role in maintaining soil health and fertility. The organic wastes that are present in the soil are processed by the soil microflora and the resulting nutrients are made available for the plants. Ground water is filtered and cleaned by the soil matter and soil also helps to retain atmospheric dust and other pathogens thereby contributing to cleaner air. Soil is also a major determinant of atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Man-made activities such as plowing and soil changes due to erosion and neglect can result in the release of excessive amounts of carbon dioxide in to the atmosphere. Agricultural practices such as tillage can deprive the soil of essential organic nutrients an d the addition of fertilizer chemicals, pesticides and herbicides further deplete the soil nutrients. The large number of concrete layered on top of the soil in urban areas, heavy machines and pollution cause extensive and at times irreversible damages to soil life. The desert conditions in Africa are mainly due to extensive grazing and agriculture which has resulted in degradation of the top soil. The author further adds that unhealthy soil can also cause several human diseases. The increasing global warming poses a great threat to the biodiversity of the soil which can be adversely affected even with the slightest change in temperature and moisture. The author has also included the views of soil experts Eric B. Nelson and Diana H. Wall who respectively believe that soil... The essay "Reviews of the Articles about Global Problems" analyses eight articles by eight different authors about such global problems as like the effect of increasing carbon dioxide quantities on global warming, threats to soil life from globalization and industrialization, the harm of pesticides to the environment and the effect of technological advancements on humanity. For example, the article â€Å"The hidden world under our feet† by Jim Robbins focuses on soil life and the numerous threats that it faces due to globalization and industrialization around the world. Soil, which is composed of organic and inorganic components, is an integral part of terrestrial life and many organisms including humans are greatly dependent on this vast resource. The organic or living components which are constituted by thousands of microbes, fungi, nematodes, mites and gophers play a vital role in maintaining soil health and fertility. Another article â€Å"A Change in temperature† by Justin Gillis analyses the effect of increasing carbon dioxide quantities on global warming. Recent findings suggest that global temperature change is a more slow process and humans would be able to adapt to these changes. The major issue under consideration is about the sensitivity of the climate to increasing carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. Earlier in the 19th century, Svante Arrhenius estimated the earth’s average temperature to increase by nine degrees Fahrenheit, though, now it is likely to be between three to eight degrees Fahrenheit.