Next to the federal government shutdown, perhaps no topic generates as much controversy amongst average citizens as global warming or climate change. It doesn't seem to matter what most of the climate change experts say, global warming deniers put more weight into what non-experts say, or those few climate change researchers who may disagree with the overwhelming majority of the experts.
There are plenty of reputable information sources staffed by real climate experts that can provide answers to the general public's questions and rebuttals to just about every denier argument. Two of them are Real Climate and Skeptical Science.
But, this article isn't about arguing with people about global warming. If you want to argue here about the reality of global warming, don't waste your time. Go to one of the above sites and argue with the experts if you dare. This article is about what might happen right here in Bakersfield, Kern County, and the rest of the San Joaquin Valley if global warming continues unabated.
The attached video discusses some of the possibilities, from increased smog levels in our air basin - which is already out of compliance with state and federal air standards - to rising ocean levels causing excessive salinity in the Valley's fresh water supplies, thus negatively impacting wildlife, farming, and our drinking water supplies. It also touches upon global warming's long-term impacts on current planning being done by local governments.
