The article “Yosemite's largest ice mass is melting fast” can be found in the Los Angeles times. This article was written by  Louis Sahagu October 1, 2013, 9:12 p.m. http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-glaciers-20131002,0,7692754.story#axzz2imURlhBY

Yosemite national park has been feeling the impact of climate change on its huge glaciers. The rise in temperature over the years has played a visible toll on Yosemite's largest ice mass; Lyell Glacier. This Glacier seems to have been dying for more than a century and may come to an end. But why and how?

Greg Stock is the parks full time geologist and has been studying Lyell Glacier for many years. He has discovered that, as said in the article, “Lyell has dropped 62% of its mass and lost 120 vertical feet of ice over the last 100 years.” Stock said, “We give it 20 years or so of existence — then it'll vanish, leaving behind rocky debris,” This is devastating information to hear. The fact that over 50% of its mass has been lost is astonishing. This melting simply can not continue to happen. Yosemite's glaciers are important wildlife in the United States and it would be awful to see them go. Something needs to change and that needs to be the climate.

As temperatures rise ice melts. What I really should be saying here is as we burn more fossil fuels we kill more glaciers. This is the reality whether you like it or not. carbon dioxide plays a huge role in global warming. When we burn fossil fuels we spit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Although there is naturally some carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere humans are interfering and altering the carbon cycle by putting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than can be taken back into the Earth. Carbon dioxide and other GHGs (greenhouse gases) act like a blanket, making the earth hotter than it should be. An increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will cause an increase in temperature.

The burning of fossil fuels is the main human activity that gives of carbon dioxide. Everyone in the United States is a culprit of burning fossil fuels. You do it every day. Whenever you are riding in a car you are burning fossil fuels. Gasoline and diesel are fossil fuels and they are burnt around the world in order to travel. This accounts for about 30% of all transmissions of carbon dioxide. Also, when you are using electricity you are burning fossil fuels. Electricity accounts for about 40% of all transmissions of carbon dioxide. These things play a huge role in our everyday lives, this is why it is said that, while talking about the depletion  of glaciers, “This is the beginning of the end of these things.”

It is not just Yosemite that is feeling the heat. All around the world, for example in California, Washington, Colorado, and Wyoming, glaciers are diminishing. As said in the article, “If carbon dioxide levels continue to rise, the earth will eventually become ice-free” This is huge! Think of the impact that no ice will have on the entire world. For one many arctic animals will be stripped of their habitats. Also, the melting of all the ice will cause sea level to rise. You can wave good by to your trip to the Caribbean . Because of its low elevation the Caribbean will be lost in the waves.

This article, “Yosemite's largest ice mass is melting fast” can easily connect to my biology class. We have been learning a lot about carbon dioxide, the carbon cycle and the negative impact of the combustion  of fossil fuels on the atmosphere.

Also, in biology class, we watched the movie The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. It is a story about a man who only cares about his business. In the process of producing his products he is burning fossil fuels. In the end these fossil fuels and pollutants destroy and pollute the environment so bad the animals are forced to leave and there is nothing left. This is the same as when humans burn fossil fuels. This burning of fossil fuels causes a rise in temperature and is destroying the glaciers. If we act the way the man did in The Lorax we will be left with nothing as well. 

I believe that this is a very important topic that needs to be recognized and changed. I would not want to live in a place that is hot all the time with no snow or ice. That wouldn't be a very good winter. We can’t run away from this problem or this matter will continue to get worse and worse. We need ways to cut back on the combustion of fossil fuels. When you are leaving a room think to turn of the light, make an effort to walk more instead of riding in a gas guzzling car. These are small things but little by little they will make a difference. Do you want your children or grandchildren to never know what snow or ice is? The ice is melting a small bit every minute, what will you do to make a difference?