Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming - Coursework Example

Table of content page 3 Introduction page 4 Meaning of global warming page 4 Reasons: Greenhouse gases page 4 A.Carbon dioxide page 5 B. Water vapor page 5 C. Methane page 6 D. Halocarbon page 6 E. Ozone page 6 F. Nitrous oxide page 6 Sea level Changing page 7 Reducing ocean life page 7 A. Tiny plants page 8 B. Stronger storms page 8 C. Coral reef page 8 D. Marine animals population page 8 Global Warming Changing the Ocean page 9 A. Changes in natural habitats and food chain page 9 Photosynthesis page 9 Yearly growth cycle page 9 Migration page 9 B. Changes in ocean and chemistry page 10 Acidification page 10 Acidification effect on coral-reef page 10 Acidification effect on coral bleaching page 10 Holocene climate optimum page 10 Steps to reduce global warming page 11 Conclusion page 12 References page 13 Abstract Release of gaseous substances into the atmosphere has significantly caused subsequent increased temperature levels in the ozone layer. The overall effect is a condition called global warming. Most of these gases are greenhouse gases and are inclusive of methane and carbon dioxide. They form a blanket in the atmosphere that retains lots of heat for longer periods. The consequent high level of heat causes increased melting both at the north and south poles. This leads to a rise in the sea level. These effects have a negative impact on life in the sea especially the aquatic organisms. Apart from interfering with the habitat for these plants, it also compromises the amount of food availability. Scientists in particular are bothered by the acidity levels in these habitats. They blame the ever increasing number of industries and agricultural activities not controlled to be the sole cause of these problems. Introduction Man id the primary cause of increased greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases consists of water vapour, ozone, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide. However, trees perform a noble role in reducing the level of these gases. They do so through a process called photosynthesis. Trees produce oxygen needed by all living things but in turn consume carbon dioxide. Oxygen is an essential component that drives life. The turn of events currently is such that whereas there is a lot of gases being released into the atmosphere, trees are however being cleared at an alarming rate. The clearing of these forest cover has been the sole cause of unpredictable weather patterns being experienced in the recent past. This case has been predicted to worsen in to come if not addressed urgently. Meaning of Global Warming It is a situation where the air around the earths surface and in the sea increases to a larger extent. The intergovernmental evaluation on climate change indicates that there was a significant difference of 0.74 + (-) 0.18o C experienced in the surface of the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases, which are caused by daily activities, carried out by man is the sole cause. Increased levels of aerosols in the atmosphere lead to a condition referred to as global dimming. These are where most of the incident light from the sun is reflected back and thus prevented from reaching the earths surface. Reasons behind global warming Greenhouse gases Activities done by man is the cause of greenhouse gases. They include methane, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and halocarbons. Halocarbon is a group of gases containing fluorine, chlorine and bromine). These gases accumulate in the atmosphere in different percentages shows below: Greenhouse gases are of four different gases namely: nitrous oxide, halocarbons, methane and carbon dioxide. Halocarbons are up of chlorine, bromine and fluorine. The percentage distribution of these greenhouse gases in the earths surface is in the diagram below. 1.pie-chart shows the percentage of released gases A. Carbon dioxide Sources of carbon dioxide include decay of vegetation and trees, from fuels especially fossil and manufacture of products including cement. It is also as a result of general cooling and heating. Clearing of forest cover is the leading cause because it leads to reduced consumption. B. Water vapor Water vapour is readily available in the atmosphere and is a significant greenhouse gas. The activities carried out by man have little or no impact on the water in the atmosphere. However, since man can change the climate, they have influence on the amount of water in the atmosphere. For instance, an increase in the temperatures in the atmosphere increases water vapor. The most prominent gas is water vapour at any given time especially with increased temperatures. Whereas humans dont have the direct impact on the atmospheric water vapour, they have effects. C. Methane The source of methane is natural processes, agricultural activities done by man, gas distribution and filling of the landscape. D. Halocarbon gas The concentrations of halocarbons have been improved on by human activities. Natural processes are also a small source. The main halocarbons are inclusiveof the chlorofluorocarbons used as agemts in refrigeration. They are also the cause of stratospheric ozone depletion. The amounts of chlorofluorocarbon is reducing due to international regulations protecting the ozone layer. Humans are said to be the primary cause of increased halocarbons in the atmosphere. Halocarbons are mainly chlorofluorocarbons. Others that also cause increased levels of these gases are the natural processes. Chlorofluorocarbons are very useful in the industries and find a lot of use as agents of refrigeration. If not for regulations put forth by the international community on the use of chlorofluorocarbons, the level of ozone layer depletion would be worse. E. Ozone Ozone is as a result of reactions between hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide. This is to say that ozone is created and destroyed through these chemical reactions in the atmosphere. The adverse effects of ozone are the depletion of the stratosphere. F. Nitrous oxide Nitrous oxide is by human activities such as fertilizer use and fossil fuel burning. Natural processes in soils and the oceans also release N2O. Nitrous oxide its. They include the existence in the soils and release from underground water especially the sea. Others include the use of fertilizer and fuel burning of all types in general. Global warming and sea levels. Several Pacific island states are with total disappearance and two uninhabited islands in the Kiribati chain have already disappeared due to the sea level rise. In the other hand, coastal areas around the world will also be threatened by rising sea levels. This will not only affect agricultural areas around the coast but also cities – 13 of the 15 largest cities in the world are on coastal plains. The IPCC confirms that sea level rise is already affecting coastal ecosystems, including coral reefs, mangroves and salt marshes. Rising seas are said to have flooded 7,500 ha of mangroves in the Sundarbans National Park of Bangladesh, although sea-level rise is aggravated by subsidence in the Delta. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change state that sea level rise might vary between 9 and 48 cm in a low emissions scenario at 2080. At the same time, the high emissions scenario would range from 16 to 69 cm. The level of heat absorption in the sea increases with a corresponding rise in the temperature levels. The effects of the poles are the melting of ice sheets especially in Antarctica. As a result, there is an increase in sea level that brings a number of setbacks. For example, there are two uninhabited islands in the Kiribati disappeared while a number of states in the Pacific islands face the danger of going for good. It does not only stop there, other coastal cities also face similar threats.In essence, these affects the agricultural activities in these coastal areas. Other effects spreads to ecosystems in these fields that include mangroves, salt marshes and reefs. Previous statistics states that more than 7,500 mangroves in the Sundarbans National Park of Bangladesh have been flooded. Delta subsidence has accelerated the seen rise in the sea level. 2. graph shows approximate increasing rate of seawater level for 100 years Global warming is reducing Ocean life Raising of ocean surface temperature as a consequence of global warming will negatively affect the metabolism of invertebrates and the development of and survivability of their eggs and larvae, which will in turn disrupt food webs and cause trophic cascades. The distribution of many species of fish, plankton and invertebrates will shift in response to the increasing seawaters temperatures. For example: 1. Tiny Plants When the water in the oceans become acidic and warmer, fewer of the billions of tiny or microscopic plants that are at the bottom of the ocean food chain are growing. These plants, called phytoplankton, as we know it is a necessary part of sea life because they are a food source for other marine species. 2. Stronger Storms Another effect of global warming is those stronger hurricanes are forming over warmer ocean waters. These devastating storms also drastically affect ocean life by disturbing and destroying animal habitats and killing and injuring animals. 3. Coral Reefs Global warming has a negative effect on coral skeletons, which are a critical habitat for millions of sea creatures, fish species and other marine life. As temperatures in the ocean water increases and rises, the coral reefs die or collapse, destroying and destructing shelter and food opportunities for other sea creatures and species. 4. Animal Populations Research has shown that the populations of cool-water ocean species have been tapering as ocean temperatures have been rising. Many organisms try to survive themselves to immigrate from one area of the ocean to another part of the ocean, such turtles. Global Warming Changing the Ocean Increasing and rising air temperatures affect the physical structure and nature of the world oceans. When air temperatures increase, water becomes less dense, and it creates a separation from a nutrient-filled cold water layer below. This basis creates a chain effect that affects all marine life in one way one another.The two physical effects of ocean warming and temperature rise on marine life that are crucial include: First: Changes in Natural Habitats and Food Supply Photosynthesis Creatures that live on the ocean surface like phytoplankton, and algae use photosynthesis for nutrient synthesis. Photosynthesis removes gases like carbon dioxide from the surrounding atmosphere and changes it into organic carbon and oxygen that is used in every ecosystem in the world. A recent NASA study shows that, phytoplankton thrive more in oceans whose temperatures are cooler. Algae, that produces food through the photosynthesis process for other marine life, is being significantly reduced due to ocean and global warming. Since oceans have slightly higher temperatures, nutrients are stopped from moving upward to food suppliers created by algae that are only available at a small layer at the surface and therefore cannot fully support and supplement vast and large marine life with the vital oxygen and organic carbon. Yearly Growth Cycles Various plants and animals in world oceans need both a balanced temperature and light amounts in order to grow well and thrive. Creatures that depend on temperature to thrive, such as Phytoplankton, have started their annual growth cycle earlier in the season because of warming of the ocean waters. Light-driven creatures begin their annual growing cycle around the same period as temperature-driven creatures. Since Phytoplankton thrives in earlier seasons in the yearly cycle, the entire food chain is affected in one way or another. Animals that used to travel to the surface for food are now finding areas without nutrients, and light-driven creatures are beginning their growth cycles at separate and different times. This creates a natural environment that is non-synchronous. Migration The warming of oceans water may also lead to migration and movement of organisms along the east and west coasts. Species that are heat-tolerant, like the shrimp, will expand northward, while those species that are not intolerant to heat, such as clams and flounder, will retreat northward. This migration will create a new mixture of organisms in a new natural environment; this will ultimately cause changes in predatory habitats. If some organisms in the natural environment cannot adapt to their new habitat in the marine environment, they will surely die off. Second: Changing Ocean Chemistry and acidification Acidification As carbon dioxide gas is being released and deposited into the ocean, the chemical composition of the ocean completely changes. Higher CO2 concentrations released into the worlds ocean waters creates oceans with high acidic levels. As ocean acid level increases, Phytoplankton is reduced. Reduction in phytoplankton levels in the oceans results in fewer ocean plants able to uptake greenhouse gases. Increased ocean acidity endanger a lot of marine life organisms, like corals reefs and shellfish, which become completely wiped out or extinct in the few coming years from the negative chemical effects of carbon dioxide. Acidification Effect on Coral Reefs Coral reefs, which is a source of food of the oceans food and livelihood, is also changing drastically with the onset of global warming. Coral reefs in the natural setting secrete tiny and small shells of calcium carbonate so as to form and create a composition of its skeleton. As carbon dioxide from global warming is released into the natural atmosphere, acidification increases, and the carbonate ions completely disappear. This leads in lower extension rates or coral reefs with weaker skeletons. Coral Bleaching Coral bleaching, which is the breakdown in the relationship between coral and algae, is also increasingly occurring with warmer ocean water temperatures. Since algae, give coral its original coloration, increased CO2 in our oceans causes coral reefs a lot of stress and a release of this algae. This leads to an appearance that is lighter. When this relationship that is so vital for our natural ecosystem to survive disappears, corals begin to weaken. Therefore, food and habitats for a great number of marine life are also destroyed. Holocene Climatic Optimum The drastic climate change and its effect on surrounding wildlife are not a new occurrence to the world we live in. The Holocene Climatic Optimum, which occurred between 9,000 to 5,000 B., was general warming period in our fossil. It proves that climatic changes in the world can directly affect the inhabitants of the natural environment. In 10,500 B.P., younger Dryas, which was widely spread throughout the cold climates of the world, became nearly extinct and being completely wiped out due to the warming period. At the end of the warming period, the Dryas was only found in the few specific areas in the world that had colder temperatures. Phytoplankton, coral, Pytoplanktons and the marine life that relied on the dryas are increasingly becoming extinct and scarce in the current world. Our environment is under a cycle that may soon lead to a lot of chaos within naturally the environment that was once very balanced Steps to reduce global warming Making and creating energy choices that are efficient and developing other energy sources will greatly reduce the effects of global warming. There is no immediate solution to this great problem apart from reducing our use of fossil fuels and energy. As users and consumers, we can assist in the short term: Carbon dioxide emissions can be immensely decreased if users buy and utilize more energy-efficient appliances, such as modern refrigerators and compact fluorescent light bulbs that save large amounts of fuel. Conclusion Climate change has a negative impact on all living organisms in the natural environment either for short-term and for long-term. For short climate change, raise the sea level which will get over the coastal habitats everywhere, causing severe flooding, erosion, and disruption of low lying shore-lines. For a long-term the raising of the sea level can hide many islands especially those in the Pacific ocean in addition to damage the hundreds of ecologies and animals living there. Scientific nowadays try to solve this problem by using new and majored technology to solve this global problem, but we still have the negative impact. References 1. Neil,W. & Brown K. (1994) Land Use And The Cause of Global Warming. John Wily & Sons, Chichester. Newyork. Brisbane. Toronto. Singapore. Pages3-16,35. 2. Pual R. (2009). Invitation to Oceanography. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Sudbury. Pages 558, 563-571. 3. Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_causes_global_warming#ixzz18GpsimTw 4. IPCC, 2007: Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M.Tignor and H.L. Miller (Eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA. 5. http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/aboutcc/problems/rising_temperatures/sea_levels/ 6. http://geography.about.com/od/geographyintern/a/globalmarine.htm Read More