The Level of Greenhouse Gases in the Atmosphere - Research Paper Example

Global warming Global warming Introduction In the earliest days of earth after its birth, the atmosphere of the earth was not such pleasant. Earth’s atmosphere was occupied by sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and other harsh gases and particulates. However, as the time passed the concentration of the harsh gases in the atmosphere decreased and the life friendly atmosphere began overcoming the environment. Life began to bloom on the planet earth and the concentration of the harsh gases further reduced due to the continuous supply of oxygen through the photosynthesis. Plants captured atmospheric carbon and converted it into sometime useful for the plant and life. These processes continued for thousands of centuries and the atmosphere became pleasant. However, due to the impact of the natural disasters like earth quakes, floods, etc, the plants, tress and organisms died on a massive scale and buried under the layers of sand. The immense pressure and temperature under the layer of sedimentation converted the organisms back to the carbon compounds. There organic compounds with greater ratio of carbon is present under the crust in the form of coal, oil and natural gas. These organic compounds are often referred as fossil fuel resources. When human race discovered that there is an immense amount of energy trapped in the coal, oil and natural gas, they tried to extract the energy out without acknowledging what will be byproduct of the reaction and how byproduct will affect the earth’s atmosphere and human life. The use of fossil fuel resources increased as the hunger for energy increased. No one has the idea hat the burning process is doing to the environment. In the 19th century, the demand for energy increased significantly due to the massive industrialization. Industrial goods were considered more reliable. Trains as the medium of transportation were introduced. Trains reduced the time period of the journeys. Steam trains utilized massive amount of coal to generate mechanical power fro the train. The use of coal in various other sectors also increased. Some people argued that coal energy is not good to the health but coal was the prior source of energy and no one argued to restrict the use of technology no matter what are the side effects of the energy. With the invention of internal combustion engines, fossil fuel based oil resources were used to power the internal combustion engines. Cars, motorcycles, trucks, busses, etc are fitted with internal combustion engines. Many industrialists came up with newer vehicle designs began making and selling cars to the common people. Farmers began using tractors rather than bulls, horses or donkeys. The concentration of carbon oxides in the atmosphere increased at a constant rate. No one still evaluated the impact of using fossil fuel resources. The energy use in urban localities is ever increasing. On the other hand, with the increase in population size, the requirement for the energy further increased and demand fro industrial goods also increased. The energy requirement of the world increased 10 times in just 21 years. The scale shows the demand of energy will further increase in upcoming years. Now everyone has a car in some high socioeconomic urban regions. In some cities of U.S numbers of cars are approximately equal to the number of persons in the region. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in the past 30 years increased 80% more than in the past 800 years. On the other hand, deforestation also contributed in increasing the concentration of the carbon dioxide. Wood from the forest is utilized in the construction of homes, boats, furniture and for other human luxuries. Green house emissions include sulfur oxide emission, carbon oxides emission, nitrogen oxides emissions and methane emissions. The immense usage of fossil fuel resources breached the healthy level of green house gases in the atmosphere. The increased concentration of green house gases in the environment has raised the temperature of the planet. The more the concentration of the green house gases in the atmosphere, the warmer the atmosphere will be, as solar radiations remain trapped and unable to escape increasing the temperature of the planet. The temperature of the earth is constantly increasing and this phenomenon is referred as “Global Warming”. Technology altered the way one thinks about the earth. On 8th, August 1975, Wallace S. Broecker, an American scientist used the word “Global warming” and discussed it many time after his publication (Discovery.yukozimo.com). He described the harsh impacts of using fossil fuel resources and what these sources are doing to our environment (Discovery.yukozimo.com). Scientist evaluated that the average temperature of the earth increased 1oC. In some regions the increase in temperature is more than 1oC and in some regions the increase in temperature is less than 1oC. 1oC can be considered a fraction of increase in temperature of warm climate but 1oC is a pity big figure for the temperature sensitive regions like Atlantic glaciers and mountainous glaciers. The increase in temperature is disturbing the balance of the earth (YouTube). Global Warming is disturbing the balance of the earth and altering the environment that is becoming harsh for the life. Causes of Global Warming The major cause of the global warming is the green house gas emissions. Green house gas emissions include carbon dioxide emissions, sulfur oxide emissions, carbon monoxide emissions, nitrogen oxide emissions and methane emissions. Naturally a balance is maintained between the amount of green house gases in the atmosphere as some gases produce natural cooling effect and some gases particularly carbon dioxide are significant due to the thermal effect (Alharbi). Green house gas emissions and Fossil fuel burning Green house gas emissions increase as the combustion processes increase. Fossil fuel based burning processes are utilized in the power generation units. Most of the electrical energy in the world is generated by burning coal. Coal produces most amount of green house gas emission as compared to the oil and natural gas, natural gas produces the least amount of green house emission as compared to the coal and oil. When coal is burnt to extract energy, it releases chemical energy. The burning processes require oxygen and thus power output verses the byproduct output is influenced by the amount of oxygen needed to burn the oxygen. Incomplete combustion due to lack of oxygen produced other byproduct are also harmful for the environment. The burning process is: Fossil Fuel + Oxygen Carbon dioxide + water vapors + energy In case of raw coal: Raw Carbon + Oxygen Carbon dioxide + water vapors + sulfur dioxide + solid wastes + energy In case of incomplete combustion: Raw Carbon + Oxygen Carbon dioxide + water vapors + sulfur dioxide + Carbon monoxide + solid wastes + energy Other type of fossil fuel: Fossil fuel + Oxygen  Carbon dioxide + water vapors + carbon monoxide + solid wastes + energy In the processes, it is clear that more amount of carbon dioxide is produced as compared to the input fossil fuel. With consistent increase in the amount of carbon dioxide, the global warming will increase consistently. With the increase in the use of fossil fuel resources as the primary energy source, the concentration of green house gas gases particularly, carbon dioxide is increasing. As the amount of other byproducts increases, the energy content of the fuel decreases. Natural gas produces the least amount of green house gas emissions and coal produces the more amount of green house gas emission (Bulletin, p59). Increase in carbon dioxide and global warming The increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, global warming is increasing. It is due to the natural process to maintain the temperature of the earth. A healthy balance of carbon dioxide is maintained naturally in the environment to trap the solar radiations to balance the temperature during night when there is no sun (Howard). The carbon dioxide and water vapors suspend make a blanket in the atmosphere that allow the solar radiation during day but do not allow the solar radiation to escape at night. The wavelengths of the solar radiations change as radiations touch the surface of earth. The blanket of carbon dioxide and water vapors allow the solar radiations with short wavelength. However, as the radiations reach the surface of earth, they become long wavelength radiations and radiated back in the form of long wavelength radiations. Blanket of carbon dioxide and water vapors do not allow the long wavelength radiation to pass. In this manner, solar radiations remain trapped in the earth hemisphere and continuously increase the temperature (Howard). Deforestation Deforestation is also causing carbon dioxide to increase in the atmosphere. Tress and plants consume the carbon dioxide during the process of photosynthesis. During the process of photosynthesis, plants and trees make their food by combining water and carbon dioxide. In this manner, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere remains balanced. However, with the increase in the deforestation, the less number of trees are unable to trap as much carbon dioxide as produced in energy generation processes (Frazer). Effects of global warming With the elevation in temperature, the temperature controlled balanced is disturbed. It has a deep impact on the water cycle, (Hydrologic cycle), promoted melting of glaciers, rise in sea level, increase in forest fires, increase in insect borne diseases, increase in diseases regarding temperature and alteration in severity of weather (YouTube). Sea level rise Warm temperature promotes the thermal expansions of water. Global warming promoted the thermal expansions of the sea water. With the thermal expansion, the volume of water increased and sea level risen. It is also due to the melting of the continental glaciers that filled oceans with more water (ravi). In the past 3000 years, the average rise in the sea level was only 0.4 to 0.8 inches. However, in the 20th century, the rise in sea level is about 8 inches (Hilderman, p61). Arctic Ice melt Arctic glaciers not only hold fresh water in ice form but also maintain the temperature of the region. With the increase in temperature the Arctic ice is melting and unable to cover the ocean (Astill, p2). The arctic ice traps the methane under the surface. As the ice is melting and the methane that is trapped under the ice surface is escaping (Hilderman, p61). Lack of formation of ice on oceans surfaces in winter Due to the global warming, the winters are ineffective and remain for shorter periods. The temperature in the winter season does not reach at a certain level. Thus, a tin layer of ice on the oceans form or in some regions there is not ice formation over the surface of oceans in winter season. The ice formation process in winters and ice melting process in summer is effective providing oceans creatures with oxygen. Without this process, the supply of oxygen to the oceanic creatures is becoming short and a large number of creatures die annually due to lack of oxygen dissolved in water (Hilderman, p62). Forest fires With the elevation in temperature, the number of forest fire incidents is increasing. The process is further reducing the process of photosynthesis and increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In U.S forest fires increased by 6% (Hilderman, p62). Insect borne diseases Due to the elevated temperature, the winters are becoming less effective, winters control the birth rate of insect, as insect larvae are unable to bear the winters. As winters are becoming less effective and temperature in the winters do not reach the healthy level, the insect larvae can survive the winters and thus the birth rate of the insect increases and thus the insect borne diseases increases. Mosquito borne diseases are increasing in several regions due to the less harsh winters. “EI Salvador alone reported 22,000 cases of dengue fever in 2008, 20 times the number in 2003” (Hilderman, p62). Mountain glaciers melt Mountain glaciers are important in providing water for the agriculture and for other uses. However, due to the elevation of temperature, the glaciers are melting at a rapid rate. Around 1850, the Glaciers National Park had 150 glaciers; however, at this stage the number of glaciers in the Glaciers National Park is just 25 (Hilderman, p63). Extreme weather The weather is becoming extreme. The number of floods in the past 15 years increased at a massive scale. On the other hand, a major portion of world is dealing with droughts and some countries are dealing with excessive rains and floods (ravi). Rain cycles, or hydrologic cycles altered. Thus, global warming is making the weather extreme (Hilderman, p63). Future under the shadow of Global warming If we continued our current practices, the future of the earth will be same as it was after its birth. The temperature of the earth will be much warmer and life will be unable to sustain in that environment. There would be less fresh water resources. The sea level will rise to its maximum and no human colonies or dry land will remain. There is a need to take action now to reduce the impact of global warming (Hilderman, p64). Solution for Global warming Global warming can only be reduced if the carbon emissions in the atmosphere are controlled. Atmosphere will get cooler gradually and can be balance naturally, if the flow of carbon emissions and other green house gas emissions in the environment are restricted. Following are the methods that can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and other green house gas emission into the environment. Energy conversation and energy use Energy conversation is important to reduce the amount of green house gas emission into the atmosphere. The power generation units generate as mush power as demanded. As the demand of the energy reduces, the power generation units will generate less energy according to the demand. Less energy generation directly influence the carbon dioxide emissions to reduce. There is need to switch the light off that are not in use, do not put the computer and televisions on standby but turn off them. Keep the thermostat of the air conditioning system to energy efficient setting. Energy can also be conserved if it is used efficiently. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent light bulbs and LED light bulbs reduces the energy use significantly. On the other hand, energy star appliances perform better and use energy efficiently. In the similar manner, running washing machine in a week with full load and watching televisions as less as possible also conserves energy. LED Televisions use much less power as compared to CRT televisions. Replacing old televisions with LED televisions conserves energy (National Geographic). Shifting to alternate energy Alternate energy resources like solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy and hydrostatic energy are free from green house gas emissions, as no fossil fuel is required to generate energy. Wind energy captured the energy from wind and converts it into electricity. Solar energy converts solar energy to electricity. Geothermal energy captures the thermal energy from geothermal grounds and converts it to electricity in a thermal power plant. Hydrostatic energy uses the gravitational energy of flowing water and converts it into electricity. Alternate energy use sustainable energy sources rather than conventional energy generation method. Individual as well as commercial use of alternate energy should be promoted to decrease the amount of green house gas emissions in the atmosphere (National Geographic). Green home and green building designing Green building design is a new concept and uses design of the home to conserve energy. Green home design often uses passive solar design. Passive solar design prevents the home from direct solar radiations in summer and allows solar radiations in winter. In this way, the home remains cool in summer and remains warm in winter. On the other hand, green building design uses natural solar indirect light to enlighten the home. Bigger windows allow solar light into building. Green building design also promotes using alternate energy resources to maintain the temperature of building and increase the energy efficiency of the building (National Geographic). Growing trees and stop deforestation Growing trees and boycott deforestation will also reduce the carbon emission into the atmosphere. Growing trees is the best option to reduce the carbon emissions in the atmosphere, as other option are only reducing the flow the carbon emission into the environment by growing more trees will trap the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and clean the atmosphere. Trees are also important in increasing the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere as only plants are the natural source of oxygen in the world (Bulletin, p59). Prefer cycling and walking Cycling for short distance and walking for short distances is much better option as compared to carrying car for short distances. Vehicle contributes much in increasing the carbon emission in the atmosphere. In some bigger urban regions of U.S number of cars is equal to the number of people residing in the urban locality. This means for every single person, there is one car. If more and more people tend to walk or cycle for short distances, the green house gas emissions will significantly reduce. For longer distances, bus is a more preferred option as compared to car (National Geographic). Buying hybrid vehicles and lower emissions vehicles The engine size of the car matters a lot in increasing the carbon emissions. Vehicle with bigger engines produce more carbon emissions as compared to small engine cars. Small engine cars should be preferred over large engine cars. For example 1.0 litter car engine is better than 3.0 litter engine car. In the similar manner, hybrid cars consumed as fuel and give more mileage as compared to normal cars. Hybrid cars should be given preference over normal cars. Electric cars are more efficient as compared to hybrid cars but they require much time to recharge. Hydrogen ion vehicle are the most efficient vehicles regarding the carbon emission as hydrogen ion vehicle only use hydrogen to generate power for the vehicle. The byproduct of the reaction is steam that is not harmful for the environment (National Geographic). Growing food at home The food we utilized is not grown near to our society. It come from far regions and enters our markets. The travel carbon emissions and the food growing carbon emissions collectively increase the carbon emissions of the food we eat. If food is grown at home, the travelling carbon emissions and food growing carbon emissions can be reduced. It is better to utilize organic fertilizers at home to further reduce the carbon emissions, as agricultural fertilizers are manufactured in factories that consume immense amount of energy to produce fertilizers. The packaged fertilizers travel great distance to reach agriculture fields and to reach you. On the other hand, organic fertilizers can be produced at home, in the agricultural field (National Geographic). Conclusion Global warming is the biggest threat to the biodiversity of the planet. It is not only affecting the human race but also other animals. The impacts of the global warming are harsh and further altering the balance between various natural processes. Alteration in the hydrologic cycle, melting of glaciers, rise in sea level, increase in forest fires, increase in insect borne diseases, increase in weather severity and melting to Atlantic ice are the impacts of global warming. Global warming can be reduced by conserving as much energy as possible, using energy efficient appliances, adopting alternate and green technologies, growing trees, growing vegetable at home, prefer cycling and walking rather that driving car for short distance. Bus should be used for long distance journeys and limiting internal journeys. If it is necessary to use a car preference should be given to hybrid or small size engine vehicle to reduce the carbon emission of the travel. The future is now in our own hand, we must act in a proper manner to save our future generation from the harsh impact of the global warming. Works Cited Alharbi, Waleed. global warming Bobby Potters. 26 1 2014. Astill, James. "The melting north." The economist (2012): 1-4. Bulletin, Manila. "Kyoto global warming pact takes effect. (Opinion & Editorial)." Global issues (2005).You have this one. Discovery.yukozimo.com. Who Discovered Global Warming?. N. p., 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2014. Frazer, Lance. "CLIMATE CHANGE: Will Warmer Soil Be as Fertile?" Environ Health Perspect (2009).You have this one. Howard, Brian. Science Behind The "Global Warming Pause". National Geographic. N. p., 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2014. Hilderman, Richard. Signs of Climate Change. North Earth News, 2011. 60-64 National Geographic,. Global Warming Solutions, Stop Global Warming - National Geographic. N. p., 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2014. Ravi, Aishwariya. Top 10 Effects of Global Warming - List Dose. List Dose. N. p., 2013. Web. 26 Apr. 2014. YouTube. Could Just One Degree Change The World?. N. p., 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2014. Read More