Global warming - Research Proposal Example

?Running Head: Research Proposal Research Proposal [Institute’s Research Proposal Research ment In particular, the researcher will endeavor on the below mentioned research statement to fulfill aims and objectives of the proposed research: “To analyze the impact of global warming on air quality of human environment” Hypothesis Specifically, the major hypothesis of the proposed research is that a reduction in global warming will be the particular cause of increment in the quantity of clean air in the environment. Objectives The major aims and objectives of the proposed study are to: Analyze different processes of global warming and environment Identify related components of global warming and air in the environment Analyze the impact of global warming on the environment Analyze the relation of global warming with air quality in the environment Literature Review Global warming has become one expression that is used quite commonly when speaking of the environment. Throughout times, the world climate has gradually changed. During the 21st century, unusually warm years have occurred. Since 1990, the world has experienced some nine warm years1. Global warming is generally defined as an increase in the temperature globally due to gaseous release (green house gases) and the thinning of the ozone layer. Global warming, therefore, threatens the climate of the world and it affects the meteorological pattern of different regions around the world. Generally, global warming has resulted into many disadvantages for the environment. This has included instability in the world climate. Global warming also results in polar ice melting and sea levels to rise. These further results in floods, coastal erosion, and other damaging effects to the environment. Severe heat waves also cause the loss of human and animal life2. Global warming is also said to have reduced the clean air that living beings breathe in. Numerous studies have been conducted on this topic. This proposal will therefore identify different studies and discussions that have been focusing the abovementioned issue related to global warming. A study3 done in California first showed the impacts that global warming has on the environment. It clearly stated that the global warming would continue to have a huge impact on the quality of air that humans being breathe in. This occurs through a proper procedure. As temperature rises and there is a variation in weather patterns, pollutants in the air increase significantly. Research4 has also proven that hotter temperatures also lead to emissions of high soot gases such as Nitrogen Oxides. This also results in formation of ozone smog. These further results in more global warming. Therefore, it is a cyclical effect. However, as the research elaborated, air pollution can have a significant impact on the health of the people. Particularly, in California, which is said to the fifth on the list of ten smoggiest cities in United States of America, the health risk is increasing due to air pollution. In California itself, it has led to around 24,000 pre mature deaths each year and quite many illnesses. There have been increment in hospital admits due to respiratory reasons, decreased lung function. This study also quoted another study that stated that increase in global warming has caused an additional 1000 deaths due to air pollution. The study, therefore advanced that there should be a policy made which would reduce emissions from fossil fuels so that there may be a decrease in global warming and hence improved air quality. The study done in California also ascertains that measures that reduce the greatest amount of global warming pollution-which include cleaner cars and trucks, use of renewable energy can lead to significant reductions in the nitrogen and carbon emissions in the air. Such measures will also produce other improvements to thing of vital concern such as air quality and public health. The benefits of the implementation of the study would reduce nitrogen levels by a very high level and reduce PM pollution by 10 percent until 2020. Additional public benefits would also occur because by preventing almost 140 premature deaths5. In addition, the Clean Air Act has been declared as the nations most effective and beneficial public health laws. The Act has ensured that the population has been protected from various air pollutants. This Act guaranteed that by cleaning air pollution, wildlife and different species would be protected from different emissions, which threaten their lives. Therefore, this study does show that by cleaning air pollution, there can be a significant decrease in global warming. This phenomenon; however, works both ways because when emissions are reduced, this would result in clean air. Due to a climate changes, the basic weather features that handle the eventual disposal of air pollutants can significantly change. This is a direct result of global warming. In simple words, the air mechanism changes because of global warming. Therefore, there should be a reversal of this damage by reducing global warming, so that air pollution would not increase by massive amounts6. Global warming has increased the number of pollutants present in the air. This has affected the quality of air in many significant ways. Hence, Goudie talks about how in these circumstances, clean air legislation can help the environmental effects of global warming to slow down. Therefore, a decrease in global warming would mean less air pollution because the number of pollutants present in the air would disappear7. However, there is a need for decreasing air pollution simultaneously with global warming. Both air quality and global climate are deteriorating further because of an increase in population. Both global warming and health effects of air pollution are one of the largest problems that affect the population in the current century. In a study, it has been proposed that if ethanol is used as a fuel, it can not only remedy global warming but also reduce air pollution8. Global warming and air pollution both are interlinked problems. This can be proved by the fact that asthma is both amplified by extreme heat waves as well as air pollution. Pim Marten has talked about various studies that have succeeded in giving the conclusion that because of temperature rises, the effects on human health due to air pollution have significantly increased. In addition, a study done by Sierra Club has also assured that global warming will boost the problem of air pollution9. In a sense, many studies have proved that both these problems should be tackled and handled together. Aerosols have caused a significant impact on both global warming and air pollution and this emphasizes that there is a great deal of attention to be rooted on both these areas. In essence, if global warming is decreased, then air pollution will also significantly decrease. One other study done again in California also proves that Global Warming harms air quality. In California, more than 90% of people breathe unhealthy air. Unhealthy air is caused due to smog. Ozone formation is caused because of ozone. Ozone is an extremely harmful reactive gas, which attacks lung tissues, hence causing respiratory diseases. The study also showed that while California was taking significant steps to improve air quality, global warming might overwhelm current emission programs by mid century. This will cancel out the effect of clean air initiatives. Therefore, global warming is such a menace, which should be tackled. Climate penalty, which is an additional cost, would have to be paid out to protect the air due to the effects of global warming. However, if global warming were tackled, then directly and indirectly it would lead to an increase clean air. Therefore, it can be shown from these studies that global warming and air pollution are inextricably linked. The literature review until now has analyzed various studies, which show that indeed, if the problem of global warming would be tackled, the problem of air pollution would automatically be solved. Many initiatives have been taken to actually clean the air all over the globe, without identifying the effects of global warming. Policy makers also do not realize that they would have to pay out climate penalty, which would increase their costs. The conduct of this analysis would also show the gaps in policymaking that not many people have realized that both these problems have to go hand in hand, and are not separate. Steps have been taken at local level such as in California but there has been a considerable gap in international level policies. In addition, countries have never been willing to sign protocols such as Kyoto Protocol to reduce their carbon emissions because various economic and political reasons. It is also no wonder that Copenhagen conferences did not really achieve much, because people were not willing to tackle the problem of global warming. Global warming is amplified by air pollution and air pollution. Therefore, policies should combat these two problems at the same time. Significance Since few years, there has been huge debate on the issue of global warming around the world, and it is anticipation that outcomes of the proposed research will facilitate individuals in comprehensive understanding of the impact of global warming on air quality of the global environment. In this regard, the outcomes of the proposed study will be very significant in understanding the role of global warming in altering important components of the global environment. Methodology In this section, the researcher will try to identify different techniques that will be in use to acquire quality data and information related to the topic. In particular, during the creation of research proposal, it has been an observation that a huge number of quality sources are available on the topic of global warming. Thus, secondary research methodology will be the basis of the proposed research that will include identification and analysis of available books, journals, magazines, studies, etc on the global warming and its impact on quality and quantity of air in the environment. In this regard, secondary research method will enable the researcher in creating a fundamental basis for the proposed research, and additionally, results of secondary method will allow the researcher to avoid putting efforts on the same issues and aspects that already exist in the scholarly world. However, it is an understanding that results of the secondary research will not be adequate to fulfill identified aims and objectives of the proposed research, and therefore, there will be a need of customized approach towards acquisition of the data. For this reason, the researcher will benefit from primary research methodology that will include distribution of questionnaires and analysis of its results to come up with a perspective of whether any reduction in global warming will increase the quantity of clean air in the physical environment or not. In particular, the researcher will be focusing on university students of Science department to acquire data that will allow an understanding of their perspectives and understanding regarding such an impact of global warming on the air. Lastly, the researcher will employ the qualitative method to analyze the data. References Bailey, Diane, Miriam Rotkin-Ellman, and Kim, Knowlton. "Improving Air Quality and Health by Reducing Global Warming Pollution in California." NRDC Issue Paper June 2008: 3-5. NRDC. Goudie, Andrew. "Human impact on climate and atmosphere." In The human impact on the natural environment: past, present, and future. 1981. Reprint, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers Limited, 2006. 229. Houghton, John Theodore. "Global Warming and Climate Change." In Global warming: the complete briefing. 2004. Reprint, New York: Cambridge, 1994. 2. Ih-fei Liu, Paul. "Effects and Treatment of Fossil Fuel Combustion Products." In Energy, technology, and the environment. New York: ASME, 2005. 58-59. Jacobson, Mark Z. "Addressing Global Warming: Air Pollution needs damage and long term energy simultaneously." Stanford University. (2006): 2-3. Retrieved on April 26, 2011: http://www.stanford.edu/group/efmh/jacobson/ClimateHealth4.pdf Johansen, Bruce Elliott. "Temperature, Humidity, Air Pollution, and Human Maladies." In The global warming desk reference. Westport: Greenwood Press, 2002. 216. White, James Carrick, William Wagner, and Carole N. Beal. "Environmental Effects Relationship." In local climate change linkages: acid rain, air quality, and stratospheric. New York: Elsevier, 1989. 11. Read More