Global Warming and Temperature Increase - Essay Example

Global Warming and Temperature Increase Introduction Global warming refers to a general rise in atmospheric temperature. Greenhouse gas emissions that that involves emission of gases such as carbon dioxide, chlorofloro carbons among other gaseous pollutants are responsible to the phenomenon through their destructive effects on the ozone layer. When the gases are emitted into the atmosphere, they rise to the ozone layer and cause its depletion, malfunctioning its role. The ozone layer therefore fails to absorb harmful ultraviolet light rays that cause the general temperature rise in the atmosphere. This paper explores the global problem whose consequences has threatened global peace and elicited diplomatic agreements, and suggests a suitable solution to the global warming problem. Situation Average global temperature is the widely applied measure for global warming and time series data has been used to demonstrate the state of global warming and its reality as a threat to the world. Temperature measures, traced by different reliable and independent institutions suggest a significant and consistent increase in global temperatures, at least in the past five decades. Even though temperature variations had previously been reported, the past half century has reported an anomaly that raises concerns. With the temperatures between the years 1961 and 1990 as the basis, relative temperature changes before the year 1950 were negative as compared to changes in the post 1950 era. Relative change averaged between -0.20c and -0.40c with a notable exemption towards the year 1879 in which the relative anomaly went above 00c. The temperature change had however been gradual, with average oscillations along the increasing pattern, and decreased thereafter for two decades. Though the change in relative anomaly later increased, the increase was not as significant as the current state. By the year 1950, the average anomaly was reported bellow 00c and has since risen, with a consistent trend, to about 0.60c. The constant pattern in the increment in the past six decade establishes significance of global warming and even though historic trends suggests a cyclical pattern, a climax and time for such a climax has not been predicted and the general temperature rise is expected to continue. The temperature changes have also been realized in the arctic regions that are known for their extremely cold temperatures (American Institute of Physics 2013, p. 1). Empirical studies on causes of global warming suggest human activities, as opposed to natural changes, as causes of global warming. In a time series data on temperature anomaly by cause, whether caused by human activities or non-human activities, the two activities reported averagely similar degrees of contribution to temperature anomaly before the second half of the 20th century. Effects of the two categories of phenomena had equivalent magnitudes until the year 1950 when effects of human activities dominated effects of non-human activities in influencing positive temperature change. While effects of non-human sources of temperature anomaly have remained constant, over the past century, being fairly bellow 00c, effects of human activities have gained significance and constantly increased to explain about 0.60c temperature anomaly. This accounts for almost 100 percent of total anomaly and suggest that human activities into emission of greenhouse gases could be the significant cause of the global warming that has become significant in the past half century (Lindsey 2010, p. 1). Problem Climate change due to global warming has induced diversified impact on the environment and adverse secondary effects on people’s lives. Melting of polar ice caps is one of the significant consequences of global warming and means mass conversion of ice into water and a consequent down flow of the water towards adverse consequences of floods and destruction of properties in the affected regions. Melting of ice has also extended to higher altitude areas such as mountain tops and not only changes the ecosystems in the region but is also a threat to disasters in lower altitude regions that experience flow of the molten ice. Mount Kilimanjaro is an example of the changing ecosystem. Comparative historical data also shows increased rates of disaster occurrences that are associated with the realized climate change in the past half century. Between the year 1950 and the year 1960, for instance, about 13 significant disasters were registered globally against more than 70 cases that were registered in an eight-year period between the year 1990 and the year 1990 to indicate that global warming has increased rates of disasters across the globe. The cost of adverse weather conditions have also raised in the past fifty years and bears association with the increasing trend of global warming. Since the year 1950, average loses due to adverse weather conditions have increased in each subsequent decade. Average loses was almost $ 50 billion dollars per year at the end of the 20th century with yearly total loses reaching as far as $ 170 billion. Another effect of global warming is rising sea levels that has affected livelihoods and economic activities by displacing people and activities along the sea costs. While excessive rainfalls affect some parts of the globe, global warming has led to droughts and desertification of other areas, resulting in famine and increased poverty levels in other parts (Kortmann, et al. 2007, p. 45). Solution Many solutions have been proposed for counteracting global warming and its effects on the society. Policies at different governance levels have been proposed and implemented to control global warming. International treaties such as the Kyoto protocol are examples and require commitment from governments for imitative measures against global warming and primary to the protocol’s provision is reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Governments have also enacted policies, at national levels, to ensure environmental sustainability. Actions at individual levels such as energy conservation, a change to reliance on renewable sources of energy and “compensation for any fossil energy” used in order to facilitate environmental sustainability (Kortmann, et al. 2007, p. 18). Evaluation The trend in global warming and the trend in its consequences indicate significance of the climate change and its persistence despite proposed imitative measures. Even though political and diplomatic initiatives have been made to resolve the global environmental threat, international treaties lack goodwill and legal mechanisms for implementation. Financial interest of individual nations also promotes their economic activities that threaten to escalate the global warming problem. Political initiatives at national levels also lack expertise influence besides political interest and are therefore not an adequate solution. While initiatives at personal level appear fruitful, personal economic interest and resource scarcity are threats to responsibility towards mitigating the warming. An integration of concepts of the three ideas to form an international treaty, enforceable under international laws that induce liabilities on states that emit excessive level of greenhouse gasses is therefore a viable solution. The treaty can be implemented at national levels through informed legislations that demand personal responsibility on individuals and corporations towards a sustainable environment (Kortmann, et al. 2007, p. 18, 45; Lindsey 2010, p. 1; American Institute of Physics 2013, p. 1). Conclusion Global warming has led to general temperature increase with consequences such as melting ice caps, rising sea levels, floods, and droughts in different parts of the world. A solution is therefore necessary but available options at different levels have not been effective. An integrated approach with policies to be implemented at international, national, and personal levels is the most suitable strategy for resolving the global problem. Works cited American Institute of Physics 2013, The discovery of global warming: The modern temperature trend, American Institute of Physics, Retrieved August 5, 2013, < http://www.aip.org/history/climate/20ctrend.htm#S3>. Kortmann, R et al. 2007, Climate change: Causes, consequences, and solutions, UNESCO, Retrieved August 5, 2013, < http://www.climatequest.org/files/Background_Document_Climate_Quest_en.pdf>. Lindsey, R 2010, If earth has warmed and cooled throughout history, what makes scientists think that humans are causing global warming now? Earth Observers, Retrieved August 5, 2013, < http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/blogs/climateqa/if-earth-has-warmed-and-cooled-throughout-history-what-makes-scientists-think-that-humans-are-causing-global-warming-now/>. Read More