Common Arguments of Climate Skeptics against Human-Induced Global Warming - Essay Example

?Common arguments of climate skeptics against human-induced global warming and counter-arguments Introduction The issue of global warming and climatechange has received much attention in the recent past and more so since the start of the new millennium whereby both issues have been widely documented and published across various media outlets. According to Geoffrey and Clark (2001), the increased attention that has been drawn to climate change and global warming is attributed to the glaring effects or impact that have continued to come to light over the past years with an indication that these effects are bound to become widespread and even worse with time. So much has the issue received so much attention to an extent that numerous organizations/ agencies have taken initiatives to reward numerous personalities including politicians, environmentalists, and ordinary citizens who speak against global warming and climate change and even set up programs or initiatives that are aimed at combating the crisis of climate change and global warming. In order to commence this discussion that basically revolves around global warming and climate change it is beneficial to first define the two key terms. In the writings by Patz et al. (2005), they described global warming as the rise in atmospheric temperatures that have general caused a warming effect across the world and it has been caused by the increased accumulation of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide within the atmosphere. With reference to the writings by Bouwer (2006), he described climate change as the change in the traditional global weather patterns because of an increasing in greenhouses gases especially carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Parry et al. (2005) in their writings is quoted describing “climate change as “a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years.” It is important to note that with the increased deposits of greenhouse gases on the atmosphere the weather pattern is bound to change since because of the presence of new variables (greenhouses gases) that were not there in the earlier centuries. As part of the discussion surrounding the issues of global warming and climate change, a sharp focus has always been diverted to the causes of these two major issues. Studies have grouped the causes into two categories that include natural causes and human induced causes. In regards to the causes, this particular study will seek to provide counter-arguments in the common arguments of climate change skeptics against human induced global warming. The study will begin with a brief overview of the common human-induced causes of global warming and a discussion of how climate change skeptics view the theory of climate and even their view of carbon dioxide as a pollutant, which provides a basis for their skeptical arguments against human-induced global warming. In the third section, the essay will present common arguments of climate change skeptics against human-induced global and thereafter, a counter argument to refute the claims by the skeptics. Common human-induced causes of global warming According to Ruddiman et al. (2005), the industrial revolution, which commenced in the 19th century initiated the use of large amounts of fossil fuels for industrial purposes. These industries were created a paradigm change in the job market as workforce moved from rural areas to urban areas. This trend is still being witnessed up to date as more vegetation cover is being cleared to pave way for construction of more industries and houses that will be used to house the workforce of these business capitals. Additionally, in the wake of industrial revolution a huge percentage of the earth’s natural resources are being converted for commercial use, and the increase of human nature on “material things” coupled with population increase has resulted in the increase of waste on the earth’s surface as well as the green house gases (Ezzati et al. 2004). DiMento and Doughman (2007) wrote that the current trend of deforestation, agriculture, land clearing and the general changes in land use pattern have also lead to sharp rise of a major greenhouse gas such as carbon dioxide, which is emitted to the earth’s atmosphere. Methane, which is also another greenhouse gas, has over the recent past increased in the earth’s atmosphere due to increased domestication of livestock. This is so because when animals are cud chewing they tend to produce this gas in the process. Figures show regions like Africa where domestication of animals is common have increased their emission levels of methane into the atmosphere. In Asia, for example research has shown that methane emission into the atmosphere has increased as result of the increase in cultivation of rice or paddy fields. This happens when soil is covered by water as well as the organism and bacteria that are responsible for methane production decompose in the soil to form methane. Other human activities that lead to the formation of methane include coal mining, oil drilling, burning of waste materials in the open which also produces carbon dioxide and leakages from gas pipes (DiMento and Doughman, 2007). According to Emanuel (2005), the other greenhouse gas that is emitted into the atmosphere by human-based activities is nitrous oxide. This greenhouse gas is emitted during the fertilizer application process, but the emission depends on how the fertilizer is used, when and the mode of tilling used. It is important to note that any form of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere contributes to climatic changes and more in particular to global warming. In the writings by Irving (1992), he cited that the advent of shift from traditional man to modern man brought along the concept of electricity, which is currently being used, in almost all aspect of humankind’s life, it is the single source of power in most parts of the World and all electronic gadgets use it in order to function. The source of electricity is thermal power plants that are operated using fossil fuels; these fossil fuel as already mentioned above is responsible for emission of large sums of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. The theory of climate change according to skeptics According to Carter (2007), there is no valid theory of climate change since the current widely accepted theory is based on the assumption that global warming which was recorded in the 20th century was largely attributed to human activities that emit greenhouse gases and especially carbon dioxide. Whilst supporting the argument that there is no valid theory, Carter (2007) stated that the theory failed three critical benchmarks that include the fact that the changing temperature has no direct relationship with the increasing patterns of carbon dioxide that were recorded in the 20th century. Secondly, the rates of carbon dioxide emissions in the 20th century were within the previous natural limits of change despite the fact that there was a recorded rise in carbon dioxide rising from human activities. Thirdly, the theory is invalid because of the fact that the computer models used to measure the rate of global warming have so far failed to measure the temperature change that has occurred in the period of 1990 to 2006. Impact of carbon dioxide according to skeptics According to Carter (2007), carbon dioxide has been present in the atmosphere since the times of evolution but it has been fluctuation in regards to the amount. For example, evidence gathered from the stomata of fossil plants indicated that the amounts of carbon dioxide during the Holocene were fluctuating when they were measured on a decadal-centennial scale and then compared with monotonic curve that is delineated by the ice cores. These fluctuations that were noted in the earlier years allude to the fact that the present change in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is not necessarily caused by human activities since such fluctuations had also been recorded even by mid 19th century (Gray, 2006). Armstrong and Green (2007) further argued that the fluctuating levels of carbon dioxide that have been established are insignificant because even the planetary carbon dioxide values have declined over the past decades. This therefore, means that there is nothing unusual or dangerous about the increased carbon dioxide within the atmosphere that is generated from human activities. Spencer (2010) on his part argued that it is equally important to have carbon dioxide in the atmosphere same as it is important to have oxygen in the atmosphere. This is because plants depend on its for their metabolism of which studies have shown that an increase in the range of 200 to 1000ppm is beneficial for the healthy growth of plants and even efficient use of water (Armstrong and Green, 2007). Arguments of climate skeptics against human-induced global warming and counter-arguments Skeptic argument on the rising temperature in the earth Bashkirtsev and Mashnich (2003) wrote that skeptics argued that thou there has been a recorded increase in the temperatures of the earth, these measurements are highly inaccurate since they contain numerous errors. To start with, skeptics argued that most of these long-ranging data that indicate weathers patterns are usually collected within urban areas where there are many economic activities or human-based activities that emit large amounts of greenhouse gases. Therefore, the measurements taken by these stations that are located in urban areas only show the temperature rise within those areas and therefore, it is unwise to apply these recorded rise in temperature to the entire region while some areas are not even covered or they do not have weather stations. Moreover, Essex et al (2007) argued that the rise in temperature in urban areas could be cancelled out by the lower temperatures recorded in rural areas where there are no many human-induced activities for global warming. Counter-argument on the rising temperature in the earth As a counter-argument to the skeptic argument that has been stated above Solomon et al (2007), argued that weather is unequivocal in nature. This is supported by the fact that measurements for rising temperatures that are taken on the ocean surface and even via satellites. In addition, to the decrease in the size of Arctic sea ice, reduction in snow cover, and lengthened growing duration for plants show consistency with measurements that have been obtained from surface weather stations which include even those that are only located in urban areas. In the writings by Houghton et al. (2001), they acknowledged the skeptic argument about the effect of the urban heat on the overall measure of the temperature change but they argued that the effect was insignificant to warrant the skeptic argument. Moreover, presently NASA only use weather stations that are located in rural areas in order to measure the change in temperature and even the NASA stations provided enough proof affirming the rising global temperatures. Bord et al. (2000) further added that the rising global temperatures have been affirmed by the fact that there is no significant difference in temperature measurements during windy days and during calm days. Additionally, the trend of global warming does not reflect the trend in urbanization, and therefore, the skeptic opinion that the current rate measurements of temperature rise are only a reflection of the rise in temperatures within urban areas is wrong since there could have been a consistency between rise global temperatures with increasing urbanization (Bord et al. 2000). Summarily, it can be stated that the skeptic argument was that the rising temperature only reflects the rising temperature of urban areas where there are great levels of human-induced global warming and therefore, the actual measure of global warming is limited to urban centers and a not a reflection of the true extent of rising temperature. This skeptic argument has been refuted on several substantive grounds of which the one standing out is the fact that NASA has been able to record consistent rise in temperature from its weather stations that are located in rural areas. Skeptic argument that it is the sun, which mainly influences the climate The main argument presented by the skeptics under this title is that records show that climate has been regularly changing in tandem with the regular changes that occur in the sun’s energy output. According to Bond et al. (2001), this therefore, means that the present global warming that has been recorded could be attributed to the fluctuations occurring on the Sun’s magnetic field as well as the solar wind. This argument rules out the possibility of the present global warming being caused by human-activities as it solely attributes the rising global temperatures to an increase in the Sun’s energy output. Counter-arguments on the skeptic arguments that it is the sun, which mainly influences the climate In the writings by Bruce et al. (2006), and in relation to the above skeptic argument stated that the indeed variations in the Sun’s energy output have an overall impact on the climate, and in particular the rates of global temperatures but this is not the only factor that can lead to an increase in the rise of global temperatures. Moreover, Houghton et al. (2001) lamented that attributing the rising global temperatures to Sun’s variation in its energy output is baseless because there has been rise in the energy output by the Sun’s since the 1960s, and even in recent times a decrease has been recorded in the Sun’s energy output. This observation automatically rules out the argument that the rising temperature could be attributing to the rising energy out by the Sun. Houghton et al. (2001) further added that the difference between solar maximum and solar minimum over the past 11 years is ten times lower than the corresponding effect that greenhouse gases have had over the same period. Summarily, on this point it can be stated that the skeptics had argued that the prevailing global warming has not been caused by human activities but rather it was a pure result of variations in the Sun’s energy output, which had caused an equal change in the climatic conditions over time. The counter-argument has ruled out this skeptic opinion on the basis that climate and in particular, the global temperature, is affected by a host of factors despite the Sun’s energy output. Moreover, since the 1960s there has not been any significant recorded rise in the Sun’s energy output to warrant for an equal rise in the global temperatures, therefore, these is no credible evidence showing a direct relationship between variations in the Sun’s energy output, and the global temperatures. Skeptic argument that the earth has been warmer in the recent past Skeptics based this argument on the fact that increased human activities especially in the last part of the 20th century have been blamed for the increased global temperatures. They refute this claim by arguing that in the early part of the 20th century before the widespread of industries in different parts of the world, there was a recorded medieval warming period whereby temperatures in the European region had risen to higher levels than they are presently. The previous rise in temperatures resulted in the Grapes growing in the northern England a place, which is known for having weather conditions that do not favor the growth of grapes. Moreover, previous rise in global temperatures in the early part of the 20th century resulted in the rise of temperature to an extent that surpasses the current levels within the Arctic region during the 1930s. The skeptics therefore believe that since the earth was warmer in the early part of the century before there were heavy human-activities it, means that the present raise in global temperatures cannot be blamed on alleged human-induced causes of global warming. Counter-argument that the earth has been warmer in the recent past In the writings by Bord et al. (2000), they counter argued the above skeptical opinion by stating that in deed there has been numerous occasions in the earth’s history whereby the temperatures have been higher than they are today. Examples of such period include the interglacial period that occurred 125,000 years ago and the Pilocene period that occurred three million years ago. According to McCright and Dunlap (2000), the variations in temperatures during this periods were solely caused the Sun’s energy output variation, continental configurations, and/ or the earth’s orbital wobbles, however, in the present moment it is only greenhouses gases that can well explain the rising in global temperatures. Freitas (2002) further argued that the notion that the Arctic was warmer than now is incorrect since evidence show that at the present moment it is warmer than it has never been. Conclusion The issue of climate change and the subsequent global warming have widely featured in many talks across the world and so far some people have supported the arguments presented under the topics while others have found substantive grounds on their own right in order to oppose various notions that have been presented with regards to these two issues. This particular study focused on the popular notion that human-factors have largely contributed to the present rates of global warming. The study has looked at skeptics arguments against human-induced global warming and their counter arguments. In conclusion, it can be stated that the skeptical arguments were entirely based on old notions, which have failed to pass the credibility tests because of the wrong assumptions or evidence that they were based on, which have been highlighted by the counter-arguments that have been made. References Armstrong, J. and Green, C. 2007. Global warming: forecasts by scientists versus scientific forecasts. 27th Annual International Symposium on Forecasting , New York, June24-27, 2007; 18 pp. See http://www.forecastingprinciples.com/Public_Policy/global_warming_audit.html Bashkirtsev, S and Mashnich, P, 2003. Will we face global warming in the nearest future? Geomagnetism i Aeronomia, 43: 124-127. Bruce, J.P.; Lee, H.; and Haites, E.F. 2006. 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