The Effects of Global Warming: the Form of Mitigation or Through Adaptation - Research Paper Example

Running Head: THE EFFECTS OF CARBON DIOXIDE ON GLOBAL WARMING Is CO2 a pollutant inducing global warming' sName] Introduction The increase in the earth's mean temperature and its estimated continuation in the future is global warming. The effect of the greenhouse gases and many other causes lead to an increase in global warming at a very fast rate. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has detected that there has been a rise in the average global temperature and this has led to an unpredictable heating of the Earth's surface. During the last century, the average temperature has risen from 0.74 -0.18oC. It has caused many side effects, which include, rise in sea level and strong changes in the form of rainfall contributing to floods and drought. The melting of the Polar ice caps has resulted in higher and warmer sea levels. Estimates state that the sea levels by the end of the century can rise from 4" to 40" if global warming goes on without a stop. General awareness among the masses can only stop or at least decrease the phenomenon of global warming (The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007, p 2). "Is CO2 a pollutant inducing global warming'" is the question that several people have in their minds now. When does carbon dioxide become a pollutant' Carbon dioxide emitted in the atmosphere by burning of fossil fuels mixes with the water vapour, which generally remains in the lower hemispheres. This emitted carbon dioxide does not allow the heat to be released into the higher layer of the atmosphere resulting in the entire earth been warmed up. This contributes to changes in the weather leading to catastrophic events, the outcome of which is loss of lives and property. External respiration, also known as breathing, is the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide involving an animal and its environment. Exchange of gases amongst the environment and an animal takes place because of diffusion. Diffusion is the random movement of particles and induces the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. Hence, oxygen is taken in, as its intensity is lesser inside than in the environment, while carbon dioxide because of its higher concentration inside gets out into the environment. Thus, respiration results in releasing of more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which induces pollution. The Carbon Cycle Figure 1.Atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (1855 - 1996). Source: Whitehouse Initiative on Global Climate Change. The movement of carbon, in its several forms, involving the atmosphere, oceans, biosphere, and geosphere is known as the carbon cycle. Biology plays a key role in the apparent movement of carbon between land, ocean, and atmosphere through the processes of photosynthesis and respiration. The metabolic break up of sugars, known as respiration, is to develop into energy which is required for movement, growth, and procreation. Plants absorb CO2 from the environment during photosynthesis, and lets out CO2 back into the environment during respiration via the following chemical reaction: Respiration: C6H12O6 (organic matter) + 6O2 6CO2 + 6 H2O + energy Photosynthesis: energy (sunlight) + 6CO2 + H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2 Respiration is the reverse of photosynthesis releasing the energy held in sugars for metabolism and alters carbohydrate "fuel" back into carbon dioxide. This CO2 is in turn freed back to the atmosphere (Harrison, 2003). Deforestation Forests are natural barriers preventing disasters such as running rivers and so they are important elements of ecosystems. Thus, in order to preserve species living in forests, a healthy ecosystem, which includes the forests, has to be preserved. The effect of deforestation is felt on biodiversity, environment and social settings. Forests keep the atmosphere cool because they retain moisture in the air. Cutting of trees allows the harmful rays from the sun to reach the earth through the atmosphere. In reality, the ozone layer is a mass of oxygen and it acts as a shield in the atmosphere preventing entry of harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. Thus, the oxygen atoms or the ozone layer reacts with the greenhouse gases and forms carbon monoxide. So the more carbon monoxide is formed the more oxygen is used and hence depletion in the ozone layer results (Barbalace, 2006). Deforestation also affects the water table underneath the earth. Since water table forms the natural source of drinking water to the people, cutting down of forest trees leads to drying up of the underground water. However, when there are more and more trees the roots take the rainwater sinking it deeper to the ground. This refills the supply of water in the water table. Therefore, the absence of trees simply allows the rainwater to flow through the soil surface (Barbalace, 2006). Determining the source of increase in CO2 It is projected that 149 Mt of CO2 were passed off in 2005 from the consumption of fossil fuels. CO2 discharges from fossil fuels, including fuel utilized for generating electricity, reduced by 4'% over the period 1990 to 2005. The changed use of gas that is from 26 % of fossil fuels used in 1990 to 44 % in 2005 instead of coal and other solid fuels whose share diminished from 34' % to 19 % ensued in a reduction in emissions. Oil was the reason for 39' % of fossil fuels used in 1990 and 37 % in 2005 (Defra, 2005). CO2 emissions from power stations at present account for 29' % of total CO2 discharges. Use of electricity altered between 1990 and 2005 by 25' % but on the whole discharges from electricity generation have reduced by 16 %. Expelling from electricity generation grew by ' % between 2004 and 2005 and this was due to usage of less gas and more coal and oil during generation (Defra, 2005). Fossil Fuels Increase in use of fossil fuels will lead to climatic disasters of global proportions. Human beings are committing a crime on the ozone layer of the environment. It is also a cause for man to take care of the non-renewable resources. Burning of wood has also added to the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere. Other gases, which also play a part in global warming, are methane, chlorofluorocarbons and nitrous oxides. In the year, 2006 ecological groups pressed for legislation to re-establish carbon dioxide as a pollutant. "Since the Clean Air Act does not specifically authorize regulation to address climate change, CO2 is not a pollutant "(Bornstein, 2003). Carbon Monoxide which is a colorless, odorless and a poisonous gas is raised by the incomplete burning of natural fossil fuels such as oil, gas, or coal by human beings (Corinne, 2005). Unfinished combustion is due to the lack of air for the normal combustion procedure or the consequence of a defective heating appliance. When CO is breathed in it mixes with the blood, precluding it from assimilating oxygen. Conclusion There are two possible solutions to the effects of global warming. It is in the form of mitigation or through adaptation. Mitigation method allows us to relieve the effects of global warming. As it is not possible to wipe out global warming totally it is better that we be relieved from it. Replacing the present source of energy with alternative source of energy is mitigation. The possible substitute is solar energy, which leads to decrease in pollution and thus resulting in decrease of global warming. The other alternatives are wind energy, hydropower and geothermal power. These sources are reusable. They are available in abundance and they are clean sources of fuel. Yet another source of energy is the nuclear energy. Nuclear energy can replace fossil fuel that takes a much longer time to develop. Nuclear energy has its negative effect also which may harm people and the environment. There is no argument that nuclear energy would be able to produce power resulting in electricity. Bio fuels are also good alternatives as they are safe, economical and easy to produce. Use of plant and animal wastes as the main bio fuel to produce Methane is a lot more environment friendly than burning fossil fuels. Reference: Barbalace, Roberta C (2006, Nov. 7,). Pollution and Global Warming, Retrieved 08.30.2009, from http://environmentalchemistry. com/yogi/ environmental /200611CO2globalwarming.html Corinne, Le Ou (2005, Jun 7,). How much of the recent CO2 increase is due to human activities' Real Climate, Retrieved 8/25/2009, from http://www.realclimate.org /index.php'p=160 Defra, (2005) http://www.berr.gov.uk /files/file43947.pdf retrieved on 30 August, 2009 Harrison, J. (2003). The carbon cycle: What goes around comes around. Retrieved August 25, 2009, from http://www.visionlearning.com /library/module_viewer. php'mid=95 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007). Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report. Summary for Policymakers, p. 2. Approved in detail at IPCC Plenary XXVII in Valencia, Spain, 12-17 November 2007 Seth, Bornstein (22003 August 29). Carbon Dioxide Not a Pollutant; Common Dreams. Retrieved August 31, 2009, from Knight Ridder News Service Web site: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0829-02.htm Read More