Global Warming - Research Paper Example

Global Warming Introduction The term global warming is used to refer to the rise in earth and ocean’s average temperature starting from the period of 19th century. Between the 20th century and the 21st century the average temperature of earth elevated at the rate of 0.74 degree Celsius and during the 21st century the rate at which the temperature rose was more than double the rate at which it was warming earlier (Zedillo 15). The measurements of rise in temperature are quite evident through the recent occurrence of natural disasters such as increase in the level of the sea, melting down of ice and severe increase in humidity levels. NASA reports that during the sessions of 2005 and even in 2010, the earth experienced tremendous amount of increase in temperature, still this rise in temperature has remained below the levels of the rise in temperature of the period of 1998 (Zedillo 42). According to studies conducted by CRU (Climatic Research Unit) 1998 was the warmest year that have ever been recorded, while the periods of 2005 and 2010 rank second and third (Jones 1). Similarly research conducted by WMO (World Meteorological Organization) shows that 2010 may have been warmer than the period of 2005 and 1998 but the difference in statistics is quite insignificant (Zedillo 13). These statistics clearly show that there has been significant amount of increase in the earth temperature and this is quite an alarming situation. This assignment will focus on the causes, effects and solutions of global warming and it will even emphasize on the case against global warming. The causes of global warming are both manmade and natural and it has been promoted that global warming can be prevented or earth’s weather can be changed with changes in human activities. Global warming has been emphasized and hotly debated between policy makers and various stakeholders because it does not impact the natural resources and natural lively hood, it even impacts human beings in a very negative manner and if not countered, serious consequences will be faced by all individuals. Various solutions have been proposed to avoid global warming and to minimize its effects and most of these solutions have been diverted towards human behavior. On one end there are those who believe that global warming is already taking place and on the other end there are those who assert that global warming is not taking place and human beings are not causing it and the entire concept of global warming is a hoax. Causes Natural Criminals One of the main causes of global warming is the output produced by solar energy, There have been various variations in the amount of solar light produced by sun over a period of 11 years and over this period of time the solar radiations that have come in contact with the earth has varied around the range of 1.4 watts and these changes in the amount of output is regarded as the solar cycle (NASA 1). According to the recordings of National Climatic Data Center, there has been an increase in the amount of output produced by sun since the period of 1750 and this increase in output has resulted in rise in temperature of both oceans as well as earth (Zedillo 38). Another reason that is natural in nature and is considered one of the major contributors o global warming is the Milankovitch Cycles (NOAA 1). These cycles are regarded as changes in the position of Earth in the context of the sun and these positions even change over long tenures and these cycles have been held responsible for the occurrence of ice ages in the past. These cycles do not occur in a short period of time, thus they end up leaving an impact after long periods of time. Humans are Culprits The causes of global warming that are created by human beings are even referred to as anthropogenic causes. Activities conducted by human beings are majorly held responsible for the occurrence of global warming. These activities end up increase in exhibition of greenhouse gases which are said to be the major reason of the happening of global warming. One of the human activities that has been said to be the main cause of increase in greenhouse gasses is the burning down of fossil fuels. One of the major greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide and huge amount of carbon dioxide is emitted into the air when human beings burn fossil fuels and the production of carbon dioxide does not allow infrared energy to transfer back to space as it is absorbed by carbon dioxide. Wood is a major raw material and for years human beings are involved in severe cutting down of woods and this activity is regarded as deforestation. Plants and trees have the ability to capture carbon dioxide and due to excessive cutting down of trees and forests, carbon dioxide emission have increased in the air. Increase in the levels of population is even held responsible for the increase in the global temperatures. Effects One of the major negative impacts of global warming and the most often cited negative effect of global warming is ice cap melting that can be found in Polar Regions. According to the statistics provided by the Ice Data Center, the entire world comprises of around 57 thousand cubic miles of ice caps and water and due to increase in temperature of the oceans and earth, these ice caps are melting and due to the melting of these ice caps, the levels of the sea are rising by significant amount and are thus resulting in natural hazards such as floods experienced in US in the shape of Katrina and these rise in sea levels are even resulting water transmission to coastal areas (USGS 1). Ice cap melting may even result in desalinization of the sea and due to this, disturbances in the current of the oceans will occur and due to these disturbances, the areas that are cooler in nature will experience warmth, while warmer areas will experience cooler weathers. For example: Western European regions are expected to experience ice ages for short time periods if desalinization of oceans take place and due to these ice ages people will have to change their activities and lifestyles and these changes may result in negatively impacting the health of the population residing in these areas. Global warming is even said to result in changes in the wildlife cycles which means that seasonal occurrence of wildlife may change. For example; Alaska has various forests throughout the region and during the summer session or during the period when humidity is high, wildlife recognized as spruce bark beetle occur in the forest regions (Braasch 65). Due to the occurrence of this wildlife, forests have to be cut down as this wildlife can cause diseases to the population of Alaska. If global temperatures rise and Alaska experiences prolonged period of humidity, the population of these bugs will rise and they will remain in the area for a longer period of time. Due to this forests will have to be cut down in huge quantities and cutting down of forests will result in less absorption of carbon dioxide. This means that the population living in Alaska will end up inhaling more carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that causes increase in earth’s temperature. When cooler regions will experience humidity, insects that live in humid regions will transfer to cooler regions and will carry diseases with them and due to this; people living in these regions will experience diseases against which they have not yet developed immunity (McKinney 488). Solutions The IPCC regards the act and measures made to counter increase in temperature as mitigation and these activities include attempts made to reduce emission of greenhouse gasses and enhancement of the ability of carbon sinks in order to increase the absorption of GHGs that are found in the atmosphere (Zedillo 1). IPCC has figured out that emission of greenhouse can be countered in huge quantities by conducting activities targeted towards reduction of emission and these activities include: conservation of energy and energy resources, elevated efficiency levels of energy and solving the society’s issue of decrease in energy through the assistance of using energy resources that are renewable in nature and figuring out new and greener ways to produce energy. The method of mitigation even includes activities through which carbon can be absorbed in natural carbon sinks such as plantation of trees and forests and preserving current trees and forests. IPCC created a report according to which policies need to be made in order to decrease the emission of greenhouse gasses. Another method through which the effects of global warming can be offset is through the method of adaption to changes in the climate. Adaption can be conducted in three ways, it can be planned beforehand as a reaction to changes to the climate that have already occurred or climatic changes that are yet to occur (Zedillo 1). This method does not necessarily require the government to create new policies or to intervene to decrease emission of greenhouse gasses. This method is still in the process of research where its costs and outcomes are yet to be figured out but this method have been adopted on small scale basis. Global warming can be countered at the individual level as well as the organizational and the state level. If individuals, organizations and state conduct certain activities they can counter the challenge of global warming. They can increase their activities of reusing goods that have already been produced and recycle goods such as galas, steel, aluminum and paper. Individuals can even participate in reduction of energy consumption by managing electrical appliances in their own households or they can purchase appliances that are made in order to solve the issue of global warming. These appliances manage use of electricity on their own and need less human intervention. Against On one end are those who believe global warming will destroy the world and will result in end of the world and on the other hand are those who assert that global warming is just a myth. Heinz state that HadCrut3 which is a temperature recording index showed that the level of ground temperature is has been on a rise since the period of 1964 to 1998, but the earth has started experiencing cooler climatic conditions since the period of 2001 (Heinz 23). Cynics assert that global warming is just a term which is used by policy makers and scientists to scare the common population and to obtain more and more funds in the shape of grants from the government. For example: a report published during the period of 1990, IPCC stated that made a prediction that in future there will be elevated amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the air and they emphasized on the severally negative effects of this emission. These predictions were simply a mean to make individuals think about the challenges they may face due to global warming and increase in emission of greenhouse gasses. The IPCC further reported that the earth human beings will be negatively impacted if the levels of greenhouse gases increased across the levels of 550 parts/million, but recent studies show that if there is lack of greenhouse gasses and if greenhouse gasses decline lower than the levels of 550 parts/million, the society will end up facing humongous amount of challenges and they even stated that the level should not fall below 420ppm(Zedillo 164 & CO2 Now 1). Opponents of global warming even state that activities conducted by human beings are not the major contributors of increase in emission of carbon dioxide and instead it is the natural events that are resulting in increase in carbon dioxide. They even state that it is natural for the earth to warm and cool over different time periods because of the natural process and if currently the earth is warming, there will be a time when it will experience cooling effect on its own. Works Cited Astronomical Theory of Climate Change ." NOAA. N.p., 6 Apr. 2009. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. . Braasch, Gary, and Bill McKibben. Earth under fire: how global warming is changing the world. Updated ed. Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press, 2009. Print. CO2 Now | CO2 Home." CO2 Now | CO2 Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. . Heinz, Stefan. Mathematical modeling. Heidelberg: Springer, 2011. Print. Ice and Glaciers, The Water Cycle-USGS Water-Science School." USGS Georgia Water Science Center - Home page. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2013. . Jones, P. D.. "TRENDS: Global and Hemispheric Temperature Anomalies." Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC). N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. . McKinney, Michael L., Robert M. Schoch, and Logan Yonavjak. Environmental science: systems and solutions.. 4th ed. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2007. Print. Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) Fact Sheet : Feature Articles." NASA Earth Observatory : Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. . Zedillo, Ernesto. Global Warming Looking Beyond Kyoto.. Washington: Brookings Institution Press, 2008. Print. Read More