Global Warming - Research Paper Example

Global Warming Global Warming Global warming is the process whereby the area near the earth’s surface warms, which results from the trapping of the sun’s heat by greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. The trapped heat makes the earth warm, especially given that the process is gradual and ongoing. Most scientists point to the production of carbon dioxide, which combines with other greenhouse gases to absorb the energy radiating from the surface of the earth. Absorbing the radiation heat traps it in the earth’s surface, and thus warming the atmosphere. This causes a rise in the earth temperature, which comes with other major issues such as climate change. The great risk facing all living things on earth as a result makes global warming a major issue to solve. The essay tackles the worldwide conundrum of global warming, its effects, and also suggests ways in which humans can resolve the problem. The Earth is Warming Recent temperature readings worldwide indicate a rapid increase in the temperature of the earth’s surface witnessed during the past century. The information excludes potential causers of the rise in temperature such as the urban heat island effect. The data show a rapid warming trend, especially during the past 30 years. The surface temperature data rhyme with other evidence of warming, for example the shrinking mountain glaciers, evidence of the decreasing polar ice cover, and the increasing ocean temperatures. Extensive research has been done to answer the question as to whether the witnessed warming trend is usual or whether it is due to the 20th century breakdown, which comes with the “accumulation of excess green house gases” in the atmosphere of the earth (Hansen and Sato, 2000 97) Image1: showing decreasing polar ice cover as a result of high temperatures Causes and Effects of Global Warming In their research, Choi and Fisher(2005, 58) noted that the slow rise in temperature causes “shorter and milder cold seasons” in many countries. The period between 1880 and 2012 saw a rise in the land and ocean temperature of 0.85 degrees C. The researchers also noted that gradual warming is consistent with certain range of observations such as rise in sea level, increased humidity, widespread melting of snow, and an earlier timing of certain events in spring such as flowering of plants. The causes of global warming are classified to natural and human contributing factors Image 2: The picture compares the Glacier picture of Argentina in 1928 and in 2004 Natural Causes Research explains that to some extent, global warming happens naturally because the climate continuously changes over time. As such, the earth’s rotation gradually increases the sunlight intensity as the earth rotates closer to the sun. The sun acts as the main source of energy to earth. The output of the sun’s energy is constant. However, even the smallest of changes over time leads to climatic changes. Other factors such as slow or fast changes in the orbit of the earth changes the normal distribution of the sun’s energy across the planet, which leads to long term fluctuations of climate such as ice ages. Therefore, scientist cannot say that the sun’s output causes global warming, especially because there has not been an increase in the sun’s output in the last 30 years. Hansen and Sato (2000 97) also state that green house gases such as “sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide” are other major source of global warming. These gases trap the sun’s rays in terms of heat in the surface of the earth, which in turn causes a rise in the temperature. Green house gasses that occur naturally cause an average warming effect of approximately 33 degrees centigrade. The main green house gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and ozone. It is proposed that clouds also have the ability to affect the balance of radiation through cloud forcings, which are similar to the known green house gases. Forcings are factors that attack the climate system externally, and have a cooling or warming effect on the earth. As such, an equal balance between both charges (positive and negative) of forcings would ensure no warming or cooling effect on the earth surface. Image 4 showing the concentration of CO2 around the earth causing high tempetaratures Other natural factors causing global warming includes volcanic eruptions. “Volcanic eruptions release a large concentration of ash and carbon dioxide” in to the atmosphere, which traps radiation heat in the earth’s surface (Choi and Fisher, 2005, 58). CO2 gas has natural as well as human sources, although its levels increase mainly as a result of using fossil fuels and other factors such as deforestation. The increasing rate of carbon dioxide poses the largest climate forcing. Methane (CH4) is also a contributing gas that is “most effective in trapping heat as compared to carbon dioxide” (Sowers, 2006 311). The gas also has human and natural sources. Methane’s concentration in the atmosphere has risen rapidly since the pre-industrial times. The increase is mainly due to human activities for example growing rice, filling landfills, raising livestock and usage of natural gas as it releases the gas during extraction and transportation. Sowers also explain that methane gas is “20 times more effective than carbon dioxide” in trapping solar radiation. The gas originates from petroleum systems, mobile explosions, industrial waste, coal mining, and other systems. The concentration of Nitrous Oxide is also at the peak due to agricultural activities as well as the changes in land use. Ozone (O3) exists naturally in the earth’s upper atmosphere. The gas creates a protective shield that serves the purpose of intercepting the sun’s damaging ultraviolet radiation. However, production of ozone near the surface of the earth as a result of reaction from carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbons, among other pollutants becomes toxic to animals and plants. In addition, its formation has a warming effect. Recent human activities have led to the increase in concentration of Ozone. Halocarbons, which include chlorofluorocarbons, are chemicals with wide variety of usage such as in fire retardants and refrigerators. Apart from being potent greenhouse gases, these chemicals also affect the ozone layer. The banning of its production leads to a decline in their concentration in the atmosphere. Humans Activities as a Source of Global Warming Image 5:Human activities pollute the atmosphere with poisonous greenhouse gases Human activities are the most effective causers of global warming. While trying to explain this, Ramanathan and Carmichael (2008 221) stated it is mainly because human beings are “careless and less caring to the environment.” The two researchers and other scientists blame the human’s modern lifestyle, which includes activities such as industrial production, deforestation, burning fossil fuel, cattle rearing, and mining. Other issues by human lifestyle include transportation from vehicles such as cars that release carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere from the burnt fuel through the exhaust pipes. Mining and cattle raring release methane gas in form of manure. The most common issue in causing global warming is deforestation whereby humans cut down trees in order to meet their needs such as produce wood and paper for use and building houses. Trees are very important in regulating the concentration of carbon dioxide as they inhale the gas and release oxygen. Therefore, eliminating the trees only increases the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In addition, the normal breathing procedure by humans involves releasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The Effects of Global Warming Greenhouse gases have been accumulating in the earth’s surface since the industrial era, which dates many years ago. Research suggests that humans are yet to see the full results of the global warming in more years to come. On the plus side, the warmer temperatures may come with longer growing seasons in certain places, which benefits farmers with the ability and desire to adapt to new weather conditions. However, the rise in temperatures will also harm the plant as well as other species. Generally, the larger and fast climatic changes will make it more difficult for humans and the environment to adapt. Unfortunately, most affected regions happen to be those with the least ability to adapt such as Bangladesh, which is among the poorest countries worldwide. A rise in sea water level by a meter would submerge a total of 17.5% land, thus displacing millions of people. Recent climatic changes in the Polar Regions have come with unexpected results. Recently, scientists noticed that the “melting of glaciers and sea ice happens quicker than scientists predicted” (Grubb, 2003 144). For example, thawing permafrost causes “houses to sink, weakens roads, pipelines, and runways.” In addition, they also creates “drunken trees” forests, which include trees that tilt to odd and curious angles. Image 6: showing already melted ice causing a rise in water evels Should the humans faction fail to control the global warming, scientists predict more serious outcomes in the future such as the melting of polar ice caps, more hurricanes, more earthquakes, and even spread of more and new diseases. The climate change in the future and other associated impacts will be different in every place worldwide. These include precipitation and the subtropical expansion of deserts. Likewise, the continuation of retreating glaciers and sea ice will cause great warming in the Arctic. In 2007, scientists determined that the most deadliest effects of global warming include “spread of diseases, increase in heat waves, warming waters that results to more hurricanes, melting of the ice caps, and economic consequences” (). An increase in temperature causes polar ice caps in the North Pole to melt. Consequently, the sea levels would rise as the melting ice become water and join the other oceans and large water bodies. The melting ice caps would dilute the salty water bodies, thus affecting the marine life that largely depends on the homeostatic balance of ocean water and content. The rise in water levels would affect the low lying countries such as the Netherlands, although the process is gradual. In addition, more islands such as those in the Indian Ocean and South pacific may disappear, while other coastal regions experience flooding during storm surges, which threatens the living species on land, as well as the human infrastructure for example roads, bridges and water supplies. Apart from submersion of some cities and countries, there are some species who would be threatened to extinction by the change in climate. Such species include tropical frogs and polar bears, which could face extinction. Image 7 showing submerged cities and towns from risen water levels Others such as birds and insects would be forced to migrate elsewhere because unlike humans, they do not have the ability to adapt to the changes in temperatures and habitat. However, the worst part is that such birds and insects comes bearing diseases that affect human beings as they search for warmer and better climates. In fact, some scientists believe that some countries still have malaria directly because of global warming. Climatic Change and Human Health Climatic change affects human health negatively in terms of heat stress and food scarcity as a result of agricultural stresses and prolonged drought. Abrupt changes in the climate might lead to events such as the Dust Bowl drought witnessed in the 1930s that displaced many people living in the American Great Plains. Research shows that humidity and temperature are among climate variables that influence most disease pathogens and carriers. Therefore, climatic change comes with the influence of spreading more infectious diseases. It also increases the intensity of disease outbreaks. Image 8 presenting drought as a long term effect of global warming The current strategies used to control infectious diseases and epidemics mainly depend on surveillance and response. The fast changes in the climate and the predicted doom will force people to change the strategies from surveillance and response to prediction and prevention, which includes developing early warning systems. Nations can reduce the vulnerability of disease infections by using vaccination programs, water treatment systems, and improved efforts in controlling diseases carriers. A collaboration among meteorologists, ecologists, climate modelers, medical and health professions, and social scientists would greatly help to better understand the established connections between diseases and climatic change. Developed nations such as the U.S. will also be affected. For instance, research states that the snowpack might decline on the mountain ranges, which would cause lethal impacts to fish population, water recreation, hydroelectric power, and the free availability of water for most uses such as residential, agricultural, and industrial use. Image 9 showing Threat to marine life as posed by climate changes which results to unbalancing the salty state of sea and ocean water Such changes introduce a season of survival for the fittest whereby wealthier nations have a better chance at survival. These countries could use science and technology in their attempt to anticipate and adapt to the changes such as the rise in sea levels and the threats to agriculture. Developed and wealthy countries could incorporate adaptation measures such as revising construction codes to use in the coastal regions and developing new and better agriculture technologies. As expected, the developing nations would need assistance in terms of building the capacity that meets the challenges posed by nature when adapting to climatic change. Rising water temperatures threaten of “more frequent and severe hurricanes” such as the Katrina and its devastating aftermath to New Orleans and other cities in the Southeast (Revkin, 2005 171). Droughts and heat waves from global warming leave phenomenal results as even unexpected places such as Arizona experience drought in the monsoon seasons. Other places such as Africa experience “severe conditions of drought, extreme heat waves.” (Revkin 2005 171), and dangerously low water supply. Such devastating news make people speculate that soon, people might start fighting over water, which is absurd since water is a necessity resource that many people assume will be available forever. An increase in hurricanes and earthquakes are visible today. Scientists prophesy more such doom, which comes with severe economic setbacks as the damages caused to houses and other structures consume millions of money to rebuild. Even rebuilding the damaged structures and houses would only seem to make a temporary improvement as the events are bound to appear time and again. Such disasters cause “death to large numbers of people” (Grubb, 2003 144) such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake that claimed more than 250,000 lives. In addition, locating and helping the affected involves pitching up tents and camps for the homeless. “Overcrowding in these structures leads to unsanitary living, which causes diseases such as cholera and typhoid” (Grubb 2003). The increase in temperature only worsens the situations as most diseases seem to spread at a higher rate in crowded positions and in areas of high temperatures. The Need for Energy as the Greatest Challenge to Reducing Climatic Change Energy is very important in all aspects of economy, which includes industry, transportation, residential use, and commerce. Worldwide population increase and economic expansion leads to an increase in the worldwide energy use. Humans mostly depend on fossil fuels to cater to their energy needs. The department of energy estimated that 82% of the greenhouse gases released by the U.S. alone by human activities arise from burning fossil fuels. China, India, and other developing countries are rapidly increasing their energy usage mostly from fossil fuels. This leads to a sharp increase in carbon dioxide emissions. The industrial have to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide by using alternative fuels that release little or no carbon dioxide. The transportation sector uses oil as the main fuel. Improving fuel economy would involve measures such as using improved engine lubrication as well as hybrid vehicles. As an alternative to energy production from fossil fuels, people can produce electricity without much carbon emissions though the use of renewable energy technologies for example wind, biomass, and solar and nuclear power. Image 10: Melting of ice as a result of heating. The melting causes increase in water sea level and unbalance the PH and other important aspects of sea water, which threatens marine life Powering vehicles might also involve using biofuels. A deeper research into these fields would make them viable, although each method has its issues and challenges. For instance, humans can use biofuels such as ethanol to reduce the worldwide dependence on fossil fuels. However, the growth of biofuel crops causes serious repercussions on the quality of water as a result of increased soil erosion and using more fertilizers. The hardship involved in attempts to capture the emissions of Carbon Dioxide from vehicle exhausts cause a very considerate “interest of using hydrogen as a fuel” (Ramanathan & Carmichael 2008). Like electricity, hydrogen for such use has to come from primary energy sources. Therefore, hydrogen production from fossil fuel would require carbon capture and sequestration in order to reduce the net emissions of carbon dioxide. Therefore, more research need be done to come up with ways to produce hydrogen from domestic sources for example coal, nuclear power, and wind. Political Discussions on Global Warming Most countries have joined the UNFCCC, a convention that works to prevent hazardous interference of the climate system. The convention asks to stabilize the concentration of GHG in the atmosphere so that most ecosystems will be able to adapt naturally to the changes in climate, ensure an adequate food supply, and ensuring economic development continues in a sustainable way. Most member countries agree to limit their emissions, although in his term at office, President George Bush rejected a proposed treaty stating that complying would cause major harm to the economy of his country. Other agreements reached by member states included taking urgent action and measures to reduce the amount of green house emissions in order to meet the set goal of limiting global warming to as little as 2 degrees centigrade above pre-industrial temperatures. Proposed Solutions and Recommendations to Stop Global Warming It is not entirely possible to stop global warming, but serious efforts can be done to control and reduce the rate of global warming. In order to reduce global warming, every living human, organization, and government would have to play their part. Ways of reducing global warming would involve controlling, reducing, or stopping the introduction of greenhouse gases and activities that produce greenhouse gases in to the atmosphere. Such measures include reducing gasoline flow in the air by purchasing environmental friendly cars. Other measures include travelling in public means, which helps reduce the cost as well as reducing the introduction of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the air. Parents should also limit the amount of time spent by kids playing video games and watching TV as this would help reduce electricity use. Encouraging them to engage in other activities such as “reading books or playing outside” only benefits the kids more as “these are healthier activities” (Siegenthaler, 2005 310). Recycling is also important as it reuses possible waste pollutants products such as plastic bags, glass, bottles, and papers. Completely stopping open burning activities such as garbage and dry leaves would work wonders, as the burning releases pollutants in the air. Research shows that almost a half of the pollutant gasses such as carbon dioxide produced from fossil fuel burning remain suspended in the atmosphere and not even vegetation or oceans absorb it. The government should also design strict measures to control deforestation as the trees help intake carbon dioxide in the air and also clean the air in the atmosphere. Conclusion A closer look at the trend of global warming suggests that the earth is sick and in dire need for healing from today’s global warming effects as well as those to come in the future. Such measures would be very important to the human race and all living things as they would help avoid deadlier disasters and catastrophes than those witnessed in recent years. While global warming mostly affects humans as the most developed and populated species, humans are the main causers of global warming by activities such as releasing greenhouse and poisonous gases in the atmosphere and deforestation. These gases include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, methane, and other air pollutants. As such, it is much importance that people control the rate of global warming before it is too late. This means avoiding serious climatic changes such as increase in long drought spells, and experiencing shorter cold winter spells than come with climate change from global warming. Saving the earth from global warming starts with each individual owning up to their responsibility in ensuring preventive measures are taken to the letter. References Choi, O: Fisher, A. (2003). The Impacts of Socioeconomic Development and Climatic Change on Severe Weather Catastrophe Losses. Climate Change. Grubb, M. (2003). The Economics of the Kyoto Protocol. World Economics 4 (3) Hansen, J; Sato, M. (2000). Global Warming in the Twenty First Century: An Alternative Scenario. Proc. Natl. U.S.A. Ramanathan, V; Carmichael, G. (2008). Global and Regional Climate Changes Due to Black Carbon. Nature Geoscience 1 Revkin, A. (2005). Climate Change and the Recent Emergence of Bluetongue in Europe. Nature Reviews Microbiology. Siegenthaler, U. (2005). Stable Carbon Cycle-Climate Relationship During the Late Pleistocene. Science 310 Sowers, T. (2006). Late Quaternary Atmospheric CH4 Isotope Record Suggests Marine Clathrates Are Stable. Science Read More