Air in Danger and Ecological Perspectives of the Atmosphere - Essay Example

Global Warming Concerns The concept of global warming is introduced as the consequence of man-made pollutants, investigating some of the current literature available on the occurrence. Literature suggests a combination of activities that cause the greenhouse effect, divided in discussion as either man-made or naturally occurring. Projected consequences are then discussed as it relates to regional areas. Literature Review This paper draws upon Georg Breur’s Air in Danger: Ecological Perspectives of the Atmosphere which is a disconcerting account of atmospheric gases and the ways human activity is disturbing this dynamic balance. It tracks the geologic history of the atmosphere and considers the question of CO2 in detail. The work is concerned with the economic and political concerns regarding future agricultural needs and the methods to avoid the destruction of the environment. In support of this work is Trenberth’s book which concentrates on sounding the alarm that climate is changing and the global mean temperature is rising while bemoaning the ‘politicization of science.’ This and Millers Living In The Environment is the book that defined the Environmental Science course and incorporates the most talked-about and notable developments today, reflecting major shifts in environmental education and environmental policy. Adding to the paper are small contributions by Spyres’ The Rising Tide: Global Warming Accelerates Coastal Erosion addresses the effects global warning has on coastlands and Malinin’s 2005 article for the Russian publication Pravda which explains the Kyoto Protocol and the various issues concerning the nations of the world attempting to reach an agreement and consensus regarding the global warming problem. Global warming is a term commonly used to describe the consequences of man made pollutants overloading the natural occurring greenhouse effect causing an increase of the average global temperature, the subject of great debate and concern worldwide. Although warnings about the human generated causes of an enhanced greenhouse effect and the subsequent catastrophic outcomes have been sounded for over 100 years, global warming, it has yet to become an important political matter. The U.S. has consistently asserted that efforts to decrease the causes of global warning will be economically harmful so it has done next to nothing in this area but it is the treasures that emanate from the earth that fuels the economy. If the world becomes unlivable for humans, the economy won’t be a concern. This discussion will first define the greenhouse effect then explain how naturally occurring and man-made gases affect it along with examples of the consequences of these forces. Essentially, the greenhouse effect functions in the following manner. When sunlight pierces the atmosphere and hits the earth’s surface, not all of the sun’s solar energy is absorbed. Approximately a third of it is reflected back into space. Specific atmospheric gases serve in much the same way as does the glass of a greenhouse, thus the terminology. These gases allow sunlight to penetrate then trap some of the solar energy which heats the earth (Breuer, 1980). It is a delicate balance and because these greenhouse gases have been artificially augmented by man-made sources, more build up in the atmosphere has occurred thus trapping more of the sun’s energy and reflecting less back in to space. This occurrence is causing the earth to warm. The rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere are becoming increasingly disconcerting. Eighty percent of the world’s population accounts for just 35 percent of CO2 emissions while the United States and Soviet Union combined are responsible for generating half. (Miller, 1990: 450). Motor vehicles are a major cause of air pollution as is fuel burned for the heating of homes and powering industry along with the toxins emitted from stacks at coal-burning power plants. “Vehicles produce high levels of carbon monoxides (CO) and a major source of hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), whereas fuel combustion in stationary sources is the dominant source of sulfur dioxide (SO2)” (Breuer, 1980: 70). Auto companies have said that the expense to quickly convert to alternative means of transportation is prohibitive; however, what is the cost of not converting? Global warming is further evidenced by the well-documented melting of glaciers along with thermal expansion of the oceans, which have contributed to an increase in sea level over the past century of about six inches in that country. The effects of melting snow caps and the resulting rise of sea levels have been well documented. A reduction of snow cover in addition to lake and sea ice will have dire consequences for locations at higher latitudes and lower elevations, especially in the winter and spring months. Cloud compositions will change which will amplify the greenhouse effect. Shifting vegetation patterns, types and regional variations, will cause major human adaptations, the degree to which is open to speculation. The elevated evaporation rate will hasten the drying effect of soil subsequent to rainfall which will result in drier conditions in many regions. The more rapid water recycling rate will result in heavier rainfall amounts and the number of extreme rainfall events. Higher rainfall rates will cause increased tropical storm intensity in addition to the warmer temperatures. Hurricanes may be even more frequent and intense than presently predicted. As horrific as this near-future scenario is, it remains the land masses that will suffer the greatest changes as a result of the greenhouse effect. (Trenberth, 1997). A gradual rise in sea level this past century has pushed the tide-line further inland, submerging coastal lands and causing progressive erosion. The tidal wetlands and beaches gradually migrate inland as assorted plant life grows upon newly formed beaches creating a new contracted shoreline. If there is a sudden change in elevation between the shore and the inlands, such as in coastal Louisiana, tidal wetlands will be lost (Spyres, 2001). In addition, land and commercial development valued in the billions of dollars will be under the sea forever. One would have to wonder what enormous problems this will cause not only to people and property but to the health of the global economy as a whole. Entire sections of various countries will be forced to abandon their homes and businesses. The process will be a slow and torturous one. Agriculture activity, land masses and the very air we breathe will suffer a radical change from the effects of global warming. The question before us is, are we stewards of our earth and will we preserve it for future generations? If the past 30 years are any indication, then the answer is no. Noticeable effects of global warming are fairly insignificant right now to the average person, but its effects are unquestionably growing in scale. If the population of the planet were to immediately discontinue polluting the air with carbon dioxide emissions, climate changes would still continue long into the future (Trenberth 1997). In 1997 the Kyoto Treaty, which has now been signed by more than 160 countries, is, to date, the most comprehensive global effort to decrease CO2 emissions. Though the agreement was signed by the U.S. and then President Clinton consented to decrease greenhouse emissions in the U.S. by 40 percent, it has been dismissed by the Bush administration and has yet to be ratified by the U.S. (Melinin, 2005). World leaders have no sense of urgency about them regarding global warming. They place great importance on the popular items of the day such as education, crime, economics and war so as to be reelected but if they don’t address this issue, there will be nothing to politicize in the future as we will have no future. References Breuer, Georg. (1980). Air in Danger: Ecological Perspectives of the Atmosphere. New York: Cambridge University Press. Malinin, Sergei. (July 27, 2005). “USA, China and India Outlaw Kyoto Protocol and Set Forth New Climate Change Initiative.” Pravda. Miller, G. Tyler. (1990). Living in the Environment: An Introduction to Environmental Science. Belmont: Wadsworth. Spyres, Julie. (2001). “The Rising Tide: Global Warming Accelerates Coastal Erosion.” Erosion Control. Santa Barbara, CA: Forester Communications. Trenberth, Kevin E. (February 6, 2007). “Global Warming: It’s Happening.” 1997. National Center for Atmospheric Research. Available March 31, 2007 from Read More