Myths Associated with Global Warming - Case Study Example

Please put here Please put your here Please put the of the here 26th March 2008 Historical aspect of Global Warming Global warming is a hypothesis that the earth’s atmospheric temperature is gradually increasing and that the cause of this increase in temperature is related to the depletion of the atmosphere in ozone layer that is, in part, due to an increase in man-made gaseous pollution known as greenhouse gases.  Increasingly, global warming has been debated among scientists.  There are also myths associated with global warming.  Nevertheless, there are bodies of scientific evidence suggesting that global warming may be real and should not be looked at as the science fiction or myth (Masoud Kayhanian).  Global warming is the rise in temperature of the earths atmosphere. Its said that by the time a baby born today is 80 years old, the world will be 6 and a half degrees warmer than it is now. Human activity and natural cycles are two main aspects responsible for the global warming hoax. Change in human activity specifically reduction in the amount of carbon-di-oxide emission can mean a lot as far as the reduction of global warming is concerned (Glassman). Astonishingly, every single year since 1992 is in the current list of the 20 warmest years on record. The natural patterns of climate have been altered. According to the National Academy of Sciences, the Earths surface temperature has risen by about 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past century, with accelerated warming during the past two decades. There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities. Human activities have altered the chemical composition of the atmosphere through the buildup of greenhouse gases–primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. The heat-trapping property of these gases is undisputed although uncertainties exist about exactly how earths climate responds to them (Langdon). Precipitation has increased by one percent and sea levels have risen by 6 to 8 inches (source: the EPA site). Human industrial activity, which is suspected as the likely cause, has greatly increased. The models which are taken most seriously predict several degrees more of warming and more changes in the water circulation cycle during the twenty-first century, enough to raise sea levels significantly, alter natural ecosystems, and completely change what kind of agriculture can be practiced where. Those who say this is not a problem have their heads in the sand. Figuring out to what extent the human-induced accumulation of greenhouse gases since pre-industrial times is responsible for the global warming trend is not easy. This is because other factors, both natural and human, affect our planets temperature. Scientific understanding of these other factors–most notably natural climatic variations, changes in the suns energy, and the cooling effects of pollutant aerosols–remains incomplete (Langdon). The main human activities that contribute to global warming are the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) and the clearing of land. Most of the burning occurs in automobiles, in factories, and in electric power plants that provide energy for houses and office buildings. The burning of fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide, whose chemical formula is CO2. CO2 is a greenhouse gas that slows the escape of heat into space. Trees and other plants remove CO2 from the air during photosynthesis, the process they use to produce food. The clearing of land contributes to the build-up of CO2 by reducing the rate at which the gas is removed from the atmosphere or by the decomposition of dead vegetation. A small number of scientists argue that the increase in greenhouse gases has not made a measurable difference in the temperature. They say that natural processes could have caused global warming. Those processes include increases in the energy emitted (given off) by the sun. But the vast majority of climatologists believe that increases in the suns energy have contributed only slightly too recent warming (NASA). Through global warming, the surface waters of the oceans could become warmer, increasing the stress on ocean ecosystems, such as coral reefs. High water temperatures can cause a damaging process called coral bleaching. When corals bleach, they expel the algae that give them their color and nourishment. The corals turn white and, unless the water temperature cools, they die. Added warmth also helps spread diseases that affect sea creatures. Continued global warming might, over centuries, melt large amounts of ice from a vast sheet that covers most of West Antarctica. As a result, the sea level would rise throughout the world. Many coastal areas would experience flooding, erosion, a loss of wetlands, and an entry of seawater into freshwater areas. High sea levels would submerge some coastal cities, small island nations, and other inhabited regions. In 1991, Mount Pinatubo put 8 cubic kilometers of ash in the atmosphere. The worldwide temperature temporarily lowered 1 degree F from 1991 to 1993. The geologic record shows that volcanoes that produce 1000 cubic kilometers of ash or greater happen about twice per 100,000 years on Earth. The last discovered was the volcano Toba in Sumatra. It erupted about 76,000 years ago. Toba put 2800 cubic kilometers of ash in the atmosphere. In theory, the worldwide temperatures in the temperate zones must have been below freezing year around for several years in a row. While volcanoes can certainly have a large effect on climate, their effects are transient. They produce large amounts of methane and carbon dioxide but massive volcanic discharges are rare and their major effects last only for a few years, whereas human-caused pollution is continuously renewed. There is no plausible volcanic explanation for the observed warming trend of the last century. Variations in solar irradiance are a more serious alternative. The hoax of global warming is pretty dangerous since using global-warming theory as the basis for extreme policy mandates could plunge the world into a long-term recession or even a depression. Theres clear evidence that greenhouse gases have been increasing by very large amounts since preindustrial times, and the vast majority of these increases are due to human activity (Trafton). There is now a near-universal scientific consensus that human activity is driving climate change. While global temperatures have risen significantly, the rise is less than expected from the greenhouse gases alone, because of the cooling effect of sulphate aerosols, another type of pollutant caused by fossil fuel combustion. Efforts already underway to reduce those aerosols, which cause acid rain and are harmful to human health, could lead to greater future warming. Like human beings, other living organisms are also very sensitive to variations in temperature and precipitation. It is not necessary to understand precisely what variations are brought about by human activity to see that agriculture and meat production are highly dependent on climatic variations. Such variations can also bring about flooding or severe water shortages with only a fairly small amount of change. Fresh water supplies are already a big problem in many parts of the world. California is at the limit of the supply needed for cities, wildlife, and agriculture, with no end to growth in sight (Langdon). Unfortunately, many political conservatives have made opposition to climate science part of their program and its contributing to the widespread denial that theres a problem. They need to take a long, hard look at their cousins who deny Darwinian evolution to get an idea of how theyre missing the boat on this issue. The Christian fundamentalists have way too much influence in the Bush administration and their willingness to ignore scientific facts when it suits them is terribly dangerous to sound policy in this area. They have applied pressure to prevent the findings of environmental agencies from influencing policy and have even suppressed data which did not support administration policies, as has been widely reported in the news recently. Continued global warming could have many damaging effects. It might harm plants and animals that live in the sea. It could also force animals and plants on land to move to new habitats. Weather patterns could change, causing flooding, drought, and an increase in damaging storms. Global warming could melt enough polar ice to raise the sea level. In certain parts of the world, human disease could spread, and crop yields could decline (NASA). Thirty-eight industrialized nations would have to restrict their emissions of CO2 and five other greenhouse gases. The restrictions would occur from 2008 through 2012. Different countries would have different emissions targets. As a whole, the 38 countries would restrict their emissions to a yearly average of about 95 percent of their 1990 emissions. The agreement does not place restrictions on developing countries (NRDC). But it encourages the industrialized nations to cooperate in helping developing countries limit emissions voluntarily. Industrialized nations could also buy or sell emission reduction units. Suppose an industrialized nation cut its emissions more than was required by the agreement. That country could sell other industrialized nations emission reduction units allowing those nations to emit the amount equal to the excess it had cut. Several other programs could also help an industrialized nation earn credit toward its target. For example, the nation might help a developing country reduce emissions by replacing fossil fuels in some applications (NASA). Bibliography 1. Glassman, James K. "Certainty of Catastrophic Global Warming is a Hoax." Capitalism Magazine 15 December 2003: 3-6. 2. Langdon, Kevin. Human Activity and Global Warming. Publishing. 14: July, 2003. 3. Masoud Kayhanian. "Global Warming: Scientific Facts and Myths." Lecture notes. 2002. 4. NASA. World book at NASA. 23 May 2003. 29 March 2008 . 5. NRDC. National Resources Defence Council - Global Warming. 4 March 2001. 29 March 2008 . 6. Trafton, Anne. "Report: Human activity fuels global warming." News Article. 2007. Read More