Climate Change, Global Warming, Renewable and Nuclear Energy - Essay Example

 Global warming is identified with increases in temperatures. Though it is often used interchangeably with climate change, global warming is but an aspect of the climate change. Global temperatures have long been experiencing natural variations. However, the recently experienced variation particularly in the rise of global temperatures is arguably not as a result of natural variation alone but also the contribution of human activities. These activities are responsible for the heightened Carbon Dioxide levels and other heat trapping gases. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and other Green House Gases (GHGs) such as Methane (CH4), and Nitrous Oxide (N20), contribute to global warming through their green house effect. These gases trap and retain the heat reflected from the earth’s surfaces, hence leading to extreme temperature rise (Turk & Bensel, 2011). The U.S. National Climatic Data Center indicates that global temperatures have been on the rise for the past three centuries. The last century saw an average rise in global temperatures of about 1.58 F with the Arctic warming twice as much (Turk & Bensel, 2011). The past 50 years data on severe temperatures have indicated a significant rise in temperatures; in other words, frosts, cold days and nights were less whereas heat waves, hot days and nights were more prevalent (Turk & Bensel, 2011). Also, this warming has not been attributed to the earth alone but also the oceans which have for the past years absorbed most of the heat present in the atmosphere. As a result, the oceans temperatures have increased significantly too. With time, this heat (from the oceans) will be released back to the atmosphere and this might result in further atmospheric warming. Currently, vast research suggests that global warming is ever increasing due to the high concentration of green house gases within the atmosphere. The green house effect is experienced widely. In fact, scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies have established that there is a lot of absorption of sun’s energy than its emission. Hence, this imbalance is the chief cause of the green house effect (Pewclimate, 2011). The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) produced a report in 2009 regarding the status of impacts of climate change in the U.S. According to it, human activities have greatly contributed to the rise in the concentration of the three main green house gases: Methane, Carbon Dioxide and Nitrous Oxide. Indeed, from the pre-industrial period these gases have increased in astonishing percentages. Carbon Dioxide has increased by 40 percent; Methane by 148 percent and Nitrous Oxide by 18 percent (Harding, 2007). Predictions indicate that with the current rate in increase of global temperature, 2050 will be devastating as the global average temperatures will exceed to almost 280 C. This will result in sudden and irreversible changes such as loss of the Amazon forest, vast melting of the Greenland cap, and release of Carbon dioxide from the soils (Turk & Bensel, 2011). Worse still, it is feared that smoke, hazes and specks emitted from the fossil fuel and vegetation could be currently mitigating global warming by acting as a cover which could be averting solar energy back to space. The current trend of cleaning up air pollution will eradicate this “global dimming effect” resulting in future increases in average global temperatures by almost 100 C (Turk & Bensel, 2011). Renewable Energy Recently, there has been a major concern to switch from using fossil fuels to the renewable forms of energy. However, to achieve this, we should take note of two things. First, there should be intensive research so as to offer alternative sources of energy in order to cut down on the prices of energies. Second, there is need for the energy prices to depict their true value; in other words, these prices should reflect hidden costs such as the environmental costs which are linked to the consumption of fossil fuels. If this happens, then the renewable energy will be competitive, hence promoting further investment in their development and use. It is obvious that the emission of green house gases can not be entirely reduced by increasing energy efficiency. As the economic growth increases, the demand for fossil fuel and natural gas increases; hence, carbon concentrations levels in the atmosphere are on the rise despite the introduction of more energy – efficient appliances. In order to mitigate global warming, nations need to embrace renewable energies which produce less or no carbon. Renewable energy technologies came to limelight as a result of the 1970s oil embargoes. Since then, there has been a significant improvement in performance and affordability of such renewable energies like solar cell, bio-fuels, and wind turbines. Renewable energies are environmental friendly and they increase a country’s energy security by decreasing their dependence on fossil fuels from other nations. In addition, renewable energies are more favored because of the rapid fluctuation in prices of both fossil fuels and natural gas (Turk & Bensel, 2011). Solar energy is amongst the numerous forms of renewable energies. It is availed to the populace in the form of solar photovoltaics and also solar-thermal systems. Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are easy to use as they can be installed in numerous locations such as rooftops, solar calculators and in streetlights. In fact, they can be arranged in immense arrays within the desert and can be even sewn on clothing to power portable electronic devices. Conversely, solar-thermal systems are utilized for provision of hot water for homes or industries. Moreover, they can also generate electricity with the exemption of costly solar cells (Turk & Bensel, 2011). Solar energy is advantageous since it can be used in various ways. For instance, passive solar energy utilizes sunlight directly without the aid of any mechanical device like when sunlight is use to illuminate a dark place or to heat something. In contrast, active solar energy makes use of mechanical devices to capture sunlight after which it is transformed into heat or electric appliances. The challenges facing solar energy consumption is the high cost of photovoltaics because of the high manufacturing prices (Turk & Bensel, 2011). Wind energy is also a popular renewable energy. This energy is produced by use of wind turbines which transform kinetic energy from wind to electric power. Wind energy has been adopted and utilized in various countries including the U.S., Germany and Denmark. A country like Denmark has most of its wind turbines located along the shores, but the disadvantage is that wind turbines are very expensive to develop in such locality (Turk & Bensel, 2011). Bio-fuels are liquid fuels derived from plants. Ethanol is the most commonly utilized bio- fuel; especially in the United States. It is generally produced through the fermentation of corn or other grains. Therefore, it is evident that ethanol production in a way affects or food production as corn is also used as food for both human beings and animals. Furthermore, its production requires a significant use of fossil fuels in the fermentation process so as to provide heat through burning. Thus, it will not effectively aid in reduction of green house gases (Kammen, 2006). Lastly, the traditional renewable resources such as hydropower and geothermal power have been used for longer periods. These two forms of renewable energies have their associated advantages and disadvantages. Hydropower is environmental friendly as it generates electricity in absence of fossil fuel combustion, hence reducing all forms of pollutants including the green house gases (Turk & Bensel, 2011). On the contrary, hydropower may also be faced with social or ecological challenges as it involves the construction of a dam so as to form a reservoir for holding water. Its impacts will include destruction of habitats for wild animals and the changing of the river course. Geothermal power can be utilized in provision of hot water for industrial use. Also, it can be transformed into electricity via geothermal power plants. In other cases, low grade geothermal energy present beneath the ground can be tapped and utilized in homes. References Harding, S. (2007). The long road to enlightenment. The Guardian, January 8. Available online at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/jan/08/climatechange.climatechang environment/print. Kammen, D. M. (2006). The rise of renewable energy. Scientific American, September: 84–93. Pew Center on Global Climate Change. (2011). Global warming and global climate change. Climate Change 101: Science and Impacts. Available online at: http://www.pewclimate.org/climate-change-101/scienceimpacts. Turk, J., & Bensel, T. (2011). Contemporary environmental issues. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUSCI207.10.1)   Read More