Global Warming: Facts and Information - Term Paper Example

Running Head: Global Warming Global Warming Name: Institution: Date of Submission: Introduction Put simply, global warming refers to a phenomenon where the earth heats up because of temperature rises on its surface. This rise in temperatures occurs in the process where greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons, and water vapor confine heat and light from sun’s rays in the earth’s atmosphere. This heat and light will in turn increases the temperature in the atmosphere. This increase in temperatures hurts many living things that include people, animals, and plants. Many cannot be able to accommodate the change in temperatures and end up dead. From this brief definition of global warming, it is evident that the phenomenon is indeed an extremely severe problem facing the planet earth today (DiMento, et al., 2007). Its environmental, social, and economic impacts and causes have been on the rise every day and people need to come up with the best strategies and do something to ensure the problem does not become even more worse. To sum up the definition, global warming is an increase in the earth's temperature, because of the use of fossil fuels and industrial chemicals or agricultural chemicals and processes. Emissions induced by human activities in energy utilization are adding to the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases already released naturally to the atmosphere. These harmful industrial and agricultural processes continue to build up a large increase of greenhouse gases, which are carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and water vapor. Until the wake of the industrial revolution, the world did not experience such a terrifying issues and problem of dealing with the accumulation ofharmful gases in the atmosphere (Ruddiman, 2005a). However, with the increasing population growth in the present day, increased fossil fuel burning for domestic and commercial use and deforestation across the globe leads to increased amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Causes of Global Warming The most basic and common cause of global warming is Carbon Dioxide emissions to the planet’s atmosphere. On daily basis, the atmosphere receives tons of carbon dioxide pumped into it at an insane phase. Of course, some of this greenhouse gas emission is due to natural activity such as volcanic eruptions and the natural process of respiration among living (Kininmonth, 2004). However, the Earth has its mechanism to absorb easily those natural emissions into the normal regenerative process. Therefore,the real cause of global warming is human activities that emit huge amounts of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Such as activities, include the use of burned fossil fuels. On daily basis, the earth absorbs large amounts of solar energy generated from the sun. Through radiation, the energy absorbed goes back to the atmosphere by the earth.This process maintains an equilibrium and balance of heat energy on surface of the earth. Although there are many gases present in the atmosphere, only carbon dioxide and water vapor are responsible for absorbing this radiated energy, and effectively blocks it from reaching the atmosphere. However,a considerable amount of the energy finds its way to the earth's surface and subsequently the earth's surface is heated up. This increase in temperature of the earth often referred to as Greenhouse effect (DiMento, 2007). The temperature effects of the two gases, carbon dioxide, and water vapor, come up together to have a devastating impact on the global temperatures and climate at large. While the surface temperature continues to rise, the evaporation of water from the surface of the earth continues to increase, thereby making the temperatures increase even further. Scientific estimation has it that this combined effect of rise of temperature eventually results in increase of 30 degree Celsius in surface temperature in the event where carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere doubles (Ruddiman, 2005b). The most alarming fact is that even a very slight and minimal increase in surface temperature of even 1 degree Celsius can severely affect the production of food within the planet. As a result,a drought and food shortage becomes a common phenomenon, which in turn results to poverty and poor economy in areas where farming is a key source of income. The biological productivity will also experience a sharp decrease due to increased temperatures of the surface layer, which in turn slows down the transport of necessary for productivity from deeper layers of the surface. Evidently, there is a close relation between earth’s increasing population and global warming. In today’s world, the large and increasing population demands the use of technologies deemed destructive to the planet earth. By approximation, over 80 per cent of C02 emissions and increase are due to extensive use of fossil fuels byhuman beings. In search for energy, man uses fossils fuels that come in the form of in the form of coal, gas, or oil. Most scientists attribute the large portion of carbon emission to the atmosphere to the burning of gasoline in internal-combustion engines of vehicles and other machinery (Ruddiman, 2005a). Vehicles and other locomotives that have poor gas mileage play the biggest role in contributing the most carbon dioxide to global warming. Besides, the sulphur group of gases, carbon dioxide is the most harmful for of all gases. Its contribution towards global warming is 30 per cent. Human activities in burning fossil fuels result in gas emissions that result in global warming. As individuals, we need to accept our responsibility attributed to us as the leading cause of global warming, with the highest greenhouse gas emissions across the globe. Individuals, governments, and other organizations ought to understand that sitting back and watching the climate deteriorate, does not help as setting an example for others to follow makes the planet a better place to live in. The debate of what causes global warming should not be matter of much intensity, because the fact is that human beings are contributing to global warming through dailyactivities, adding on to any natural climatic stageexperienced by the earth on daily basis (Ruddiman, 2005). By not engaging in activities that minimizes emissions of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, seeing global warming coming to an end has a very high probability. Prevention of Global Warming As an old saying goes, prevention is always better than cure. Joint human contribution and efforts can certainly bring down the most devastating effects of global warming, prevent, and control this most discussed climatic ordeal. The prevention can be effective by checking and taking care of atmospheric pollution. Acts such as deforestation need be taken into consideration and tree planting be made an hobby among citizens. Human beings would also make sure to use wood as little as possible, because wood has huge storage of carbon that though fixed remains readily oxidizable. Furthermore, if individuals encourage the use of brick houses, global warming would easily end as such types of structures retain less heat (Ruddiman, 2005). In efforts to reduce global warming and its effects, developed countries have come up with measures aimed at reducing greenhouse emissions by greater margin.Several European countries for instance, do impose heavy taxes on energy usage that emit carbon dioxide. The purpose behind the taxes is their partial design to curb such emissions into the atmosphere. Furthermore, Norway taxes industries in relation to the amount of carbon dioxide they emit into the atmosphere. In The Netherlands and other neighboring countries, government and industry have come up with agreements andnegotiated deals aimed at increasing efficiency of energy, promotinggreener energy sources, and cutting down greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. In theUnited States made collaborations with environment and energy agencies that saw the implementation of the Energy Star program (Ruddiman, 2005). This voluntary program ratesappliances used in energy generations and gives some money back to consumers as a reward for buyingefficient machines. It is also necessary to check unnecessary combustion fuels. In houses, the burning of fuels like wood, coal, kerosene need to be taken into control to curb excessive carbon emissions. Instead, the encouragement of LPG stove is quite necessary as it results in greater efficiency in fuel, utilization, and less atmospheric pollution in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. Encouraging biogas plants in village communities comes with a great advantage as it decreases the use of firewood and is less atmospheric pollutant (Hansen, 2005). Development of more fuel-efficient vehicles would help a great deal in reducing the amounts of carbon emissions and hence a health environment. Encouraging the use of renewable sources of energy will also play a vital role in ensuring minimal carbon emissions to the atmosphere, as it is non-polluting and very efficient at all times. These renewable sources of energy include solar and wind energy sources. Hydro-electricity is also of considerable use. However, even if it should be possible to sign new treaties and agreements like the Kyoto Protocol, it is doubtful whether such agreements would meet the respect, it deserves like the ones from Kyoto. Any new agreements would only be different if imposition of sanctions would be automatic on those countries, whose carbon dioxide emissions per person still exceed a certain carbon dioxide level after a given period. With such measures, human beings will have done a great deal in reducing global warming and its adverse effects (Hansen, 2005). Conclusion The cause of global warming is mainly because of the actions of human beings across the planet. The earth, nature, has always had its mechanisms to adapt to challenges and adapt to correct itself. Regrettably, many things done by human beings for thousands of years that nature would easily correct and adapt to, it no longer can because of the sheer increase in the planet’s population. The increased population has seen the dire need for energy, increased industrialization, and improved agricultural activities. Such acts by humans have seen increased carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere, which is the primary cause of global warming (Hansen, 2005). Individuals, governments, and agencies responding to climate change are great step about making choices in the face of risk. Any course of action in reducing the effects of global warning carries potential risks and costs; but doing nothing poses even greatest risk from climate change and its impacts. It is indeed quite possible that human beings can participate in activities that are likely to reduce the effects of global warming by engaging in activities that reduce the amounts of carbon emissions to the atmosphere. Reference DiMento, Joseph F. C.; Doughman, Pamela M. (2007). Climate Change: What It Means for Us. Our Children, and Our Grandchildren. The MIT Press.p. 68. Hansen, J. (2005). Efficacy of climate forcing.Journal of Geophysical Research 110 Kininmonth, William, (2004). Climate Change: a Natural Hazard. UK: Multi-Science Co. Ruddiman, William F. (15 December 2005a). Earth's Climate Past and Future. New York: Princeton University Press Ruddiman, William F. (1 August 2005b). Plows, Plagues, and Petroleum: How Humans Took Control of Climate. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. Read More