Al Gores- An Inconvenient Truth - Movie Review Example

Student’s Name: Al Gores- an inconvenient truth Instructor’s Name: Course Code & Name: Date of Submission: The increased carbon dioxide emissions have led to global warming and this has in turn caused the world climate to change. According to Dawson and Spannagle (2009) global warming phrase is used to explain the continued increase in the earth’s surface temperature as compared to the long-term standard conditions. On the other hand, climate change refers to the average changes in relation to the climate conditions. Global warming has primarily been considered to be caused by the increased emission and concentration of greenhouse gases in the environment. The changes in climate and global warming has led to rise of sea levels as well as the melting of polar ice and decrease in rainfall. These factors have motivated environmental activists to advocate the need to conserve the environment in order to ensure long term sustainability. Therefore, this paper is going to analyze three arguments about climate change as brought by Al Gore in his film the inconvenient truth. Carbon Dioxide controls Temperature Al Gore states that the increased temperature on the earth’s surface has been caused by the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. According to him, temperature is controlled by the amount of carbon dioxide prevailing in the environment. Mr. Gore holds the view that the increase in temperature has been due to the changes in the concentration of carbon dioxide. This means that the changes in carbon dioxide concentration preceded the changes in temperature. Johansen (2009) argues that in the previous centuries the amount of carbon-dioxide concentration in the atmosphere was estimated to be equal to the amount prevailing in today’s world. This means that the concentration of carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere has changed by a small extent. On the other hand, it has been estimated that there has been a considerable variation in the amount of atmospheric temperature throughout the earth’s history. Therefore, the increase in atmospheric temperature is independent of the amount of carbon dioxide in the environment. According to Zimmer and Hatch (2011) the historical climate data indicates high variations in temperature which cannot be associated with the observed increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide. The rise in temperature is too high as compared to the changes in carbon dioxide concentration. The recent increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide cannot totally be associated with the high increase in temperature. Other gases compete with carbon dioxide in order to shape the temperature of the earth’s surface (Johansen, 2009). This means that there is no direct link between the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and temperature. The amount of heat in the atmosphere is determined by a range of greenhouse gases. The earth experienced its warmest temperature during the climate change which was estimated to be about 6 degrees centigrade above what is experienced in today’s world. During this time, the amount of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere was between 180 and 290 as compared to today’s world where the concentration of carbon dioxide is around 370. This clearly indicates that temperatures changes are independent of the changes in carbon dioxide concentration. Therefore, it is evident that the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere does not control temperature. The amount of temperature in the atmosphere is dependent on a range of factors and not primarily on the amount of carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere as Al Gore claimed. Hurricanes are caused by Global warming AL Gore states that the hurricanes occur as a result of global warming. He states that Hurricane Katrina that occurred in the U.S.A was as a result of global warming. However, Leatherman and Williams (2008) argue that global warming cannot be held responsible for the occurrence of hurricanes. The global warming that the U.S experienced in 2006 was not accompanied by any occurrence of hurricanes. Global warming can only decrease or increase the intensity at which the hurricane occurs. Therefore, global warming cannot directly lead to the occurrence of hurricanes. According to Saddleback (2009) global warming does not generate hurricanes but it makes the hurricanes to have a greater impact. The fact that hurricanes occur on seasonal patterns means that they cannot be directly linked with global warming which occurs continuously. Global warming increases the strength of hurricanes by rising the temperature on the tropical surface of the ocean water. This in turn leads to a 50% increase in the speed of wind that causes hurricanes and makes the hurricane to last for a longer period of time. This clearly shows that global warming cannot be held accountable for the hurricanes that occur on the earth surface. Mr. Gore claims that global warming leads to the occurrence of hurricanes can thus be proven to be wrong.’ According to Pielke at el (2007) that there have been no linkages that have been established between the emissions of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the behavior at which hurricanes occur. Hurricanes occur in a projected trend and in cycles unlike global warming which is always present in the environment. Over the last 3 decades 11 hurricanes were experienced in the U.S.A. However, this was not the case in other countries globally where there was no notable increase in the occurrence of hurricanes although there was an increase in their atmospheric temperature. A study conducted by Gerrard (2007) indicated that Hurricane Katrina was caused by increased temperature on the sea surface and not due to global warming as was claimed by Gole. According to the study hurricanes are expected to reduce as a result of global warming. The warming of the ocean basin does not lead to the creation of hurricanes. Therefore, it is apparent that hurricanes are not caused by global warming as it was stated by Gole. Tropical diseases are spreading due to global warming Gole states tropical diseases like malaria, arena virus, Ebola virus and West Nile virus are spreading as a result of global warming. He states that mosquitoes are going to higher altitudes because of global warming. Global warming creates a good environment for mosquitoes to breed and multiply. The higher water temperatures provide mosquitoes with good breeding grounds and this further increases their numbers. The higher number of mosquitoes increases the rate at which malaria is transmitted around the world. Global warming presents the ideal conditions for the spread of tropical diseases. However, Johansen (2009) notes that global warming will play a minor role in the spread of tropical diseases. Mosquitoes for instance, are adapted to different environmental conditions hence this means that they cannot spread the disease at certain habitats. The spread of Tropical diseases is by a large extent influenced by an increase in parasites that resist drugs but not due to global warming. Kooten (2004) argues that the spread of tropical diseases like malaria is not due to rising global temperatures but due to development problems. Many diseases are spreading around the world regardless of the change in climate. Tropical diseases are mostly evident in developing countries and this can be attributed to their poor infrastructure in public health. This means that the spread of tropical diseases is independent of the global warming. However Githeko at el (2000) notes that many vector borne diseases are sensitive to changes in temperature. Rise in the temperature of water causes the larvae to mature at a fast rate thus there is greater ability to produce more offspring’s over a short duration of time. This in turn leads to an increase in the number of infective pests. Johansen (2009) argues that the high temperature as a result of global warming creates an unfavorable environment for the breeding and survival of the vectors. Global warming will speed up the spread of tropical diseases from the tropics to the latitudes in the middle of the globe. However, this has not been evidenced in the present world. Therefore, the spread of tropical diseases cannot be directly attributed to the rise in temperatures. This is because the developed countries have not experienced the outbreak of these diseases in spite of the fact that they are experiencing global warming. Thus, Gole claims of associating global warming with the spread of tropical diseases was wrong. In conclusion, the arguments brought forward by Al Gore’s relating to global warming and climate change do clearly show the true effects as a result of environmental pollution. The earth’s temperature is controlled by a number of factors other than carbon dioxide. In addition, his claims the hurricanes are caused by global warming are wrong given the fact that they occur seasonally. On the other hand, tropical diseases spread irrespective of the temperature on the earth’s surface. References Dawson, B., & Spannagle, B.(2009). The Complete Guide to Climate Change. New York: Routledge. Gerrard, M.(2007). Global Climate and U.S. Law. Chicago: ABA Publishing. Githeko, A., Lindsay, S., Confalonieri., & Patz, Jonathan.(200). Climate Change and Vector- borne Diseases: A Regional Analysis. Environment and Health, 78(9), 1136-1146. Hatch, S., & Zimmer, L.(2011). Paralegal Career. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. Johansen, B.(2009). The Encyclopedia of Global Warming Science and Technology. California: Greenwood Publishing Group. Kooten, G.(2004). Climate Change Economics. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited. Leatherman, S., & Williams, J.(2008) Hurricanes Causes Effects and the Future. Minneapolis: Voyageur Press. Pielke, R., Landsea, C., Mayfield, M., Lavier, J., & Pasch, R.(2007). Hurricanes and Global Warming. American Meteorological Society, 10(1), 1571-1575. Saddleback.(2009). Global Warming. California: Saddleback Educational Publishing. Read More