Carbon Cycle Science, Its Impact on Climate and Control in Australia - Coursework Example

The Science of Carbon Cycle, Impact of its Emission on Climate and Control in Australia Student Name Instructor Name Course Code and Name University Date of Submission Carbon Cycle Science, its Impact on Climate and Control in Australia Abstract Carbon is a major contributing factor to the climate science and it is vital to have an understanding of what this compound is before working on its impact to the climate in australia. It has been discovered that Carbon balance is vital for the support of the ecosystem, but when it is excess in the atmosphere, it creates an imbalance. This means that the excess carbon in the atmosphere forms a canopy that traps infrared radiations within the earth, making the earth warmer than required. This paper analyzes carbon cycle and the way this carbon has affected climate in Australia. The leading factors causing the imbalance in Australia have also been discussed along sided the measures the Australian government is taking to control carbon release to the atmosphere. Introduction Carbon as an element found in the periodic table is not a harmful element. However, when combined with other elements, it starts becoming dangerous. In the context of the climate and atmosphere, the mention of a carbon often denotes a compound called carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. When these compounds are released to the atmosphere, they alter the climate of appropriately. In Australia, human activities are the leading causes of its emission to the atmosphere. This has negatively affected the Australian government. Upon noticing the danger which the future of Australia is exposedto, the government has initiated programs that seek to reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. This forms the discussion of this essay. Scientists worldwide have expressed difference in the opinion of climate change for a long time. However, in the recent times, there seems to be a consensus that climate is really changing. At least 80% of scientists are in agreement that climate is changing and the major contributing factor into this change is the release of carbon and its compounds to the atmosphere (Reichstein et al 2013, pp. 285-95). The release of the carbon to the atmosphere is a normal natural activity. Nevertheless, in different parts of the world, and precisely Australia, human activities have accelerated and altered the balance that preexists of carbon in the atmosphere. Though there are other natural processes that result to carbon release into the atmosphere, the Australian givernement, through her environmental monitoring agencies, points out that human activities contribute to nearly 100% of the pollution. Carbon Cycle In the carbon cycle, it is presumed that the carbon released to the atmosphere is all utilized by the plants and hence a state of carbon self balancing is realized (Wehrli 2013, pp. 9-10). In the real sense, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is not dangerous because this constituent of the atmosphere is needed by plants and other natural processes. The cycle begins by emission of the gas to the atmosphere (Wehrli 2013, pp. 9-10). Naturally, the gas is produced from the interior of the earth, especially in the middle of oceans and volcano eruptions. In the subduction zones, carbon dioxide is naturally obtained from the normal metamorphism of carbon containing rocks. Ocean bedrocks are rich in carbonate, hence when they undergo metamorphism they release an incredible amount of this gas. Human beings also naturally contribute carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through breathing. They inhale oxygen gas and exhale carbon dioxide. Now with an increase of over four billion people in the last two hundred years, carbon dioxide has increased proportionally. When this gas is released into the atmosphere, it can either be dissolved in the water, taken by living organisms, stored as biomass or trapped in carbonate rocks. Through photosynthesis, carbon dioxed is absorbed by plants, specifically algae and bacteria (Reichstein et al. 2013, pp. 285-95). Weathering processes also absorbs carbon dioxide, hence reducing its quantity in the atmosphere. The burial of organic carbon or binding in carbonate rocks naturally minimize the gas in the atmosphere (Reichstein et al. 2013, pp. 285-95). And the cycle continues. Causes of Atmospheric Carbon dioxide Imbalance in Australia Since industrialization, man’s activities have increased and led to construction of industries. Today Australia is an industrialized economy. She uses fossils fuel to power her industries and this release large amounts of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Car emissions in Australia are notably among the major causes of increased carbon dioxide. The Australian Greenhouse Office estimates 2.7 kilogrmas and 2.9 kilograms of carbon and other greenhouse gases are released when petrol and diesel is burnt respectively in cars. Australia being an industrialized country has most of her citizens well off economically, hence can afford cars that consume fuel. These cars are powered by fossil fuels that contribute to increased carbon in the atmosphere. Australia rates high in forest activities. The forest industry is gradually transforming the natural forests into made forests. In other instances, forests are being declared to pave way foreconomic development and settlement. Forests, in their natural state, absorb carbon from the atmosphere. For example, in the year 2004, 43.7 tonnes of carbon were extracted from the atmosphere by forests. However, when their natural composition is altered, the rate is reduced. this exactly what is happening in Australia. In addition to this, Australia experience forest fires that not only add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, but also destroy natural ecosystem. Which is not regained even after rehabilitation. The end result is carbon dioxed imbalance. Scientific Impact of Carbon in the Atmosphere Carbon dioxide contributes to the destruction of the ozone layer. This is the layer responsible for protecting life on earth against dangerous direct rays from the sun. When destroyed, these waves make their way to the earth and scorch the earth’s surface. Secondly, it increases the greenhouse effect. The aspect of carbon dioxide being in the atmosphere also forms a bracket that traps infrared waves within the earth’s surface. When the waves from the sun hit the earth’s surface, they are reflected back to the atmosphere. However, when they find the cover of carbon dioxide, they are blocked from getting out of the earth’s surface. This makes them trapped. As a result of this, the heat on earth starts to build up. This implies that if the trend of increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere does not stop, a day will come when the entire earth will be covered by a canopy of carbon dioxide and all the infrared radiations will be trapped. The heat will be high. It is because of this increase in heat that global warming is a reality (Reichstein et al. 2013, pp. 285-95). The Effect of Carbon Dioxide Emission on Australian Climate Increase in Temperature Global warming is a reality in Australia. Although every part of the world is experiencing the effect of global warming, in Australia is the most vulnerably exposed country. The Australian average temperatures have increased by 0.9 degrees celcius and this worsens the arid and semi-arid nature of Australia. The temperatures on the earth have increased. NASA reports detail that the temperatures began increasing notably in 1880 (Foster & Rahmstorf 2011, pp. 044022). However, the 1970s marked a new era of the increasing temperature trend in Australia. The fluctuations in the temperature recording also confirm that the climate is changing. Australia has to put interventions in place because the projections indicate that by 2070, the average temperatures increase will be in the range of 1-6 degrees celcius. The effect of the increased heat is also evidenced by warming up of the Australian Coastal waters. The Australian ocean heat up is slightly higher than the world’s average of 0.3020F. The Australian Coastal maintenance agencies record 0.8 degrees celcius ocean temperature increase within the 2, 500 feet from the surface with the surface being warmer. Below this height the temperatures remain fairly constant (Huntington 2006, pp. 83-95). This is leading to a diversions in flow of ocean currents. ocean currents flow depend on the earth’s rotation, but the increasing warmth in the Australian coastline is exhibiting a new phenomenon which scientists need to dig deep into it. they are unstable. Australia has a history of bush fires. This is because it is an arid and semi arid continent. However, since the 1970s, the bush fires are increasing. Analysts have attributed this to the increased temperatures in the region. The situation might worsen in the near future if interventions measures are not deployed. Abnormal Climate Manifestations and natural happenings Besides temperature rise, Australia is also experiencing abnormalities in other climate aspects. The rain patterns are gradually fluctuating and becoming difficult for Australian meteorological department to predict, precisely, what to expect next as far as weather is concerned. Instances of intense sporadic rainfall have been witnessed in in Australia; the tropical cyclone rainfall. This has never been witnessed before. Droughts have been hitting Australia since time immemorial. However, recently the frequency of the droughts have increased and prolonged. For example, in the year 2005 and 2010, Australia experienced prolonged droughts that led to devastating bush fires (ClimateWorks, 2010). The effect of this is cutting across the entire Australian agricultural sector. The wildlife is at jeopardy. The droughts accentuate the speed of wind. This has led to increased tropical cyclones speed of 5 - 10%. There has been increased abnormal natural calamities like earthquakes on belts which were previously not earthquake belts, threatening lightening and weird wind blows (Wallace et al. 2014 pp.729-730; ClimateWorks, 2010). Though studies are still going on to determine the root cause of these happenings, hints are pointing to the imbalances introduced by availability of excess carbon in the atmosphere which has a direct impact on the environment. The ocean tides are also gaining momentum. The recent captured statistics of 2013 show a 12-16% increase in strength of the tide. As the ocean waters heat up due to the increased temperatures, this aspect is bound to happen. Increased Acidic sea Water One of the ways in which carbon is reduced from the atmosphere is through absorption by on the water bodies. However, carbon is already in excess in the atmosphere. Currently, approximately two billion tons of carbon dioxide is being absorbed only by the upper layer of the sea waters yearly along the Australian waters (Huntington 2006, pp. 83-95). The reaction of this amount of caqrbon dioxide with the water has caused an increase in the acidity of the Australian waters sea acidity to increase. The increased acidity is evidenced increased death of aquantic life unexplainably and increased corrosion of structures along the shoreline. Sea Vessels cruising along the Australian sea route are also depreciating exponentially due to the same. Interventions taken by the Australian Governement to Reduce Carbon Emission Since carbon dioxide is one of the major greenhouse gases that are degrading the good side of the climate, there is a need to control the way it gets into the atmosphere. The Australian government is taking the following measures to minimize the emissions. Forest Protection Forests absorb carbon from the atmosphere. The Australian is relying heavily on forests to rectify or reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. For this reason, it protects the forests and maintains them so that variety of tree species is available to absorb excess carbon and give out oxygen (Turner, Lambert & Johnson 2005, pp. 259-269). However, there are number of challenges. Bush fires burn the forests and this increase the cost of maintenance. When this occurs, the forests turned out to be huge sources of carbon to the atmosphere. This jeopardizes the millions of wildlife that have a habitant in these forests and introduce an imbalance that last for several years. Australian forests are vast and when they burn they trigger other natural abnormalities like fluctuations of rainfall occurrence and prolonged droughts (Turner, Lambert & Johnson 2005, pp. 259-269). Restoring the original forest is difficult. Therefore, the forests acquire a permanent change when burned. Carbon Tax Since the major cause of this gas is done by people, then people need to be regulated so as to be personally held accountable for their actions. It is for this reason that the heavy contributors of Carbon to the atmosphere in Australia are being made to comply to the carbon tax regulations. In addition, the different house holds in Australia are also paying a good will seemless amount of money to support a program aimed at reducing the emission by 25% by the year 2020 (Moloney, Horne & Fien 2010, pp. 7614-7623). Collaboration with International Community The international community aims at bringing together different countries to voluntarily commit themselves in conserving the environment. Through the United Nations Environmental Program, different countries of the world are signing commitment to reduce the industrial emission of dangerous gaseous substance to the atmosphere. Australia is one of such countries and is working closely with international bodies to reduce the emission. The Copenhagen meeting of the most developed nations, of which Australia was represented, was mainly focused on finding and convincing resistant countries to conform and adhere to the measures being taken to reduce atmospheric pollution. This is not a cheap thing to undertake. Destroying the environment in the expense of surviving economy is like covering one hole by digging another one. Each country needs to invest in the atmospheric conservation measures. Adoption of Better technologies Technology is advancing and industrialized countries of the world are exploiting every method possible to comply with the international agreements of carbon emission control in the atmosphere. Countries are investing in technologies that do not use carbon related fossils or better carbon fossil fuels (Laat 2007, pp.251-252). Australia is in particular subsidizing technologies that reduce carbon emission like converting heavy fossil fuel into light fuels that have lesser impact on climate (Moloney, Horne & Fien 2010, pp. 7614-7623). One of the latest technologies to be introduced into the Australian market is vehicles that do not use carbon products. An electric car has been proposed and strategies to commercialize the car are at an advanced stage. Vehicles contribute greatly to the emission of greenhouse gases in Australia because they use fossil fuel. If the electric technology is going to be embraced properly, then an incredible amount of carbon from the atmosphere will have been reduced. Example of Efforts of a Developing country in Reducing Carbon Emission - Kenya Australia is adapting technologies that embrace the ideology of going green. For this reason Austrialia is investing in clean power (Moloney, Horne & Fien 2010, pp. 7614-7623). This is similar to what developing countries are striving to do. Developing countries are at a big challenge because the capital to invest in the protective measures is scarce (Keller 2007, pp. 381-399). However, a country like Kenya is currently exploring and investing in green energy technologies. It is doing this by harnessing the power found in geothermal wells (Simiyu 2010, pp.25-29). This way the country will not be in a position to burn fossil fuels to turn engines so as to produce electricity, but rather will depend on the naturally occurring heat to produce the electricity. In the northern part of Kenya, the Kenya government has invested heavily in the solar power instead of the diesel powered generators so as to reduce the emission of carbon gases to the atmosphere and cut down costs (Simiyu 2010, pp.25-29). This way the government of Kenya is able to maintain stability in the energy sector as well as reducing the amount of emissions of carbon to the atmosphere. Conclusion There is no doubt mishandling of carbon is causing the climate change. No matter how the economic situation is pressurizing countries to use carbon, the impact left behind may be more dangerous than the option of choosing to invest in better ways. Australia has experienced the worse part of carbon emission and is not ready that trend to continue. It is for this reason that she uses all means possible to reduce carbon in the atmosphere. Australia does this through taxation, improving technology and encouraging restoration of forest covers. It is until the emission is subjected under control that the impact on the climate will stop taking place. List of references ClimateWorks, 2010. Low Carbon Growth Plan for Australia. Media Release. Available at: http://www.climateworksaustralia.org/project/national-plan/low-carbon-growth-plan-australia. Foster, G., & Rahmstorf, S 2011, Global temperature evolution 1979–2010. Environmental Research Letters, vol. 6, no.4, p.044022. Huntington, T.G 2006, Evidence for intensification of the global water cycle: Review and synthesis. Journal of Hydrology, vol. 319, no. 1-4, p.83-95. Keller, C.F 2007, Global warming 2007. An update to global warming: the balance of evidence and its policy implications. TheScientificWorldJournal, vol. 7, p.381-399. Laat, A.T.J. de 2007, Mixing Politics and Science in Testing the Hypothesis That Greenhouse Warming is Causing a Global Increase in Hurricane Intensity, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, vol. 88, no. 2, p.251-252. Moloney, S., Horne, R.E. & Fien, J., 2010. Transitioning to low carbon communities-from behaviour change to systemic change: Lessons from Australia. Energy Policy, 38(12), p.7614-7623 Reichstein, M. et al 2013. Climate extremes and the carbon cycle. Nature, vol. 500, no. 7462 p.287-95. Available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23955228. Simiyu, S.M 2010, Status of Geothermal Exploration in Kenya and Future Plans for Its Development, In World Geothermal Congress 2010. pp. 25-29. Turner, J., Lambert, M.J. & Johnson, D.W., 2005. Experience with patterns of change in soil carbon resulting from forest plantation establishment in eastern Australia. Forest Ecology and Management, 220(1-3), p.259-269 Wallace, J.M 2014, Global Warming and Winter Weather. Science, vol. 343, no. 6172, p.729-730. Available at: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi/10.1126/science.343.6172.729 Wehrli, B 2013, Conduits of the carbon cycle, Nature, vol. 503, no. 21, p.9-10. Read More