National Science Foundation and Global Warming - Essay Example

_____________ ID: _________ ID: __________ Global Warming in the 21st Century: Causes, Effects and Control There is no doubt about the growing drastic haphazard caused by the increasing greenhouse gases as predicted by the researchers. Despite the efforts made by the U.S Government in the form of National Science Foundation (NSF) funds or in the form of advanced research conducted by Bush's Government, it seems there is no stoppage to greenhouse gas emissions, as global warming has tremendously increased the sea level. (Longley, 2006a) and even if there is an industrial action taken, how can we assume to seize down the atmospheric levels, which have increased about 30% over the past 300 years. (Rubba et al, 2001) According to the NSF researchers, there is a continuous global threat not only in the present circumstances where global warming has remained successful in causing the average global sea level to rise between four and eight inches during the last 100 years (Mank, 2005) but also in the future by year 2100 when air temperatures would rise one degree Fahrenheit in certain condition when no more greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere. Hence the outcome presented by researchers mentioned by Longley (2006a) indicates that the resulting transfer of heat into the oceans would cause global sea levels to rise another 4 inches from thermal expansion. (Longley, 2006a) In the present scenario where global warming is the outcome of extensive fossil fuel emissions, it would be no use to look upon the main causes of global warming. However, still the onus is on the shoulder of human activities that cause global warming. Central consumption patterns have generated such a rapid worldwide deforestation that a majority of the earth's rainforests have gone early in the 21st century. However, the outcome is in the form of uncultivable land as global warming has made 53 percent of the world's land uncultivable, and desertification had encompassed nearly two-fifths of the earth's surface by the end of the 20th century. Oil slicks on the oceans and the rise in sea level triggered by global warming have endangered more than half the world's coastal ecosystems. According to a UN Report, yet 60 percent of the world's population lives within 65 miles of coasts, relying on those habitats for food and economic livelihood. Among many Governmental efforts to reduce global warming is the committee set up by National Research Council (NRC), which analyzed not only the global warming trend and ratio but also evaluated the extent to which warming in many versatile ways may be hazardous to humans. The committee being consisted of eleven top most researchers and noble prize winners of the U.S after examining concluded that nothing can be done to stop the dilemmatic conditions rising from global warming because of the reason that 21st century human activities are unlike the past centuries when man was not dependant on machines. Global warming, according to Adler is not a serious threat as predictions for future warming are largely based on computer models that are unable to predict even current temperatures accurately. So, how come the world can rely upon such models that predict dangers of greenhouse in the future Since 1979, the so-called highly accurate satellite measurements taken have remained unsuccessful in finding warming trend. And independent measurements from weather balloons corroborate these readings. So, usually measurement near cities show high temperatures in the global climate. (Adler, 1998) Today humans are based upon technical operated machines and computer models, due to which it would be a mistake to continue thinking of processes to reduce global warming. Global warming would continue to rise as long as there is a continuous greenhouse gas emission. (1) Political leaders have always warned of global warming, as the people they led have never bothered about to increase their emissions of greenhouse gases. One very large problem in greenhouse effect refers to the climate diplomacy, which represents the diverse interests of many of the world's nation-states to place those interests aside in pursuit of a common goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. National rather than global interests dominated climate diplomacy throughout the 1990s, as atmospheric greenhouse gases continued to rise. One of the major reasons for extensive global warming is the increased impact of greenhouse effect and gases caused by various human activities on earth. Industrial Revolution is the best example that represents technologies developed by humans, which not only are responsible for increasing warming but also produces large quantities of greenhouse artificial gases. Pollution is also an example caused by transportation, which is increasing rapidly throughout the world. According to Rubba et al (2001) humans are constantly engaged in the contribution of inventing greenhouse gases in the form of new molecules, for example, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and some CFC-substitutes that are used as coolants and solvents. Hence all man made gases contribute to all types of enhancement to the greenhouse effect. (Rubba et al, 2001) Let us have a closer look at the consequences of global warming near future. There will be a tremendous increase in the average water vapour concentration during the second half of the 21st century which would not only result in the increment of global rainfall towards Northern Antarctica in winter but would also continue to vary global annual rainfalls among other regions of Antarctica. That means it would have an adverse effect on high and low attitudes. (2) At the same time global warming is expected to bring diverse changes among dry lands followed by the rage of Mother Nature. Researchers also predict weakening of the ocean thermohaline circulation, which leads to a reduction of the heat transport into high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. (2) Global warming now has become a 'global warning' as according to a research the warming extent has so much reacted the earth that if we suppose for a while that the effect of thermohaline circulation has weakened, there would still remain a warming effect over Europe due to increased greenhouse gases. (2) However the current projections using climate models do not exhibit a complete shut down of the thermohaline circulation by 2100. Beyond 2100, the thermohaline circulation could completely, and possibly irreversibly, shut down in either hemisphere if the change in radioactive forcing is applied for long term. (2) Global warming has affected the earth with an abrupt climate change that can be felt and has experienced in many ways. The most recent common examples when the Earth system gets pushed across a threshold, whether by some sudden event like a massive volcanic eruption or by the accumulation of more gradual forces (3), include Tsunami disaster, recent earthquakes and hurricanes such as Katrina, Rita etc. Global warming has potentially increased the frequency and intensity of severe weather events such as hurricanes and tornadoes. If we analyze the reasons for Tsunami in the context of global warming, it is evident from the research of El Nino events (Southern Oscillation) that Sumatra Andaman Sea at the time of earthquake was subjected to thousands of physiologically robust corals that evolve over the last 6000 years. Therefore the threat of global warming along with the need to conserve such an important gene pool have become topmost priorities after the incident of Tsunami when the losses of earthquake have resulted in irreversible damage that will hardly recover in the presence of the influence of increasing global warming. (Brown, 2005) There are four sections that describe the possible solutions for stabilizing of global warming: Energy Conservation - by increasing efficiency of energy usage, Alternate of Carbon based fossil fuels Capturing and storing Carbon Dioxide and Geoengineering or reshaping our environment. Today energy is consumed directly without even saving or preserving it. Whether it be environmental values or industrial concerns, too much utilization of energy has leaded us to the threshold of extensive greenhouse effect. The central problem as stated by Smith (2000) refers to the lack of energy preservation, which is responsible for emission of greenhouse gases, hence affects the activities of a modern state. Coal, oil and gas are burnt to provide power for transportation, manufacturing and, generally, the satisfactions of life. As a state develops, as its GNP grows and its population increases, it demands more and more power. (Smith, 2000) So, in order to manage energy effectively, we have to make effective use of it by conserving in the form of hydropower or by renovating fossil fuels into solar energy. One of the main reasons on the onus of energy in contribution towards the warming is in the form of 'nuclear power' in which presently more than thirty countries generate some proportion of their electricity (Smith, 2000). Traffic and pollution is not restricted to land vehicles, airline projections also contribute towards the increase in warming as air traffic is assumed to be double within two decades. The combustion of jet fuel releases into the atmosphere and spread several chemicals, like Carbon Dioxide, water vapour and several oxides, which affect the balance of greenhouse gases. Aviation's contribution to greenhouse-gas emissions may soon rise to half that of the world's automobile fleet. There is a desperate need to detect alternatives to the fossil-fueled automobile to introduce a jet aircraft powered by photovoltaic solar power, electricity, or hydrogen. Carbon storage is another solution to it, which can be done artificially by removing carbon from the atmosphere, thereby removing it directly from our environment by various methods. (Wikipedia) There is a need to reshape international policy-making concerning climate-change impacts, causes and solutions. There is a need to establish protocols that would actively promote international energy efficient and sustainable forms of development, including the widespread use of appropriately scaled solar energy and renewable energy technologies as well as sustainable agricultural and forestry practice models; exploration and development in the traditional territories of indigenous peoples of the world must be done with the full consent of indigenous peoples, respecting their right to decline a project that may adversely impact them. Dolsak presents the cause for why countries differ in their willingness to mitigate global climate change. They have to enact the policies to stabilize emissions, for which they usually choose the status quo and continue with their current energy use patterns. Usually in this context they have two options: agree to participate in the international efforts to alleviate global climate change or to request international financial help for building domestic capabilities. (Dolsak, 2001) The most effective action taken on a governmental level is the emergence of Kyoto Protocol, which envisions three, trading systems. The first one allows an industrialized state to purchase a certain part of Kyoto reserved allocation from another state. The second one, known as joint implementation (JI), presents the opportunity for industrialized countries to earn maximum number of credits by implementing specific projects that reduce emissions on a joined basis with international states whereas the third System, known as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), allows industrialized nations to earn credits for projects implemented within developing nations. Kyoto has no doubt emerged as a global agreement with a view that trading is the key to realizing the Kyoto Protocol as a last solution to warming. For the western industrialized nations, emission trading makes the protocol's targets and strategies appear cost effective and feasible. For developing countries, full-blown emission trading offers the best chance to benefit from a worldwide effort to slow global warming. Trading is the keystone of the architecture adopted in Kyoto. The Kyoto Protocol however, pressurizes the countries to preserve and maintain the Kyoto framework. Bureaucratic inertia in this context requires a threatening change to the international and national institutions that are now engaged full time in working on the Kyoto issue. Change would also endanger other cars that have attached themselves to the Kyoto train for example; energy ministries in many countries have used the Kyoto framework as impetus for rekindling interest in energy policy. Intellectual inertia also favors keeping the Kyoto framework intact since 1991; remarkably few analysts have examined any alternatives to the trading architecture that was codified in the form of Kyoto Protocol. The countries indulged in the Kyoto Protocol reduce the likelihood of frictions with the World Trade Organization (WTO), if they refrain from imposing quantitative limitations on emissions trading and if they avoid placing unnecessarily discriminatory restrictions on the market mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol. At the same time, by allowing the mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol to operate fully, without unnecessary restraints, countries can allow the Protocol to achieve its greatest potential for reducing Green House gar emissions. (Petsonk, 1999) According to a research presented in Kyoto Protocol conference, the world's emissions of the three major greenhouse gases i.e., carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide will be reduced 5.2 percent by year 2012. However, it would be very expensive to make use of several Kyoto Protocols to bring down the emission rates. In former decades, environmental problems affected the natural environment but being restricted locally which caused local impacts. Today, environmental hazards are not limited to a local context. A city's industries and transport used to pollute its own air, but in this period environmental impacts have crossed boundaries. So, does the environmental loss. As the magnitude of the effects of human actions has increased, the size and number of the ecosystems affected by them have also increased. So, it is best not to stick up to policies, but to reshape the existing laws and policies. Might be this way we would be able to cope up bringing down the increased global warming rate. References & Bibliography Adler H. Jonathon, (August 17, 1998) Hot Air: Global Warming Is Not a Threat to Health or the Economy. Plans to Address It Are In: "National Review". Volume: 50: 15. Page Number: 36+. COPYRIGHT 1998 National Review Brown, E. Barbara, (2005) The Fate of Coral Reefs in the Andaman Sea, Eastern Indian Ocean Following the Sumatran Earthquake and Tsunami 26 December 2004 In: "The Geographical Journal". Volume: 171: 4. Page Number: 372+. Royal Geographical Society Dolsak Nives, (2001) Mitigating Global Climate Change: Why Are Some Countries More Committed Than Others In: "Policy Studies Journal". Volume: 29: 3. Page Number: 414+. Policy Studies Organization Mank Bradford, (2005) Standing and Global Warming: Is Injury to All Injury to None In: "Environmental Law". Volume: 35: 1. Page Number: 1+ Lewis & Clark Northwestern School of Law (1) 'Climate Scientists Advise White Rouse on Global Warming' In: "Journal of Environmental Health". Volume: 64: 2. (2001). Page Number: 46. National Environmental Health Association (2) 'Global Warming: New Scenarios from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change' In: "Population and Development Review". Volume: 27: 1. (2001). Page Number: 203. Population Council. (3) 'Abrupt Climate Change: Inevitable Surprises' In: "Population and Development Review". Volume: 30: 3. (2004). Page Number: 563+. The Population Council Petsonk Annie, (1999) The Kyoto Protocol and the WTO: Integrating Greenhouse Gas Emissions Allowance Trading into the Global Marketplace In: "Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum". Volume: 10: 1. Page Number: 185. Duke University Rubba E. Peter, Rye A. James & Strong D. Donna, (2001) Global Warming and Ozone Layer Depletion: STS Issues for Social Studies Classrooms In: "Social Education". Volume: 65: 2. Page Number: 90. National Council for the Social Studies Smith Ron, (2000) Nuclear Power and the Greenhouse Effect In: "New Zealand International Review". Volume: 25: 5. Page Number: 7. New Zealand Institute of International Affairs Trenberth E. Kevin, El Nino Accessed from Longley, 2006a Accessed on Dec- 08- 2006 from Wikipedia Accessed on Dec-08-2006 from Read More