Global Warming
This paper is a study on global warming. It discusses the factors that contribute to this kind of phenomenon as well as its effects in the environment and to human life. Furthermore, this paper suggests a number of solutions that are deemed necessary to address this environmental problem.
Introduction
Global Warming or the change in the climate is caused by many factors. It is attributed to the high concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, particularly the carbon dioxide. Human induced emissions are said to be contributing greatly in these greenhouse buildup. The excessive use and consumption of greenhouse gases in industries and as well as in the daily human activities contributes to the change in the earth’s temperature.
Though, the effects of global warming are yet to be felt intensely, the consequences are far more catastrophic than a nuclear war. The environmental implications of climate change affect our oceans and the land as well. With the imbalance on the earth’s energy, its surface becomes warm. This in turn may cause the melting of glacial mountains, irregular patterns of rainfall and other extreme weather events. The marine ecosystem is destroyed with the erosion of the coastal area. Moreover, saltwater can intrude the groundwater and coastal estuaries. /Rain floods and Drought may also be experienced especially on areas which are barely above the sea level. Indeed, global warming poses environmental threats that may become catastrophic to mankind. Thus, humans must not disregard these possibilities and start acting to slow down the effects of global warming. The government of each nation plays a significant role in the campaign. Legislations may be enacted to regulate the use of carbon in industries. In addition, other alternatives may be resorted such as the taxing of carbon and greenhouse emissions. The protection of existing forests and the campaign against deforestation must also be reinforced to sequester the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Lastly, in the worldwide scale, nations must continue to cooperate against the excessive use of greenhouse gases. Industries which are less carbon extensive must also be developed.
Global Warming
Fundamentally, global warming can be referred to the climate change that can be attributed to human influence. The change in the earth’s ecosystem is attributed to the effects of globalization and man. The presence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes the warming of the earth’s surface and thus global warming ( 2007).
Causes
Since the 1980’s, human induced warming of the earth’s lower troposphere has been progressing and is accelerating during the 1990’s. For the past two decades, the scientific community has been raising concerns regarding the global warming. In 1998, a statement was issued by the scientists from 46 countries and other international organizations warning about the unintended human pervasive experiment that may bring about consequences greater than that of nuclear war (2002).
Pollutants that result form human activities, wasteful use of fossils and the rapid growth of population contributes to the changes in the earth’s atmosphere. The core of the issue is the increase in the human population and the dependence on energy derived from fossil fuels (2002). The growth in the population entails the increase in energy consumption and thus the higher concentration of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide among other gases is considered to be the important cause of global warming. Other gases also contribute to this phenomenon. These gases include methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2 O). Other gases that are minor contributors are chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafloride (SF6). Similarly the depletion of the ozone is also attributed to CFCs and HCFCs. Because of this, such gases are tightly regulated under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. This in turn caused the exclusion of CFCs and HCFCs in managing global warming problems and efforts are instead focused only on the other gases (2001)... The projection for future climate entails the projection of carbon dioxide and greenhouses emissions.
Fundamentally, the temperature and the climate of the earth is the result of the energy balance of the planet. The earth is warmed by the energy coming from the sun which radiates the same energy back into the space. The balance with the incoming and outgoing radiation guarantees the constant temperature of the earth (2001).
While solar energy is visible, its outgoing radiation becomes invisible to the human eyes. These outgoing infrared radiations are absorbed by the greenhouse gases and are prevented from escaping to the space. This in effect alters the energy balance of earth and causing it to become warm. This process is referred to as the greenhouse effect. Though there are greenhouse gases that are essential to human life and are responsible for keeping the planet from being icy. Based on global warming hypothesis, greenhouse gases from human-caused emissions intensify the greenhouse effect making the planet less hospitable to human life and to the environment (2000).The changes in the earth’s energy balance affect the climate and the temperature
Greenhouse effect is no longer a new idea in the field of science. It has been detectable with the rise of temperatures and the sophisticated ways of measuring and forecasting atmospheric processes by the scientists. The change in the balance of gases started at the dawn of industrial change. The burning of fossil fuels has become a noticeable force in the 1880’s and the global climate change by 1980. The idea of human activity as a contributing factor in global warming was accepted in 1995 by the scientific circles ( 2002). Indeed, it has been proven that human activities constituting of excessive carbon usage is one of the major factors causing the change in climate and temperature.
Environmental Implications
Global warming affects the environment and the human life as well. Environmental phenomenon such as glacier retreats, ice shelf disruption, changes in rainfall patterns and extreme weather events are believed to have been caused by global warming. About half of the existing mountain glacial mass is expected to disappear over the next 100 years. In the northern Hemisphere, many lakes and rivers usually freeze about a week and thaw 10 days sooner than they used to half a century ago. The heat due to urbanization and as well as global warming contributes to an ice free season of about a month or more. Even before the buildup of greenhouse gases that are brought about by the burning of fossil fuels, this warming trend has seemed to occur (2002). Dwellers from the coastal area are more likely to suffer with the melting of Arctic and Antarctic ice. Similarly, the ecosystem around the seaside is affected and destroyed by the melting.
Evidently, the implications of global warming reach as far as the sea waters. Among the results of warming seas include the erosion of the coastal area, higher tide levels that results to shoreline inundation, higher storm surges and the intrusion of saltwater in coastal estuaries as well as to the groundwater supplies (2002). About 20% percent of the world’s population lived within the 30 kilometers of coastal areas. Moreover, areas barely above the sea level are likely to suffer frequent natural calamities due to global warming. Such includes droughts, tropical cyclones and tornadoes (2002). Such calamities are starting to manifest in some areas causing the lives of thousands of people.
Moreover, warmer temperatures lead to strong hydrological cycle. And with global warming, the probability of droughts and floods in different parts of the world is likely to increase. The increase in the precipitation as indicated in several climate models suggests the possibility of flooding rains and withering drought in the same location on two seasons (2002). Diseases are also likely to arise during such eventualities.
Solutions
Climate scientists have a common consensus that global temperatures will continue increase. This in effect had led various nations to implement actions and solutions to curtail the long term effects of global warming. Proposed solutions for mitigating this environmental crisis include the development of new technologies such as carbon offsets, renewable energy and solar power (2007). Environmental groups worldwide have been pushing for individual action against global warming.
The effects of global warming will be addressed through social and economic mobilization. However, the increase and buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is invisible. Thus, the sense of responsiveness to the looming crisis can hardly be generated from the people. As the effects of global warming takes on the slow motion, people do not adequately respond to it (2002)
According to Greenpeace “The main routes to surviving the greenhouse threat are energy efficiency, renewable forms of energy production…less greenhouse-gas-intensive agriculture, stopping deforestation, and reforestation”(2002).
Indeed, a sociopolitical call to address the human induced warming of the planet becomes very crucial. By doing nothing to respond to this environmental crisis means choosing to continue or even accelerate the destruction and the catastrophe associated with it. The contributing factor to this phenomenon which is top of all is the carbon dioxide emissions should be tightly monitored. A rapid shift in the consumption of fuel such as oil, coal and the lighter carboned gas to an economy that relies on renewal energies such as solar energy, fuel cell, hydrogen gas, wind and biomass is demanded of to slow the defects of global warming (2002).
Furthermore, the growth of energy worldwide leads to the increase in the greenhouse-gas emissions despite the replacement of current technologies to more efficient ones. Clean methods of energy production and the management of the forest that will absorb the carbon dioxide is a great step in addressing global warming. Thus, existing forests must be sustained and the deforestation be stopped. Additionally, natural forest regeneration and the creation of tree plantations can be done to sequester the carbon dioxide emissions (2002)
Governments can do a lot in addressing this issue through legislations. This would require utilities towards the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, green house emissions and carbon be taxed to reduce consumption. The tax code of the United States has been suggested as a tool to reduce greenhouse emissions. By this, tax credits are given to energy-efficient appliances and paved the way for changes in building codes focusing on energy efficiency. Universities and health centers as well implements energy efficient standards that will give them federal grants. Fuel efficient cars are a so given tax incentives (2002).Entrepreneurs and government labs can also start developing and testing labs that are more efficient and decarbonized. With the higher price of carbon intensive utilities, research and developments to new technologies are likely to gain investment.
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement in terms of combating global warming. It is an amendment on the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCC) which upholds the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases or to engage in any activity that will maintain or increase these gas emissions ( 2007).
Conclusion
Global warming is one of the many environmental issues that have raised the concern of nations and international organizations. Indeed, the magnitude by which global warming can affect the environment and human life is unimaginable. Even as these effects are slowly taking into motion, the possibility of them accelerating must not be neglected. With the continued disregard on the effects of excessive carbon concentration on the atmosphere, it is likely that climate change will aggravate.
Human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases are a major contributor in this phenomenon. The government has a significant responsibility in regulating the carbon use among industries. Legislation may be implemented to minimize such activities and encourage the development of less carbon extensive utilities. Reforestation also helps in the reduction of carbon concentration in the atmosphere. Ultimately, the protection of the environment is the key element in addressing this environmental problem.
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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