Global Warming!!!
so this is an essay i wrote for my natural disasters class.. i wanted to post this on here because i think this is an issue that not many people know enough about so i thought i would give a little insight into the problem, and what we can do about it!
Things we enjoy today might not be here tomorrow. Many people get pleasure from the luxuries in their lives, some might even take them for granted. Driving, using unlimited supplies of gas and energy, and having heat in the cold winters are all luxuries that come with a price. The cost is our planet earth. Global warming is caused by many of the luxuries people all around the globe use every day. Greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere are creating problems all around the Earth. With political conflict surrounding this issue coupled with the fact that little action is being taken, our planet is in jeopardy. If something is not done today, our Earth might not be here tomorrow.
Global warming is the gradual increase in global temperatures. It is caused by the emission of gases that trap the sun’s heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. The gases that contribute to global warming include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and other industrially produced gases including the chlorine and fluorine-bearing chlorofluorocarbons. Carbon dioxide, which is produced by humans, contributes 60 percent of the greenhouse warming. The sun’s heat is absorbed in several different ways. Earth’s atmosphere reflects back roughly 30 percent of incoming solar radiation, 23 percent passes through to power the hydrologic cycle and 47 percent is absorbed by air, sea, and land. Most of solar radiation is shorter waves, but some become longer infrared wavelengths. These longer infrared wavelengths are reradiated outward but are prevented from escaping the Earth because of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. In summary, the greenhouse gases that are emitted lead to the retention of heat on Earth, which causes an increase in temperatures.
The twenty-first century has held the highest temperatures recorded in over 1,000 years. A person could not feel the climate warming during the twentieth century because it is small compared to day-to-day fluctuations. Though, on average, the global surface temperature rose 0.6 degrees Celsius over the past 1,000 years. Natural processes account for 0.2 degrees of the rise, but human activities were responsible for 0.4 degrees of the increase. Greenhouse gases holding in the heat cause this temperature increase. Perhaps the problem is that people do not realize how fast these temperatures have risen and what has caused it to happen.
Many wonder how greenhouse gases grew so greatly throughout the twentieth century. In 1900, the world’s population was 1.5 billion; by 1999, the population was an astounding 6 billion. Demand comes with a rise in population like that. From 1900 to 1999 the world saw great changes, especially when it comes to industrialization. Widely accepted behaviors began to take place such as providing energy for industries, homes and personal automobiles, as well as growing rice and raising livestock for human consumption. The problem is though, that all of these benefits to human populations were also causing a rise in emitted greenhouse gases, which was not quickly recognized. The human population growth also causes a greater demand for global resources. Things such as food, water, and available living space are all consumed at a faster rate. Forests are being burned to create more spaces for people to live. Not only does the burning of forests produce huge amounts of Carbon dioxide, it also destroys trees, which help reduce levels of Carbon dioxide. The population growth is not slowing down; the population growth forecasts another doubling to 12 billion people. If this does happen, the demand for the same type of pleasurable lifestyle that people have been enjoying in this century is going to create huge problems: even more greenhouse gases and a lack of available resources for mankind.
The increase in the temperature on earth does not come without consequences. Scientists predict a temperature increase of 1.5 to 4.5 degrees Celsius in the next 50 to 100 years due to doubling CO2. It was predicted that the global climate changes in the twenty-first century would include significant melting of mountain glaciers, the edges of the Greenland ice sheet, and the West Antarctic ice sheet. If the movie, An Inconvenient Truth, which is endorsed by former Vice-President Al Gore, is correct, all of this melting has already started to take place. The melting is not yet to the point where people are seeing huge affects but in the future the consequences will be harder to ignore. As ice melts and sea water warms and expands, the global sea level will rise from 30cm to 1 m. An Inconvenient Truth also predicts that cities such as New York and places in Asia and Europe where millions of people live right now will be completely covered under water. Regions on Earth will also be come hotter and drier, and others will become cooler and wetter. This is caused by the relocation of precipitation. In the future, where deserts once were, there will be rain, and where there was snow and rain, there will be deserts. An example that is already taking place is the largest lake in Darfur. It has dried up due to droughts in a once precipitation rich region. This is just one of the millions of places on Earth that is being affected by global warming.
The polar ice caps are known for their freezing temperatures and unique wildlife. Global warming is having a toll on these beautiful places as well as the creatures that inhabit them. Polar ice caps keep the earth cool by reflecting sunlight off of them. They act as a giant mirror for solar radiation, keeping the heat off the ocean and maintaining the earth’s comfortable temperatures. But because of the greenhouse gases, the polar ice caps are reflecting the sunlight, but it is being trapped, leading to global warming and the melting of the ice caps. Not only does the melting lead to higher ocean levels, it also leads to increasing temperatures on earth because the solar radiation cannot be reflected like it once was off the polar ice caps. Polar animals are also affected by the melting, having to swim long distances when chunks break off the ice caps or their homes melt away. These animals were not built to swim long distances; therefore they often do not make it when searching for a new safe haven.
There are several other problems that arise from global warming. Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, and mudslides are all examples of extreme weather situations that all take place every year on earth. An increase in these disasters comes with global warming because of the changes it creates on earth. Bleaching of the coral reefs, seasonal changes that effect ecosystems, and changes in the ocean’s conveyer belt are all taking place because of global warming. All of these problems come with consequences to humans and animals inhabiting the earth. People are dying from these natural disasters and are being uprooted from their homes. Global warming can no longer be looked upon as theory; it is a fact, our Earth is beginning to show it’s reaction to this problem, and the human population cannot afford to look away.
Recently, global warming has become a more publicized issue. It also has become part of a political debate. As stated above, Al Gore, a former Democratic Vice-President, has been at the forefront of the movement for change. For a long time many people involved in the government wanted to hide the fact that global warming was actually occurring. Scientists were criticized for talking about the problem, and other issues were given the forefront such as the war in Iraq. The problem with that is, global warming affects the entire earth, not just the Democrats or Republicans, or the citizens of the United States. Because this matter is something that must be addressed by the government, it is important for everyone to be in agreement about what should be done to protect our earth from further damage of global warming. Expert scientists should be allowed to give input on global warming, and give educated suggestions on how to fix this problem. A joint effort from the leaders of our nations advised by scientists will help start the first steps to ending global warming. Otherwise, if global warming is not addressed, green house gases will continue to be emitted, creating a world that is not safe for humans to exist on.
There are several ways to decrease and even stop global warming. Each person can take a part in the process to save our Earth in his or her own individual way. Unless humans reduce the amount of greenhouse gases they release everyday, our earth will only continue to suffer the consequences such as polar ice cap melting. Most countries have joined together in an effort to stop global warming; the United States needs to commit itself to the cause as well. President Bush talked about participating in an effort to stop global warming in his State of the Union in 2007. Hopefully the anger and competition between opposing parties will be laid to rest for this very important matter affecting mankind. Otherwise, our negligence now is only going to affect our children’s and even our grandchildren’s quality and maybe even quantity of life.
Things we enjoy today might not be here tomorrow. Many people get pleasure from the luxuries in their lives, some might even take them for granted. Driving, using unlimited supplies of gas and energy, and having heat in the cold winters are all luxuries that come with a price. The cost is our planet earth. Global warming is caused by many of the luxuries people all around the globe use every day. Greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere are creating problems all around the Earth. With political conflict surrounding this issue coupled with the fact that little action is being taken, our planet is in jeopardy. If something is not done today, our Earth might not be here tomorrow.
Global warming is the gradual increase in global temperatures. It is caused by the emission of gases that trap the sun’s heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. The gases that contribute to global warming include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and other industrially produced gases including the chlorine and fluorine-bearing chlorofluorocarbons. Carbon dioxide, which is produced by humans, contributes 60 percent of the greenhouse warming. The sun’s heat is absorbed in several different ways. Earth’s atmosphere reflects back roughly 30 percent of incoming solar radiation, 23 percent passes through to power the hydrologic cycle and 47 percent is absorbed by air, sea, and land. Most of solar radiation is shorter waves, but some become longer infrared wavelengths. These longer infrared wavelengths are reradiated outward but are prevented from escaping the Earth because of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. In summary, the greenhouse gases that are emitted lead to the retention of heat on Earth, which causes an increase in temperatures.
The twenty-first century has held the highest temperatures recorded in over 1,000 years. A person could not feel the climate warming during the twentieth century because it is small compared to day-to-day fluctuations. Though, on average, the global surface temperature rose 0.6 degrees Celsius over the past 1,000 years. Natural processes account for 0.2 degrees of the rise, but human activities were responsible for 0.4 degrees of the increase. Greenhouse gases holding in the heat cause this temperature increase. Perhaps the problem is that people do not realize how fast these temperatures have risen and what has caused it to happen.
Many wonder how greenhouse gases grew so greatly throughout the twentieth century. In 1900, the world’s population was 1.5 billion; by 1999, the population was an astounding 6 billion. Demand comes with a rise in population like that. From 1900 to 1999 the world saw great changes, especially when it comes to industrialization. Widely accepted behaviors began to take place such as providing energy for industries, homes and personal automobiles, as well as growing rice and raising livestock for human consumption. The problem is though, that all of these benefits to human populations were also causing a rise in emitted greenhouse gases, which was not quickly recognized. The human population growth also causes a greater demand for global resources. Things such as food, water, and available living space are all consumed at a faster rate. Forests are being burned to create more spaces for people to live. Not only does the burning of forests produce huge amounts of Carbon dioxide, it also destroys trees, which help reduce levels of Carbon dioxide. The population growth is not slowing down; the population growth forecasts another doubling to 12 billion people. If this does happen, the demand for the same type of pleasurable lifestyle that people have been enjoying in this century is going to create huge problems: even more greenhouse gases and a lack of available resources for mankind.
The increase in the temperature on earth does not come without consequences. Scientists predict a temperature increase of 1.5 to 4.5 degrees Celsius in the next 50 to 100 years due to doubling CO2. It was predicted that the global climate changes in the twenty-first century would include significant melting of mountain glaciers, the edges of the Greenland ice sheet, and the West Antarctic ice sheet. If the movie, An Inconvenient Truth, which is endorsed by former Vice-President Al Gore, is correct, all of this melting has already started to take place. The melting is not yet to the point where people are seeing huge affects but in the future the consequences will be harder to ignore. As ice melts and sea water warms and expands, the global sea level will rise from 30cm to 1 m. An Inconvenient Truth also predicts that cities such as New York and places in Asia and Europe where millions of people live right now will be completely covered under water. Regions on Earth will also be come hotter and drier, and others will become cooler and wetter. This is caused by the relocation of precipitation. In the future, where deserts once were, there will be rain, and where there was snow and rain, there will be deserts. An example that is already taking place is the largest lake in Darfur. It has dried up due to droughts in a once precipitation rich region. This is just one of the millions of places on Earth that is being affected by global warming.
The polar ice caps are known for their freezing temperatures and unique wildlife. Global warming is having a toll on these beautiful places as well as the creatures that inhabit them. Polar ice caps keep the earth cool by reflecting sunlight off of them. They act as a giant mirror for solar radiation, keeping the heat off the ocean and maintaining the earth’s comfortable temperatures. But because of the greenhouse gases, the polar ice caps are reflecting the sunlight, but it is being trapped, leading to global warming and the melting of the ice caps. Not only does the melting lead to higher ocean levels, it also leads to increasing temperatures on earth because the solar radiation cannot be reflected like it once was off the polar ice caps. Polar animals are also affected by the melting, having to swim long distances when chunks break off the ice caps or their homes melt away. These animals were not built to swim long distances; therefore they often do not make it when searching for a new safe haven.
There are several other problems that arise from global warming. Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, and mudslides are all examples of extreme weather situations that all take place every year on earth. An increase in these disasters comes with global warming because of the changes it creates on earth. Bleaching of the coral reefs, seasonal changes that effect ecosystems, and changes in the ocean’s conveyer belt are all taking place because of global warming. All of these problems come with consequences to humans and animals inhabiting the earth. People are dying from these natural disasters and are being uprooted from their homes. Global warming can no longer be looked upon as theory; it is a fact, our Earth is beginning to show it’s reaction to this problem, and the human population cannot afford to look away.
Recently, global warming has become a more publicized issue. It also has become part of a political debate. As stated above, Al Gore, a former Democratic Vice-President, has been at the forefront of the movement for change. For a long time many people involved in the government wanted to hide the fact that global warming was actually occurring. Scientists were criticized for talking about the problem, and other issues were given the forefront such as the war in Iraq. The problem with that is, global warming affects the entire earth, not just the Democrats or Republicans, or the citizens of the United States. Because this matter is something that must be addressed by the government, it is important for everyone to be in agreement about what should be done to protect our earth from further damage of global warming. Expert scientists should be allowed to give input on global warming, and give educated suggestions on how to fix this problem. A joint effort from the leaders of our nations advised by scientists will help start the first steps to ending global warming. Otherwise, if global warming is not addressed, green house gases will continue to be emitted, creating a world that is not safe for humans to exist on.
There are several ways to decrease and even stop global warming. Each person can take a part in the process to save our Earth in his or her own individual way. Unless humans reduce the amount of greenhouse gases they release everyday, our earth will only continue to suffer the consequences such as polar ice cap melting. Most countries have joined together in an effort to stop global warming; the United States needs to commit itself to the cause as well. President Bush talked about participating in an effort to stop global warming in his State of the Union in 2007. Hopefully the anger and competition between opposing parties will be laid to rest for this very important matter affecting mankind. Otherwise, our negligence now is only going to affect our children’s and even our grandchildren’s quality and maybe even quantity of life.