Humans Should Not be Blamed for Global Warming

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An increase in the Earth’s average surface air temperature is referred to as global warming. Global warming is part of a natural cycle and is not caused by an increase in Carbon Dioxide emissions from humans. Humans are therefore not responsible for global warming.

Global warming is part of a natural cycle of climate change. The Pleistocene describes the time period that spanned from 1.8 million to approximately 10 000 years ago. During the Pleistocene, significant advances of continental ice sheets in North America and Europe occurred. The Holocene Maximum was a time period that occurred approximately 11 000 years ago and it marked the end of the Ice-age. The temperatures then, were much higher than they are today. The time period between 900 and 1300 AD is known as the Medieval Warm Period ' where higher temperatures were documented in historical accounts. The Little Ice Age took place between the 16th to the mid 19th century. During this period the polar ice caps extended considerably further from the poles than they do currently. Accordingly it is acceptable to state that climate change and hence global warming is part of the Earth’s natural cycle.

It is alleged that global warming is ‘man-made’ due to it being caused by greenhouse gases (most notably Carbon Dioxide) that contribute to the ‘greenhouse effect’. The sun radiates shortwave radiation through the upper part of the atmosphere to the Earth. The Earth’s surface is warmed and the Earth radiates longwave infrared rays to space. Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation from the sun and radiate it back to Earth. The Earth’s surface is warmed by the reflected heat which consequently leads to global warming.

Man-made Carbon Dioxide emissions alone cannot be...

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