The global warming and cooling periods throughout Earth’s history are undeniable facts. However, the most recent global warming trend is the result of humans increased use and burning of hydrocarbons. Our continued dependence on hydrocarbons releases massive amounts of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere and increases the heat-trapping attribute of the greenhouse gas effect. Even though measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions have been taken, it may be too late. Human activities have already damaged the atmosphere and may lead to our destruction.
There are two types of global warming. The first is natural and takes decades or centuries for it to be fully felt. The second is caused by human activities. The result of man-made global warming can be felt much earlier. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, carbon dioxide and methane have increased dramatically, 39% and 149% respectfully (Akorede, Hizam, Ab Kadir, Aris, & Buba, 2012). These greenhouse gasses have a major radiative effect on the atmosphere, by reflecting most of the sun’s energy back to the earth instead of allowing it to be radiated back into space. Between 1906 and 2005 the average global temperature has increased by .74 ± .18 degrees centigrade, 1.33 ± .32 degrees Fahrenheit, due to the radiative effects of these gasses (Akorede, Hizam, Ab Kadir, Aris, & Buba, 2012). The addition of excess greenhouse gasses is seriously enhancing natural global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Control’s (IPCC) climate model projections show an increase of temperature between 1.1 and 6.4 degrees centigrade, 2 and 11.5 degrees Fahrenheit, by the end of the 21st century, when compared to the temperature increase between 1980 and 1999...
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Over the past years, planet Earth has been warming up. According to NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, average temperatures have risen around1.4 degrees Fahrenheit/0.8 degrees Celsius since 1880. In fact, the rate of warming is increasing. It was reported by a number of climate studies that the last two decades were the hottest in 400 years. Global warming is a major threat to the planet. It is agreed that humans have caused most of the past century's warming by releasing greenhouse gasses, as we power our electronic lives. The “greenhouse effect” is performed when the gasses let out into Earth’s atmosphere trap heat from the sun. Through the burning of fossil fuels, humans are enhancing the greenhouse effect and increasing the temperatures of the planet. Although the greenhouse effect is what keeps the planet warm, thereby supporting life, too much would also result in severe issues. Now, with the increasing rate of greenhouse gases emissions, frozen glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, and wildlife is scrambling to keep up with the fast pace. Above that, weather can also become more and more extreme. Something has to be done.
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In talking about global warming, we need to learn what causes the greenhouse effect. Rays from the sun are taken up and absorbed by water vapor that is natural in the atmosphere. The United States emits the largest man made greenhouse gases in the world. As Americans we must realize the responsibility to reduce the emissions. (Gore, Albert) Water Vapor is eighty percent of greenhouse warming. The last twenty percent results from other gases that are in very little amounts. A huge absorber of the sun’s heat rays is carbon dioxide. Us as humans release a lot of carbon dioxide. When fossil fuels are burned, they release big amounts of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is on the increase in our atmosphere due to car emissions. Approximately eighty percent of CO2 increases because of man’s use of fossil fuels. When there is more carbon dioxide in our atmosphere the more sun rays are absorbed. In result to this happening this will cause the earth and the earths atmosphere to warm. When the earth is warming, water temperatures will start to get warmer. Oceans and lakes will get warmer in result f...
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As we approach the future we are faced with many global problems. Most of these problems arise because we have caused them ourselves. We need to face these problems and find a solution. Global warming, although most often overlooked in importance, is a crucial problem of the future directly related to human activities. Global warming is caused by gases humans release into the atmosphere called anthropogenic gases and by deforestation. Anthropogenic gases include carbon dioxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrofl...
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