Global Warming: The Destruction of Our Planet

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Global Warming
Global warming has been a continuous controversy regarding whether humans are the primary cause for the destruction of our planet. By simply living, humans are contributing to the unceasing rise in temperature of the earth’s atmosphere predominantly created by the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, trap heat in the atmosphere. A mass amount of greenhouse gases develop from the burning of fossil fuels. However, deforestation, industrial processes and a few agricultural practices still transmit gases into the air. Climate scientists can agree that human activities add significantly to the levels of greenhouse gases, which is indeed the leading cause of global warming.
When it comes to the burning of fossil fuels, carbon dioxide is the main culprit. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, carbon dioxide can stay in the atmosphere for nearly a century. Soil, plants, and oceans can absorb a substantial amount of carbon dioxide which usually balances out over time. Yet, the carbon dioxide humans emit is not shared in this natural balance. Eighty-four percent of greenhouse gas emissions in 2011 were from carbon dioxide alone. Humans have raised the atmosphere’s carbon dioxide concentration by a third since the Industrial Revolution began (Source 1).
Thirty-eight percent of U.S carbon dioxide emissions produced is from electricity. Electricity is a consequential source of energy and is used to power almost everything, from homes to businesses. While humans are consuming and using electricity, fossil fuels are burning to create the energy source. A human’s typical everyday life is facilitated by electricity.
Even by merely throwing out garbage, humans are adding...

... middle of paper ...

... traps radiation more efficiently than carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide can live up to a hundred and fourteen years. Surprisingly, Agriculture practices produce large amounts of nitrous oxide. Biomass burning and deforestation is a huge factor, considering the burning of massive forests rids us of our carbon sink.

Works Cited
"Basics." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2014.
"Biomass Burning : Feature Articles." Biomass Burning : Feature Articles. NASA, n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2014.
"Car Emissions and Global Warming." Union of Concerned Scientists. Ucsusa, 31 Jan. 2014. Web. 02 Feb. 2014.
"Causes." Global Climate Change. NASA, n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2014.
"What Are the Main Sources of Nitrous Oxide Emissions?" Whats Your Impact, n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2014.
Ziggy. "How Do Humans Cause Global Warming?" PlanetSave. Planet Save, n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2014.

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