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Global warming cause and effect
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Each year, over 7.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere by human activity. That is the equivalent of 110 million airplanes all being in the air at once! These disturbing numbers are the foremost cause of global warming, and have been steadily growing over the past few decades. Global warming is caused by this recent surge of greenhouse gasses which consists primarily of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide isn’t harmful to the atmosphere in the amount that is produced naturally from decaying trees, volcanic eruptions, etc., because the forests act as a natural recycling system. However, humans burning fossil fuels, demolishing forests, and using chemical fertilizers are causing an enormous surplus of carbon dioxide. They are damaging the environment by creating what will soon be, if not already is, an irreversible carbon footprint with no regard to the consequences. Many people around the world argue regarding the facts about global warming, or if global warming even exists. However, evidence that supports global warming is plentiful with many credible organizations backing it, for instance, NASA has stated that “nine of the 10 warmest years have all occurred since 2000” (“Humans…” n.pag.). Furthermore, over the course of the last century, the total atmospheric temperature has risen 1.1 °F (“Global…” 15571), Greenland has warmed roughly 3.5 °F, and the North Atlantic Ocean has had the warmest water in at least 2,000 years (“Warming…” n.pag.)! Even with all facts proving that global warming is real and a danger to our world, many people still deny its existence. As stated previously, carbon dioxide in its natural form isn’t harmful to the atmosphere, and many critics state that the carbon... ... middle of paper ... ...1. “Global warming” The Columbia Encyclopedia 6th ed. Columbia University Press. 2000. 15571. General OneFile. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. “Humans are to blame for the planet warming up.” Europe Intelligence Wire 10 Feb. 2011. General OneFile. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. "New Farming Method To Reduce Greenhouse Gasses, Increase Farm Yields." Space Daily (2011). General OneFile. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. “Video: Global warming update from Water Management District” Local Broadcast Video Content 9 Nov. 2010 General OneFile. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. “Warming North Atlantic Waters Tied To Heating Arctic.” Space Daily (2011). General OneFile. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. "World Can Be Powered By Alternative Energy In 20-40 Years" Space Daily (2011). General OneFile. Web. 21 Feb. 2011.
Human activities have led to an exponential increase in the use of fossil fuel. The benefits of using fossil fuels are short lived in comparison to its long-term negative effects. In the last couple of decades, the major consumption of fossil fuel played a significant role in the rise of concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. Roughly two trillion metric tons of CO2 have been emitted in the atmosphere and over a quarter of these got mixed with the ocean water resulting in ocean acidification (Buffie and Carr, 2010).
The emission of carbon dioxide has contributed to 80% to the heating of the earth atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is produced due the burning of fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal and oil. The burning of fossil fuel is very important in our society today, because it is used for cooking, used to produce electricity, for heating, for cooling and also for transportation. The industrialization has led to the use of fossil fuel for running machines and driving cars. The building of fossil fuel contributes towards 80-90% of the carbon dioxide we find in our atmosphere today. When the ecosystems are altered and vegetation is either burned or took out, the carbon stored in them is relinquished to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (What causes global climate change, 2005). Methane is another gas being produced in the process which all have served to increase the greenhouse effect in our atmosphere. Methane is produced from the cultivation of rice, from the burning of coal and from cattle, it has increased by 145% due to human
We humans cannot help but feel a twinge of regret when we contemplate how we brought forth the plague of global warming by our own hands in the passing years. Aside from rising sea levels as deluging coastal cities and depleting ozone layers as increasing cancer rates, we inevitably come face to face with one simple realization: it’s getting too hot in here. Moreover, we have been devastated by various extremes of nature, with spring frost storms and summer hurricanes arriving with increasing frequency. However, numerous though the causes of global warming may be, the general consensus is that carbon dioxide, which results from the burning of fuels such as coal, is the main culprit; this gas has now formed a high concentration blockade in the atmosphere, preventing heat from escaping and thus increasing the temperatures of our planet. Therefore, after assessing all facts of the problem, I humbly propose that we collect the CO2¬, compress it, and then place it into soda cans. Then, we shall store the soda cans underground, whence the CO2 originally came.
Firstly, global warming is said to be caused by the high levels of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by humans. Smoke produced by factories, vehicular exhaust, and the burning of fossil fuels such as coal in power plants are the primary sources of carbon dioxide. The theory is that carbon dioxide being released into the Earth's atmosphere is steadily building up because it cannot escape into space. The theory as to why the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere actually causes the Earth's average temperature to rise is outlined as follows:
Carbon dioxide or CO2 is known to be one of a number of gases that are astonishingly transparent to the visible light that falls on the Earth from the Sun, but it absorb the infra-red radiation that emitted by the warm surface of our Earth, to prevents its loss into space. Moreover, CO2 has varied considerably and this affected the Earth’s temperature. Most common source of this CO2 is known as the fossil fuel. Fossil fuels are primarily coal, hydrocarbons, natural gas, or fuel oil that formed from the remains of the dead plants and also animals. The burning fossil fuel that has been created by humans is the largest source of emissions of the carbon dioxide.
Furthermore, this analysis must take place amidst serious gaps in the existing research and technology concerning the developing climatic conditions. For these reasons, global warming stands as one of the most daunting policy issues facing our world today. This is compounded by the debate over the very existence of climate change. While countless sources of empirical evidence testify to the very real presence of climate change the world over, considerable denial of the phenomenon still exists. The argument has been made that evidence of climate change is a gross overstatement, or in some cases, a complete fabrication.
The Environmental Issues Raised by the Disturbance of the Natural Balance in the Level of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
Humans and animals breathe out Carbon Dioxide, often referred to as the greenhouse gas, as a waste product. Plants take in this CO2 and use it to make food. This is called photosynthesis. During this process oxygen is released which is then breathed in by humans and animals. This procedure is repeated over and over and a natural balance is obtained. However this natural balance is disrupted by human activity. People of the world are putting more than 5.5 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year. 75% of this is caused from the burning of fossil fuels. These fuels are burnt all the time to run factories, power plants and vehicles. The main sources of CO2 emissions are electric utilities, residential buildings, industry and transportation. The other 25% is induced by the destruction of the world's forests. The reason for this is that there are less trees and plants to take in the CO2 but there is just as many, if not more, humans and animals to breathe it out.
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...
Hello everyone! Today I will be speaking about global warming but before I begin, how many of you believe that global warming exists and that the human population is the primary cause of global warming? I ask this because there are people who believe that global warming does not exist or that it’s “a hoax created by China”. But that’s not true and global warming is in fact one of the biggest problems facing the world today. There is a significant amount of negative effects for the environment and for all living beings due to global warming. And maybe some of you are not be interested in global warming, but the truth is, global warming is a big part of our world and it affects each and every one of us.
There are all kinds of facts on whether or not Global Warming is real, but Its doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that the planet is warming. “The year 2012 ranked as the eighth-warmest year on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The ranking was based on global surface temperatures from January to November. All 10 of the warmest years on record have occurred since 1998. December 2012 was the 34th straight month with temperatures above their average in the 1900’s.” (Back In Time.) After reading something like this how can you not say that global warming is real, obviously the facts about it are there. People say that it isn't warming because of past weather patterns but in the last 15 years, the top 10 warmest years have been recorded and yeah maybe it is just a weather pattern, but in the pattern the temperatures are getting warmer.
The most destructive human contribution to climate change is fossil fuels combustion, which results in the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Increased carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and halocarbons levels in the atmosphere cause an imbalance in the earth’s energy. This is because the gases alter solar radiation and thermal radiation which regulate the earth’s energy. Research indicates that anthropogenic climate change is the cause of the increased global warming over the last fifty years. 57 % of the carbon dioxide emitted is absorbed into the atmosphere while the rest is absorbed into the oceans. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the most central greenhouse gas that is associated with global warming (Eby, Zickfield, Montenegro, Archer, Meissner, & Weaver,
The burning of fossil fuels has greatly harmed our environment and is a leading cause as to why climate change has become such a threat to our way of living. In May of 2013, the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere reached 400 parts per million, an increase of more than 40 percent since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. This could cause the Arctic Ocean to be nearly ice-free during the summer by 2020(Overland and Wang, 2013).
Scientists, economists, and policy makers all agree the world is facing a threat from climate warming. Climate warming is caused by excess greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, which are heat trapping gases. Human use of fossil fuels is a significant source of these gases. When we drive our cars, heat our homes with oil or natural gas, or use electricity from coal-fired power plants, we contribute to global warming. Including any loss of trees or forests also contributes, considering trees convert carbon dioxide to oxygen.
If the proportion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increased as a result of air pollution, the temperature of the atmosphere may rise. This might eventually cause the ice in the north and the south poles to melt. If this happened, the sea level would rise and parts of the Earth would be flooded. The likelihood of this happening is remote, but the possibility exists.