Global Warming - A Natural Process

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Global Warming: A Natural Process
The Earth’s current CO2 level is at 393.84ppm (CO2now, 2013). This is the highest of the high levels in the past 450,000 years. Extra carbon dioxide in the air is believed to keep temperatures steady and contributing to the greenhouse effect which causes the planet to warm. Scientists believe that humans add CO2 through the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and livestock farming to name a few. Natural processes also contribute to the CO2 emitted into the atmosphere including forest fires. Two sources on Earth remove CO2 from the atmosphere: Trees and the ocean. Deforestation can contribute to global warming because trees absorb carbon dioxide and when trees are removed the Earth loses its natural carbon storehouses. Phytoplankton consume CO2 through the photosynthesis process and transport it from the ocean’ surface to the deep. These sources eliminate 30-50% of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Global Warming
For decades scientists have claimed that the Earth is undergoing global warming caused by human activity, primarily the burning of fossil fuel. However, one can look back through history to see that global warming is a natural cycle. The Earth routinely goes through a process of cooling and warming. Approximately, every 100,000 years there is a documented spike in temperature on Earth. Historical data indicates that when this spike occurs there is an increase in CO2 levels.
The Earth has been experiencing a warming period for the past 30 years indicating that a cooling period is about to occur. There are several factors that contribute to climate change including a rise in the temperature such as the Earth’s tilt, tectonic plate changes and volcanic activity. A shi...

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...such as tectonic plate collisions, volcanic activities, and forest fires. The planet has additionally been equipped to naturally absorb or dissolve CO2 levels from the atmosphere. This includes trees and other plant life as well as the photosynthesis process in the ocean.
In conclusion, there is too much historical data for the natural cycles that take place on the planet to not to believe that global warming is a natural process and not due to human activity.

Works Cited

Accuweather. (2010). Winters of 2012, 2013, 2014 could be frigid http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/combination-of-factors-could-m/36990 Maasch, K. (1997). What trigger ice ages? Nova. Retrieved from: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/cause-ice-age.html NOAA. (2013). Astronomical theory of climate change. Retrieved from:
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/milankovitch.html

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