"Global warming is not a conqueror to kneel before - but a challenge to rise to. A challenge we must rise to." -- Joe Lieberman INTRODUCTION Global warming is a controversial environmental topic in today’s society. Global warming is when greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, chlorofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and nitrous oxide) act as a blanket that insulates the earth and prevents heat from escaping into space, which in turn causes the global temperature to rise. This “greenhouse effect” is a naturally occurring phenomenon; without it, the earth would be too cold for any life to inhabit. However, due to fossil fuel burning and other human activities, there is an excess amount of greenhouse gases (mainly carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere. Even though there is significant evidence of global warming, there are still skeptics whom believe that global warming is not occurring. BACKROUND INFORMATION Global warming is an increase in the earth’s temperature due to the use of fossil fuels and certain industrial and agricultural processes, which lead to a buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Fossil fuels are energy-rich substances that have formed from long-buried plants and microorganisms. They provide most of the energy that powers modern society. Fossil fuels include petroleum, coal and natural gases. Petroleum or crude oil, is a naturally occurring oily, bituminous liquid composed of various organic materials. Coal is a solid, dark-colored fuel found in deposits of sedimentary rock. It is burned to produce energy and is used to manufacture steel. Natural gases are any combustible gaseous mixture used as fuel to produce energy for domestic or industrial use. ... ... middle of paper ... ...e Backlash Against Global Warming Has Begun.” The Economist. “Sample Errors and Biases in the Global Warming Theory.” . Date accessed: 12 April 2000. “Still Waiting for the Greenhouse.” . Date accessed: 12 April 2000. Taubes, Gary, “Apocalypse Not.” Science, Nov 7, 1997. “Trends.” EPA Global Warming Site Climate. . Date accessed: 8 April 2000. “Vector and Zoonotic Illnesses.” . Date accessed: 7 April 2000. “What Future Changes in Climate Can We Expect.” . Date accessed: 12 April 2000. Joe Lieberman Quote http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/global_warming.html#H2fdTgav5l6VVGt8.99
One of the main causes of the increase in Earth’s temperature is greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are gases that are trapped in the atmosphere. The gases consist of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane. They trapped heat from the sun from returning back into the atmosphere. Over the last 100 hundred years we have increased the earth’s average temperature by 1.4 degree fahrenheit (Carey). This is mainly due to the fact we are producing ten times more greenhouse gas than before. It is exp...
Global warming is an increase of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane disrupting the earth’s ecosystem ultimately causing climate changes, this is just one of the tradeoffs of the modern life we live. Some doubt that global warming is a real issue despite the increasing natural disasters, freak weather and populations of species becoming extinct. Global warming is one of the challenges that we are facing today, it is much like the climate changes faced in the past but our climate is changing more rapidly. Wi...
Global warming, by definition is the “ gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and other pollutants.”(Webster) In the last several decades, there have been numerous debates regarding global warming. As of now it has become one of the biggest problems facing the world today. Scientists do believe that our production of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide is having a warming effect on the atmosphere, but it also is creating a positive impact to on the planet. The controversial side is scientific consensus that it is the fault of mankind that our actions have led to the results of earthquakes, tidal waves, geographical plates moving, all because of global warming pollution. The other side that is also debated on is that global warming can bring new developments to our planet and to all that dwell within. In this paper I will examine the positive and negative side of global warming and suggest some ways nature and humans are solving the issue. Global warming is causing the largest impact to nature and humanity in the 21st century, but with green house gases on the rise, humanity, nature, and species will learn to evolve.
Throughout history climates have drastically changed. There have been shifts from warm climates to the Ice Ages (Cunningham & Cunningham, 2009, p.204). Evidence suggests there have been at least a dozen abrupt climate changes throughout the history of the earth. There are a few suspected reasons for these past climate changes. One reason may be that asteroids hitting the earth and volcanic eruptions caused some of them. A further assumption is that 22-year solar magnetic cycles and 11-year sunspot cycles played a part in the changes. A further possibility is that a regular shifting in the angle of the moon orbiting earth causing changing tides and atmospheric circulation affects the global climate (Cunningham & Cunningham, 2009, p.205). Scientific studies suggest that all these played a role in past global warming and cooling periods. Today, however, there is a lot of conflict on whether humans are causing a global warming that could be disastrous to humans and all species of plants and animals on this earth. This paper will first explain the greenhouse effect, then take a look at both sides argument, and, finally, analyze the effect of global warming on world-wide sustainability
The cause of global warming has been a debate between scientists and experts for numerous years. In fact, Svante August Arrhenius, a Swedish chemist, first predicted global warming would occur in 1896 (Harris 16). Researchers who agree it is naturally caused insist the greenhouse effect has many natural causes. Others agree that the cause of the Earth’s increase in temperature is just part of a continuous cycle. These researchers argue that solar activity plays a huge role in the issue of global warming. Therefore, based upon the myth of the greenhouse effect, cyclical patterns, and research on solar activity, global warming is not a man-made dilemma.
The world is warming up. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has declared that the cause of the warming is human emission of certain gases into the atmosphere. The verdict of the IPCC is widely, but not universally, accepted. A small minority of scientists reject the finding of IPCC and propose that global warming is driven by the sun. Some also charge that IPCC is driven by a political agenda. These dissidents are beginning to get a public hearing. It is important that this matter be debated openly.
Some may notice that the weather is getting harsher with more frequent, large storms of all kinds. Some might say that it is nature trying to fight back for what is theirs. Others might blame these occurrences on global warming or climate change. Awareness has been raised about this issue more recently, but what is global warming? Global warming is the term used to describe the increasing of Earth 's average surface temperature over time (Johnson, R., 2009, p. 6). The greenhouse effect is a way of describing the science behind climate change. In the greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, get trapped under Earth 's atmosphere (Hynson, C., 2010, p. 42). Carbon dioxide is a gas that is produced by all living things when they breathe, as well as a waste product from fossil fuels (Hynson, C., 2010, p. 42). Although the main concerns about global warming are related to the rise of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are increasing rapidly in the atmosphere as well. Methane traps 23 times as much heat as carbon dioxide does, while nitrous oxide is 300
Climate change is a hot topic with many people saying that the humans are making the world's temperature increase and other saying it’s a natural cycle. Climate change can be very dangerous because it can make environments to hostile to certain plants or animals and it also can make the sea level increase witch would put many cities in danger.. The people that believe that the humans are to blame state that the amount of CO₂ that humans emit into the atmosphere and deforestation are the main problems that we are currently doing. Whilst the people that say its a natural process say that is a natural cycle and we are just unfortunate to experience this in our lifetime. In this debate the evidence seems to side with the people saying that the humans are the cause.
After viewing Climate of Doubt, it’s quite clear that the debate of climate change has quite the history. Dating back to 2007, there have been global warming advocates. The issue, however, arises from the opposing groups. On the side of global warming advocates, they are often depicted as “tree-hugging liberals.” On the other side, you have those depicted as “heartless science denying conservatives.” It’s within these opposing sides where you see the reason for a contentious debate. Each of the sides are constantly trying to poke holes in science and deny blatant truth. For example, the documentary highlights the “climategate.” It is explained that climategate was an email controversy where emails were taken out of context to combat climate
Global warming and global climate change is the study of future increases of temperature across the globe. Studying climate change refers to how the over- all climate will change such as the dry places getting dryer and the wet places getting wetter. Global climate is dependent on “the greenhouse effect a natural process that helps regulate temperature” (Easterling and Karl). In the past few centuries humans have had a monumental effect on increasing of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Climate change is result of the increase amount of the greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere such as methane, carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and ozone. “Global temperature has rose approximately 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit over
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...
One of the major issues in today’s society is Global warming. It is one of many kinds of climate that the Earth goes through. The primary cause of global warming is the human expansion of the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases keep the earth warm through a process called greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases like Carbon dioxide trap heat from the atmosphere and maintain the soil warm. Without greenhouse gases, our planet would be too cold. However, people are adding extra greenhouse gases when they’re driving, using electricity, and in a factory. A lot of energy comes from fossil fuels. According to Environmental Protection Agency, the earth’s temperature has increased by 0.8 degree Celsius over the past century. More than half of this grew
Global Warming is a condition caused by greenhouse gases and human activities. The increased concentration of greenhouse gases due to activities such as deforestation and fossil fuel burning is causing the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans to warm up. As a result of this, global warming has some serious effects in the shape of extreme weather, species extinctions, and rising sea levels. These effects can contribute to the changes that are taking place all over the world, most of which are dangerous enough to pose a threat to the survival of life on Earth in the future.
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...
Global warming is the gradual rise in temperature and oceans due to recent human activity. This is created by the production of too much carbon dioxide that is released into the earth’s atmosphere. The carbon dioxide, also known as a greenhouse gas, remains in the air trapping heat and gradually warming the planet. Other greenhouse gases such as: methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor also contribute to this slow warming. According to Live Science, The state of these gases being trapped is called the greenhouse effect, which is one of the leading causes of global warming (Lallanillia). All the gases are created differently and have different effects on the earth. As for some greenhouse gases can be in the atmosphere for a short amount of time, other gases can remain in the atmosphere for thousands of