GLOBAL WARMING
Global Warming
Global Warming is the current conflict of overheating the Earth. In the past, Earth’s atmosphere was thick enough to keep the Earth warm and able to live on, but not too warm. It had good amount of greenhouse gases, which allow sunlight and heat to get to the earth, but trap the heat under Earth’s atmosphere. These gases serve as Earth’s blanket, keeping it warm. One particular example of a greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide. The result of these greenhouse gases is called the Greenhouse Effect. Now, Earth’s atmosphere is thickening, causing Earth to become too warm. Recently, the number of greenhouse gases has increased, causing too much heat to be trapped under Earth’s atmosphere, causing the Earth to get hotter than usual. Earth’s blanket is becoming thicker. Now, the Greenhouse Effect is becoming too strong, and the Earth is becoming too warm.
Global Warming has not become a public issue until these past two decades, but it has been occurring since the eighteenth century when humans began to use fossil fuels, such as coal and petroleum, for energy . Global Warming is caused by human activity and the distribution of far too many greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, thus thickening the blanket wrapped around Earth . Before the eighteenth century, our atmosphere was well balanced between greenhouse gases and how much heat gets to Earth. Ever since humans began to burn fossil fuels, more greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide have been put into the atmosphere, warming the Earth more and more. Before the Industrial Revolution, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was two hundred eighty parts per million (ppm). This was a good level of carbon dioxide because it kept the Earth at a comfortable temperature. They have increased to three hundred sixty-five ppm, an increase of about thirty percent . Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are expected to rise to at least five hundred ppm by the end of this century . As the world continues to industrialize and develop economically, fossil fuels will probably be the major energy source for a long time. This means that as the world continues to industrialize, levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are expected to increase. The three most important greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide are methane, chlorofluorocarbons, and nitrogen oxides . These are all produced both naturally and by human activity. If human activity continues as it has for the last hundred years, these gas levels will also rise. Not only does burning fossil fuels emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, but liquid coolants also release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere . These liquid coolants are found in air conditioners and used in factories around the world. One other contributor to the releasing of carbon dioxide is aerosol cans, such as spray paint. The gas released from these cans is carbon dioxide, and it goes into the atmosphere. Liquid coolants and aerosol cans also play a part in harming the atmosphere by releasing carbon dioxide.
There are numerous effects of Global Warming, and many are related through chain reactions. The obvious effect of Global Warming is the increase in the temperature on Earth, due to the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. One effect due to this increase in temperature is the melting of the North and South Poles . Because these are melting, sea levels are starting to rise. Since 1993, sea levels have risen at a rate of 3.1 millimeters per year . The rate from three thousand years ago to the nineteenth century was .1 to .2 millimeters per year . This shows a clear increase of the rates of rising sea levels. Also, animals that live in areas near the North and South poles are dying because of the change in climate, thus changing their entire environment . The rising sea levels pose a serious threat to low-lying islands, which may disappear . This may also lead to the flooding of coasts and low-lying cities on the coasts, such as New Orleans . Also because of the increase in temperature, what people grow in certain areas may change because the new environment may not be suitable for what used to grow there . This could devastate crop yields in the world’s most productive agricultural regions. This will affect what people eat, what jobs people serve, and the changing environment may change their shelter. Global Warming also will affect the severity of weather . Examples of this are warmer summers, colder winters, longer droughts, and more dangerous tropical storms. This will affect where people live, what they eat, what their jobs are, and many more things. Global Warming will affect the World’s Economy and how people go about their lives if humans continue to live the way they have been for the last fifty years.
Not all people believe in Global Warming. There are some people who feel that Global Warming is not a serious threat, and it is naturally occurring. These people say that scientists and the government have overstated the fact of Global Warming, and that these facts are not fully understood. They say that the effects are unpredictable. Another idea of those who do not believe Global Warming is that the sun is getting warmer, not the Earth . One final view point of this topic is attacking the idea that sea levels are rising. Some people believe that continents may be sinking due to geological factors, causing scientists to believe that the sea levels are rising . These arguments don’t have nearly as much evidence as those believing in Global Warming and their arguments lead me to remember that there will always be people doubting the things that are proven to be true.
Global Warming is a serious problem, and it needs to be dealt with. In order to prevent Global Warming from hurting Earth more than it already has, humans need to cut down on air pollution. This pollution was especially strong during the Industrial Revolution. If we cut down on air pollution, we can cut down or even stop the releasing of harmful carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which in turn will stop the increasing temperature . We can cut down on air pollution in many different ways. One way is using more environment-healthy transportation. For example, instead of driving to work and polluting the air with your car, take the bus to work. Another example is driving a hybrid car, which does not pollute the environment as much as a regular car does. If enough people use methods like these two, the atmosphere can become healthier. Another way to cut down on air pollution is substituting liquid coolants with a more efficient substance that does the same job, but is not nearly as harmful to the atmosphere . Scientists have already begun creating and using new things such as coolants that are healthier for the environment. Also, using alternative fuels can help the atmosphere. Instead of using coal, gas and other fossil fuels, nuclear power can be used. This power generated by nuclear reactors is a carbon-free energy alternative . One other approach to helping solve Global Warming is to tax factories on their amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere . By doing this, factories will hopefully do their best to emit as little greenhouse gases as possible, thus helping the atmosphere. These are all partial solutions to this world-wide conflict, but in order stop Global Warming we must follow these solutions and more. Though we may be able to stop Global Warming, we can’t save those animals and environments that have been ruined already due to Global Warming.
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