Global warming articles

The earth has certainly been hot these days.  It was really observed as such since there was fire and dust which made the skies of Indonesia turn orange because of drought. It was really so as different hurricanes and tsunami hit the different part of USA and even on the other part of Asia.  Also, there are real observations on the size of the ice in the Arctic and Antarctic has been recorded and this has supported the real effect of earth’s warming. Natural disasters have truly been a part of the problems in most countries. Nowadays, this has become more common and evident in international news as before. This is truly the result of global warming.

The subject has been around even before the 20th century. But it has become more clear that the earth truly has been sick since then and scientists have been trying to get the attention of the government and individuals since then. With the result on heat waves, floods, forest fires, and melting glaciers,  the climate becomes unhealthy as well.

Before, environmentalists and the government has been bombarding what facts and myths are about this phenomena but now these has remained to be real in everyone’s eyes. The debate about global warming has indeed stopped. All agreed that human factors have contributed to the abnormal climate changes. All sectors of the community have been encouraged to be involved to stop and resolve the obvious effect of the warming. Articles are being cited, researches supported and awareness are highly increased on the subject.

Everybody is now aware of the situation. The release of CO2 in the atmosphere will frighten a responsible citizen as the  “last part per million of greenhouse gas behaves like the 212th degree Fahrenheit that turns a pot of hot water into a plume of billowing steam”. A melt in the Greenland ice will give an impression we are not only soaking in the melted water but actually unload a much bigger glacier. The latest assessment shows indeed that several ice sheets have doubled rate of slide. The sea level, thus, will continue to rise. This rise concerns on health and animal extinction. If these possibilities will happen, what will become of us? Further misbalance of nature is expected.

It is indeed up to us now to control more natural disaster. Now that we know that nature give back only what we give to it.

Global warming

Violent storms, melting ice caps, irregular weather patterns, scorching heat waves, species extinction, these are few of the many effects that we are presently experiencing from the occurrence of global warming. Global warming is a term addressed to a specific case of the more general term “climate change.” Changes in the Earth’s climate are not something new and historically, natural factors such as volcanic eruptions, Earth’s orbital changes, and the amount of released solar energy were recorded to have contributed to these climate changes. Since the onset of these climate changes, the introduction of human activities starting late in the 18th century has dramatically changed the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere. This Industrial Revolution has overwhelmingly contributed to the rapid change in Global climate in an unprecedented scale.

The Greenhouse Effect

Scientific studies revealed that a number of human activities are contributing to global warming by adding excessive amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. For the past 200 years, the burning of fossil fuels, like coal and oil, and the addition of deforestation have resulted in the concentrations of heat-trapping “greenhouse gases” such as carbon dioxide to elevate significantly in our atmosphere. These gases prevent heat from escaping out to space. The gases work like the greenhouse glass panels. As we know, greenhouse gases are necessary to keep the Earth warm enough to support life. But, as the concentrations of these gases continue to increase in the atmosphere, the Earth’s temperature will also continue to climb way above normal level.

Global Concern

At present, global warming is one of the most important and serious challenge we are facing. Continued human-induced factors, such as increase emission of carbon dioxides from vehicles and power plants, deforestation, and overpopulation, will accelerate the increase of harmful greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Eventually, the elevation in greenhouse gases will result in the gradual temperature increase of the Earth’s surface and the air in the lower atmosphere. This increase in temperature changes the climate and alters weather patterns which may accelerate species extinction, influence the length of seasons, results in poor yield of crops, trigger flooding in costal lines, sets off abrupt climate changes and results to more frequent and severe storms.

Our Contribution

To protect the health and economic well-being of current and future generations, we should start to contribute responsibly in the conservation of energy and our natural resources to drastically reduce the emission of harmful greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Contributions such as planting trees, changing to energy-saving lighting, responsible garbage disposal, and planting trees will go a long way not only in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also in reducing air pollution, decreasing energy dependence and saving money.

Effects of global warming

Climate Change. Scientific researches have already revealed that the effects of global warming in the 21st century and beyond are expected to be disastrous. Many of these changes are already under way. Recent studies conducted by Working Group II of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), states that the increased greenhouse gas concentrations are very likely to increase the Earth’s average temperature, influence precipitation, and some storm patterns as well as raise sea levels. In addition to this, the United States National Academy of Sciences has warned that “greenhouse” warming and other human alterations of the earth system may increase the possibility of large, abrupt, and unwelcome regional or global climatic events.

Projected Impacts of Global Warming

A board organized by the U.S National Research Council in June 2006 expressed a “high level of confidence” that Earth as we know it today has experienced the hottest climate for the last 400 years, and possibly even the last 2,000 years. Studies have shown that, for the last century, there has been an increase in the average global surface temperature of roughly 0.3-0.6 degree Celsius (0.5-1 degree Fahrenheit). This global warming will potentially lead to future large-scale and possibly permanent effects at continental as well as global scales. The likelihood, magnitude, and timing is uncertain and contentious but some examples of projected impacts that will occur are more frequent and more intense heat waves, droughts, severe storms, more floods, degraded water quality, and increased spread of infectious diseases. If for the past 100 years such overwhelming effects were observed while the globe warmed up by an estimated average of merely 0.6 degree Celsius (1 degree Fahrenheit), this phenomenon will likely get worse by the year 2100. By that time, temperatures could increase by 6 degree Celsius (11 degree Fahrenheit).

Global Warming and the Society

The effects of global warming will be felt in every region worldwide and at all levels of society. Reports from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirmed with 90 percent certainty that global warming is now inevitable and humans are primarily accountable for a significant portion of the heat-trapping greenhouse gases that have caused global temperatures to rise significantly since the middle of the 20th century. It also made clear that while poor people worldwide will suffer most from the effects of global warming, no person on Earth will escape its consequences.

Consequences of global warming

One of the natural phenomena on earth would be cause and effect. No one is exempted from the law of gravity. Every action requires a consequence. As studies claim the serious effects of temperature changes and unpredictable rise and fall of climate, serious consequences should be anticipated.

An active increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere may consequently lead to even warmer temperatures, longer drought and chronic forest fires or wildfires, more intense rainstorms, increase of vector-borne diseases, deadly heat waves, more powerful hurricanes and intensifying super typhoons, cold temperature in tropical areas, warming up of icy surfaces, rising of sea levels, extinction of some species and animals due to hunger and unable to adjust to climate changes, melting of ice glaciers and early ice thawing.

As temperature rise it is expectedly to have warmer temperatures and increasing number of deadly heat wave. It was only recently that noted deaths on heat stroke were reported. Individuals as young as 30 years old have been struck by this unfortunate fate. Indeed, more frequent and more intensive heat waves resulted in more heat-related deaths. According to the World Health Organization, the more than 100,000 deaths in the past years have been related to temperature warming. These conditions could also worsen the problems in the local air quality. Skin asthma and allergies has developed as well.

Droughts are brought by warmer temperatures. Evaporation particularly during summer and fall causes longer and intense drought in one place and may simultaneously cause a massive El Ni¤o phenomenon in another place challenging crop production which may lead to massive loss in monetary aspect. This may also similarly affect the developing strength of hurricanes and super typhoons. Places that weren’t hit by typhoons in the past surprisingly experience the strongest of typhoons in history.

This also affects the early melting of snow glaciers and ice thawing. Animal species along these areas are in danger of extinction. Unable to feed themselves, weakening and decreasing the potential to give birth to healthy offspring and a climate adjustments to their physical make-up may decrease their numbers in due time.

Serious consequences on these global phenomena need serious consideration. Though it may be impossible to reverse what already exist, but responsible awareness and vigilance on future events may be the wisest thing to do. The first step in fighting the battle is understanding and education. Awareness in the consequences may lighten the burden in dealing with the issues.

Cause of global warming

The phenomena. Historically, all of the Earth’s climate changes were attributed to natural forces such as volcanic eruptions, Earth’s orbital changes, and the amount of released solar energy. That changed with the introduction of the Industrial Revolution late in the 18th century, when human activities began to alter the global climate and environment.

The Industrial Revolution

The onset of the industrial revolution has paved way for the advancement of human technology. As more people relied on technology, numerous tools and devices were invented to make life easier for men. However, the emergence of these inventions has also resulted in the dependence of man to energy. The influx of energy usage from fossil fuels, coal, oil or gas has also resulted in the inception of human-induced rapid climate change. The demand for energy around the world is currently at more than 80% of the world-wide energy demand. Most of this is from fossil fuels such as gas, oil, and coal. Since the energy demand is too high, there hasn’t any other alternative source yet with this magnitude which could replace fossil fuels in the short or medium term. Thus the drastic increase in the emission of CO2 (carbon dioxide) within the last 30 years caused by burning fossil fuels has been identified as the major reason for the change of temperature in the atmosphere.

Greenhouse gases and global warming

Greenhouse gases regulate our climate by trapping heat and holding it in a kind of warm-air blanket that surrounds the planet. They are necessary for keeping the Earth’s temperature warm enough to support life. This occurrence is scientifically called the “greenhouse effect.” The problems related to global warming which we have encountered for decades started when human activities added more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere which disrupt and speeds up the natural process thereby warming the planet to more than the right temperature. Scientists revealed that as the concentrations of these gases continue to increase in the atmosphere, the Earth’s temperature will also continue to climb above past levels eventually making the Earth become less habitable for humans, plants and animals. Burning fossil fuels by driving cars, using electricity from coal-fired power plants, or heating our homes with oil or natural gas are just some of the human activities that emit this carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in overwhelming proportion.

Global warming and its consequences

For decades, the rapid pace at which the temperature has risen had already resulted in many negative impacts to humans and the environment and this has created a world-wide concern. Most scientists believe that the warming of the climate will lead to more extreme weather patterns which may accelerate species extinction, influence the length of seasons, results in poor yield of crops, trigger flooding in costal lines, sets off abrupt climate changes and results to more frequent and violent storms.

Arguments against global warming

The globe is such a big big world to live in. Even a small nuclear family allows petty arguments to get into their skins. Debates regarding global issues which concerns even for the good of the planet still receives counter arguments. This has become an endless word battle between opposing wits.

This did not only stir up questionings inside the scientific society but has gone beyond even the financial world itself. Non-scientists, themselves, have witnessed differing scientific perspectives and gave their own personal comments as well. It will be best to personally weigh opinions and do what you believe in with endless passion. But that passion should, of course, come from rational thinking and not merely emotional excitement.

Al Gore’s “Inconvenient Truth,” a documentary film on global warming issues has seemed to successfully presented itself to be as if the very facts of the topic that people should truly believe in. Well, it should have been unwise for Mr. Gore to create a presentation like that which he does not truly believe in. Personally, it was more of a simple but deep presentation of modern facts that I came to think of it is it likely to really happen, or was it merely intended to produce a film so people could watch and be entertained?

Write-ups came out that the documentary film affected a great deal of arguments from all sides. Its resource, trustworthiness and consistencies were eventually challenged. But doesn’t it seem like people want their own opinion to be heard in public? Just to declare that you had something to say upon the matter. Judging and challenging to  scientific evidences that has been subject to scrutiny from scholars and the authorities may be an absurd idea. Or even arguing against already existing argumentations just makes matters more complicated and opening issues that are no longer directly related diverting the path of the real area of discussion.

It is best hoped that this global issues which all should practically be concerned makes it a real challenge to stay in focus and not to go out of the line. Arguments against the credibility of banks’ relation to the problem, questionable computer methods on presenting true and correct information, and the newspapers’ report that “not all scientific evidences are true” should be seriously considered by the great population of the laymen, themselves to weigh according to their own understanding and personal awareness. They may have the ability to contribute to arguments against a now “distorted” view of Global and environmental problems, but heir concern for their own future becomes what really matters for now.