Global Warming

Outline

 

Abstract 2

Introduction. 2

Scientific arguments on the causes of global warming. 3

Impacts of increased global warming. 6

Recommendations for Mitigating the Effects of increased global warming. 6

Conclusion. 7

Reference List 9

 

Abstract

Global warming leads to the elevation of earth’s temperature that could have adverse effects to the ecosystems and biodiversity. Scientists have varied perceptions on the causes of global warming and their potential to cause adverse effects to the biodiversity.  Some of the scientist argues that human activities are the main cause of global warming. On the other hand, other researchers argue that global warming is caused by natural processes and therefore, does not have adverse effects on the ecosystem. This article provides recommendations which could be useful in mitigating the impacts of global warming. From the analysis of the arguments, it is evident that the increase in the level of green house gases correlates with the increase in human activities after the industrial revolution period. Global warming affects negatively ecosystems, with the most affected ecosystems being marine and forest. Several measures have to be taken to reduce the rate of global warming as a precautionary measure.

Introduction

Global warming is the elevation of the temperatures on the earth’s surface, due to increase in greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels (Casper, 2010).  The heat that would have escaped from the earth’s surface would be trapped. There is an existing controversy regarding the influence of human activities to climate change. Several previous studies have associated human activities to the increasing rate of global warming. Several computer models have been used to study the changes in climate, recording temperature increase of 1.5% over a period of 100 years (Gleick et al., 2010). Most of the increase in temperature was recorded after the 1940s, due to the increasing level of human activities. The present level of carbon dioxide is 394.16 parts per million, which is higher compared to the 391.81 parts per million, recorded at the same time one year ago (Shakun et al., 2012).  This level of carbon dioxide has exceeded the upper safety limit of 350 parts per million. Therefore, the concentration of carbon dioxide is increasing at an accelerating rate, and the current data are a continuation of the long-standing trend.  Carbon dioxide levels are constantly high since 1988.

Green house effect is the process through which the atmosphere traps the sunrays to warm the earth sufficiently, to support life. Once the solar energy reaches the sun, it follows a complex path, with some of the solar energy reflected back to the atmosphere, and the land and oceans absorb the other energy (Boykoff & Boykoff, 2004). Some of the infrared rays radiated back to the earth remains in the atmosphere causing global warming. Some scientist revolt against global warming stating that it existed long time ago and it became the main cause to save life on earth. This group of scientist believes that the arguments about carbon dioxide emission destroys the plant was exaggerated and politicized. However, there is clear evidence indicating that global warming has increased due to the increase in the atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activities.

Scientific arguments about the causes of global warming

Research done to support that human activity affecting the increase in global temperature is due to elevation of greenhouse gases (Colligan, 2012). The greenhouse gas reabsorbs the heat reflected from the sun to the earth’s surface. The increase in the greenhouse gases is attributed to human activities. For example, studies indicate that human activities have increased carbon dioxide concentration of 30%, with significant increase recorded between the interglacial times (Botkin et al., 2007). In addition, from recent studies there is a correlation between the increase in the level of fuel combustion and the increase in greenhouse gases. Human activities such as burning of fossil fuels, agricultural activities and the changing forms of land use enhances the process of global warming.  The increasing global warming is also attributed to the cooling effects of sulfate aerosols caused by combustion of fuel. The aerosols cause acid rain that is harmful to human health, eventually leading to global warming (Shakun et al., 2012).

There is a constant increase in the level of carbon dioxide emitted to the atmosphere yearly. For example, there is a constant increase in the levels of carbon dioxide. In 1700, the level of carbon dioxide was 280ppm (Victor et al., 2009). In 1900, the level of carbon dioxide, had risen to 290ppm, and there has been an increase of 1.5 percent of carbon dioxide per century with the current carbon dioxide level being 400ppm (Pandolfi et al., 2011). Within the next four years, the level of carbon dioxide will have exceeded 400ppm due to the human activities. At the present increase in the level of carbon dioxide, it is possible that by 2050, the level of carbon dioxide will have exceeded 500ppm (Galam, 2010). Most of the climatologist in the world considers 350 to be the maximum level of carbon dioxide, which could be sustainable, though 350 is still on the higher side (Körner & Basler, 2010).

Furthermore, carbon dioxide captures the largest portion of human emissions. Increase in human activities has caused a large increase in atmospheric greenhouse gas since the pre-industrial period.  Increase in fossil fuel burning, deforestation, and other human influences are the major causes of the increase since the pre industrial era. Burning coal, oil, and natural gas releases about 6 billion tons of carbon annually (Meinshausen et al., 2009). Furthermore, burning and logging of forests contributes another one to two billion tons annually by reducing the storage of carbon dioxide in the trees. Over this period, the agricultural and industrial practices have been on the increase. Carbon dioxide like other greenhouse gases has a longer atmospheric lifetime ranging from centuries.

On the other hand, some of the scientists argue that global warming is not because of the human activities, but rather it is a natural process. This is because, 95% of the total carbon dioxide emissions originate from natural processes (Colligan, 2012). Therefore, the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere do not cause global warming.  Most of the natural processes release carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, therefore, certain 95% of carbon dioxide emissions could still occur without the impact of the human activities. The scientist  proposing that there is an increase in the carbon dioxide level in the earth’s atmosphere are saying so since they feel that  it is affecting the human life yet it does not have any changes  to the earth’s ecosystems. The current temperatures have not increased significantly since the current data collected indicate that the temperature correlates to the temperature recorded in the carboniferous period, which is half a million years ago.

Current studies indicate that the rate of global warming is significantly lower in comparison to the historical data collected. For example, during the Jurassic period, over 200,000 years ago, there was an average of 1800ppm of carbon dioxide concentration, which is approximately 4.7 percent times higher in comparison to the current carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere (Olausson, 2009). The elevated concentration of carbon dioxide as recorded during the Paleozoic era, which recorded nearly 7000ppm, about 18 times higher than the current carbon dioxide levels. Presently, the average carbon dioxide level is nearing 400ppm, which is significantly low in comparison to the previous levels (Galam, 2010). However, it is worth noting that the carbon dioxide level was higher in the Paleozoic era since human beings did not exist.

Impacts of increased global warming

The impact of global warming is evident in the current changes in marine and terrestrial life. For example, climate change is proving to be affecting the oceans current, and it is anticipated that the changes in the marine ecosystem would result in the changes in the prey distribution (Pandolfi et al., 2011). The expert provided by the intergovernmental Panel organization on climate change have stipulated that  the changes in the temperature  associated with adjustments in  circulation of the oceans and the sea level have the potential of adversely affecting the marine ecosystem structure and its functioning  and global biogeochemical cycles and the climate systems. (Miller, 2008).   The exhaustion of sea ice owing to the changes in climate indicates disaster for the polar bears and other arctic marine mammals. The sea ice is the habitat for these unique and diverse inhabitations, as it serves as the platform for reproduction, resting, refugee from predators and it is a reserve for food sources.

The current environmental impacts include biodiversity loss, exemplified by the increased risk of extinction and disappearance of habitat. The potential future effects of global warming due to rise in carbon dioxide levels include an increase in the frequency of wildfires, longer periods of drought, and the elevation in numbers, extent and intensity of tropic storms. The increase in the level of carbon dioxide has led to acidification of the oceans, polluting it. The acidified oceans can lead to coral bleaching. Coral reefs are sensitive to changes in water temperature, as the increase in heat leads to loss of algae that nourish them.

Recommendations for Mitigating the Effects of increased global warming

Most of the scientists agree on the need to adopt mitigation strategies. Broad scientific communities predict that the climate change will worsen when the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere rises above 450 parts per million (Singer & Avery, 2008). Understanding the future weather is essential. With nuclear applications, it is possible to understand the drivers of a climate change. Through reconstruction, scientists can estimate the future developments. The nuclear isotopes are significant in mapping the increase in ocean temperature as well as the sitting currents. Furthermore, the emission of greenhouse gasses can be reduced through appropriate techniques. For example, power generation is the major source of all the greenhouse emissions. Scientists estimate that generation of electricity will remain to be the fastest source for the next two decades. The use of nuclear energy to supply electricity reduces the annual global carbon dioxide burden.  Based on the scientific data, continued emission of greenhouse gases will lead to further climate changes. The future impacts include warmer atmosphere, more acidic oceans, increased sea levels and the constant changes in precipitation patterns.

Conclusion

From the arguments presented in this article, it is evident that global warming is caused by human activities. The increase in human activities has significantly led to the elevation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This elevation of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has led to increase in temperatures, which have significant impacts to ecosystems. The most widely hit ecosystems are the marine ecosystem, whereby the increase in temperature affects ocean currents, melting of ice and the reproductive system of some of the marine species. Several measures have to be taken into place to ensure that the rate of global warming is maintained to the minimum, to reduce to adverse effects that could affect life. Although it is difficult to control global, warming resulting from natural processes, it is essential to devise a mechanism to control the secondary threats. For example, the secondary threats could be addressed by conservation measures, which have the possibility of dealing with the secondary effects of climate change. For the long-term solution, it is important to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.

 

 

References

 

Casper, J. K. (2010). Changing ecosystems: effects of global warming. New York: Facts on File.

Colligan, L. H. (2012). Global warming. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark.

Botkin, D. B., Saxe, H., Araujo, M. B., Betts, R., Bradshaw, R. H., Cedhagen, T., & Stockwell, D. R. (2007). Forecasting the effects of global warming on ecological biodiversity. Bioscience, 57 (3), pp 227-236.

Boykoff, M. T., & Boykoff, J. M. (2004). Balancing as bias: on the global warming and the United States prestige press. Global and environmental change, 14 (2), pp 125-136.

Körner, C., & Basler, D. (2010). Phenolic under increasing global warming. Science, 327 (5972), 1461-1462.

Galam, S. (2010). Public debate driven by incomplete scientific statistics: The cases of expansion theory, global warming and H1N1 pandemic influenza. Physical A: Statistical Mechanics and its Application, 389 (17), 3619-3631.

Miller, D. A. (2008). Global warming. Detroit: Greenhaven Press.

Singer, S. F., & Avery, D. T. (2008). Unstoppable global warming: every 1,500 years . Lanham, Md. Rowman & Littlefield.

Meinshausen, M., Meinshausen, N., Hare, W., Raper, S. C., Frieler, K., Knutti, R., & Allen, M. R. (2009). Greenhouse-gas emission targets for limiting global warming to 2 C. Nature, 458(7242), 1158-1162.

Pandolfi, J. M., Connolly, S. R., Marshall, D. J., & Cohen, A. L. (2011). Projecting coral reef futures under global warming and ocean acidification. Science, 333(6041), 418-422.

Olausson, U. (2009). Global warming and the global responsibility? Media frames of collective actions and scientific uncertainty. Public Understanding of Sciences, 18(4), 421-436.

Shakun, J. D., Clark, P. U., He, F., Marcott, S. A., Mix, A. C., Liu, Z., & Bard, E. (2012). Global warming preceded by increasing carbon dioxide concentrations during the last deglaciation. Nature, 484(7392), 49-54.

Victor, D. G., Morgan, M. G., Apt, J., Steinbruner, J., & Ricke, K. (2009). The geoengineering option: A last resort against global warming?. Foreign Affairs, 64-76.

Gleick, P. H., Adams, R. M., Amasino, R. M., Anders, E., Anderson, D. J., Anderson, W. W., & Croteau, R. B. (2010). Climate change and the integrity of science. Science, 328 (5979), 689-690.

 

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