Global Warming: Fact or Fiction - Essay Example

GLOBAL WARMING: Fact or Fiction? Insert GLOBAL WARMING As the suggests, global warming is an international phenomenon with planet-wide repercussions. Seeped in controversy, detractors of the global warming phenomenon argue that global warming does not exist while alarmist headlines warn us that the end of the planet is near. Despite the controversy, global warming is an environmental phenomenon which has just recently received acceptance by the scientific community. Seeking to address global warming, this essay will provide a comprehensive and in-depth overview of the global warming phenomenon. We will begin with a discussion of the evidence in support of global warming and explore the connection between global warming and climate change. Since we aim to provide an accessible analysis of what global warming actually is, we will then analyze the causes and effects of this recent international phenomenon successfully refuting accusations that global warming does not actually exist. Global Warming 101 Global warming and climate change are two terms which are often used interchangeably. Has a link between global warming and climate change been established? Yes, global warming is caused by an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As we shall see below, the effects of global warming include changes in atmospheric temperatures and rainfall, which can lead to climate change (Arnella & Reynardb 424). Global warming is most generally described as an average increase in the Earth’s temperatures. Importantly, global warming is not only a present phenomenon but is perceived as something which is expected to continue and increase annually. Global warming is the reputed cause of climate change on an international scale leading to extreme weather, ranging from uncharacteristic snowfall in autumn to extremely mild winter temperatures, major changes to precipitation trends, glacial retreat, species extinction, desertification and a rise in sea levels. Examples of global warming have been witnessed across the planet and have been poignantly captured by international organizations like National Geographic which has brought the effects of global warming – such as glacial retreat – into the homes of millions of readers worldwide. Despite an increased acceptance that global warming is exists, it is here to stay and is getting worse everyday, there is not unanimous agreement within the scientific community on the causes of global warming. What causes the planet to warm up? It is to this important question that we now turn. While unanimity on the causes of global warming does not exist, there are arguably many causes of this phenomenon, both natural and human made. Global warming has been going on for centuries and is a natural property of the earth. Natural causes of global warming include methane gas which is released from the earth’s arctic tundra and wetlands. As a greenhouse gas, methane traps heat in the atmosphere of the earth. A natural climate cycle is approximately 40,000 years and this is another natural cause of the present global warming phenomenon (Vitousek 1861-1867). From a human-made perspective, there are many things that we humans do that contribute to global warming. Environment Canada states that the greenhouse effect is caused by the presence in the earth’s atmosphere of certain gases which transmit energy to the surface of the Earth and temporarily absorb heat, which retards the loss of energy to space. The greenhouse effect is caused by the emission of greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are an important cause of global warming and in the United States about 40% of all carbon dioxide emissions are the result of burning fossil fuels to generate electricity. Accordingly coal is accounts for approximately 93% of all emissions for the purpose of electricity generations. Power plants emit carbon dioxide as does the burning of coal. Carbon dioxide is also emitted from cars and the burning of gasoline to fuel our cars. Accordingly, the United States of America is the largest global consumer of oil, consuming 20.4 million barrels per day. It is estimated that 33% of all US carbon dioxide emissions come from our cars. Airplanes also emit carbon dioxide and although the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that airplanes cause about 3.5% of global warming today, that figure is expected to rise to 15% by 2050. Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas, after carbon dioxide, and it is followed by water vapor. Methane traps heat within the atmosphere and is derived from natural causes as well a by fossil fuel production. Nitrous oxide (N20), commonly known as “laughing gas” is natural to the Earth’s environment and is produced by oceans and rainforests. It is however produced by humans in the use of fertilizers and the burning of organic matter. Finally, deforestation is caused by the cutting and burning of millions of trees ever year and is an important contributor to carbon emissions in the atmosphere (Environment Canada 1996; Ecobridge 2008; Vitousek 1861-1867). Now that the causes of global warming have been established, what are the effects of global warming on planet Earth? According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are a many effects of global warming. First and foremost, global warming will have significant effects on ecosystems around the world and as the our respective climates continue to warm, we can expect major changes in ecosystem structure, species’ ecological interactions and geographic ranges and overall negative consequences for biodiversity. We can expect to witness the extinction of certain species and plants in conjunction with major climate changes. Thus, increased flooding and droughts are anticipated as a result of global warming. Human health may witness an increased prevalence of disease, although this will largely be based upon local climatic factors. Ecological change can lead to an increase in the incidence of infectious diseases. Other serious human health-related concerns include an increase in both air and water pollution (United States Environmental Protection Agency 2008; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2007). How will agriculture, precipitation and the arctic world be affected by global warming and climate change? Agriculture is extremely sensitive to climate variability and global warming will have important ramifications for agricultural production both in the United States and around the world. With an increased potential for droughts, floods, and severe storms, agricultural production may be seriously affected by extremes in temperature. Changes in agricultural production however are expected to be regionally based and it is impossible to make inferences about a net global effect on agriculture as a result of climate change. Looking at precipitation, researchers estimate that rising global temperatures over the past 100 years have lead to an estimated 5% increase in atmospheric water vapor over the world’s oceans. As the climate continues to rise it is expected that atmospheric concentrations of water vapor will rise leading to a global increase in rain and storm systems which are much more intense. Since higher temperatures also lead to an increase in overall evaporation, droughts can be expected due to global warming. As such extreme weather will include extreme rain, flooding and droughts. Finally, how will climate change affect the arctic and regions of the north? Seal levels are expected to rise around the world and this will lead major changes in the north. Glaciers will melt, as will small icecaps. It is also expected that the Antarctic Ice Sheet and the Greenland Ice Sheet will melt in tandem with extreme changes brought about by global warming (United States Environmental Protection Agency 2008; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2007). Concluding Remarks The United States Government, for the first time in 2002, acknowledged that man-made pollution was largely to blame for global warming. With less than 4 per cent of the worlds population, the United States of America is the worlds biggest emitter of the greenhouse gas CO2. As a geographically large country as well, changes to the climate of the world will have important ramifications on the United States as well. As we have shown, global warming is an international phenomenon with planet-wide repercussions. This paper has demonstrated a link between global warming and climate change and has established important antecedents for the emergence of global warming on our planet. Looking at cause and effect, we have shown that as our climate continues to warm, there will be important ramifications for our planet’s ecosystems, human health, agricultural production, precipitation and glacial retreat. Furthermore, this essay has shown that while the United States has recently embraced the link between climate change and global warming, this phenomenon will have important implications for the country as a whole. Global warming remains an international problem and whether or not it is appropriately addressed at a national level remains to be seen (BBC; McCarty 2001). REFERENCES Arnella, N. W. & N. S. Reynardb. The effects of climate change due to global warming on river flows in Great Britain. Journal of Hydrology 183 (1996), 397-424. “Climate Change”. EPA.gov. The United States Environmental Protection Agency. Web. October 25. 2008. “Global Warming: The Causes”. Ecobridge.org. Eco-bridge, 2008. Web. March 30 2009. “Humans cause global warming, US admits.” BBC.com. British Broadcasting Corporation, 3 June 2002. Web. March 30 2009. McCarthy, Michael. “Bush declares he wont sign Kyotos landmark treaty on global warming”. Independent.co.uk. The Independent, 29 March 2001. Web. October 25. 2008. The Kyoto Protocol. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1997. “The State of the Environment”. Environment-Canada.ca. Environment Canada, 1996. Web. October 25. 2008. “The Working Group II contribution to the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, 2007.” Ipcc-wg2. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Web. March 30 2009. Vitousek, Peter M.. Beyond global warming: ecology and global change. Ecology, 7:7: (1994) 1861-1877. Read More