Is Global Warming Skepticism just Smoke and Mirrors - Essay Example

Is Global Warming Skepticism Just Smoke and Mirrors? The topic of global warming is one of the main concerns that many environmentalists, concerned citizens and politicians are taking note of these days. Al Gore’s much publicized and award-winning documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” has brought much attention to this topic and has made many citizens of the world believers in the global warming phenomenon. Others however, believe that this issue does not really exist, that it is just an illusion created by multinational corporations and overzealous politicians. This paper shall discuss global warming skepticism – whether or not their skepticism is founded or unfounded. It shall discuss both sides of the argument in the hope of ultimately making a scholarly and rational decision about the issue at hand. Those who argue that global warming skepticism is just smoke and mirrors contend that global warming is very much real. They further insist that global warming is a phenomenon caused by man’s destructive and indiscriminate activities. They cite greenhouse gas emissions as one of the primary causes for global warming. Studies conducted by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration established that computer models based on man-made emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) matched present manifestations of changes in the Earth’s climate (Henderson, 2005). Greenhouse gas emissions come primarily from our oil-powered vehicles and industries, and these emissions are ultimately causing the greenhouse effect responsible for climate change. Chlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride are compounds created by man. The chlorofluorocarbons are used as coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners; and these are also released in the manufacturing of aluminum. Hydrofluorocarbons are a by-product of foam and other manufacturing processes. These carbon emissions are trapped in our atmosphere for prolonged periods of time; and while they are trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere, they also trap the sun’s heat. They damage the ozone layer that protects the earth from the ultraviolet rays of the sun (Ygoy, 2007). And as more industries are being developed, more pollutants are expected to be introduced into our environment to further contribute to global warming. Many environmentalists fiercely argue against global warming skepticism because there are various scientific proofs indicating the veracity of this phenomenon. Since the start of the 20th century, the global surface temperature has increased by 0.74C. 11 of the 13 warmest years on record were seen in the past 13 years. Snow cover, sea ice and glaciers have started to melt. “The increased melted land ice and snow, coupled with sea waters expanding due to warmer temperatures began 30 years ago” (Jarraud, 2009). Satellites have recorded that the Arctic Sea ice decreased to its lowest level during the summers of 2007 and 2008. Yearly variations in temperature which may demonstrate climate increase or climate dips in some parts of the globe do not disprove the global warming trend. Government agencies studying climate change have confirmed that their observations indicate that “regional variability has increased and will continue to increase as global surface temperatures rise” (Jarraud, 2009). And this climate change will result in extremes in temperatures causing droughts, floods, storms, and heat waves. Scientists insist that global warming skeptics do not have a firm leg to stand on and short-term variances in climate do not rule-out the reality of global warming. They also insist that the results of their studies are scientific data analysis proving the phenomenon – on data analysis of ice cores, satellite observations, pollen, and sediment records. In order to discredit global warming skeptics, research meteorologists also claim that we are in the midst of a global warming. They cite that “temperature changes brought on by global warming are significant enough to cause an increase in the occurrence of severe storms” (Science Daily, 2009). These severe storms cause flooding, hail and tornados. Their studies have also revealed that these severe storms would increase in occurrence during stormy seasons. Scientists insist that global warming can increase rainfall patterns and rise in sea levels when polar glaciers melt. Hurricane Ivan and Hurricane Katrina are examples of these powerful storms. When there is increased evaporation from the waters of the earth, hurricanes or cyclones are triggered. Once a hurricane is triggered, it needs warm water to increase its strength and intensity. And as was previously mentioned, over the last 100 years, the Earth’s temperature has increased because of the so-called greenhouse effect. This effect traps the sun’s heat in the atmosphere instead of dissipating it into space. The heat is absorbed by the world’s oceans. As water is heated, it expands, and our sea levels have increased 3.1 cm in the past 10 years according to the Climate Analysis Section at the National Research Center for Atmospheric Research. In the past ten years, there have been various recorded severe weather disturbances. In 1988, Hurricane Mitch killed about 20,000 people in Central America; 4,000 people died during disastrous flooding in China; Bangladesh and Venezuela also suffered severely through floods in the past decade; Europe also suffered record floods in 2002 and then a record heat wave in 2003; and in 2004, Brazil was hit by its first-ever recorded hurricane (Leahy, 2004). These changing weather patterns prove that the global warming phenomenon is very real and evident; and man is at the very core of this problem. Various human activities are credited by environmentalists as causes for global warming. Rapid urbanization and population booms cause encroachment and denudation of our forest covers. Trees and plants help counter the increase of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. They also help prevent lands from going dry and from turning into deserts. With the world’s population increasing, forests and trees become vulnerable to human activities. More lands are converted to residential and industrial areas, and more wood is needed to build houses. The professor of Forest Ecology in Nigeria David Ukali remarked and emphasized that, “we often burn bushes to farm, we practice agriculture without due regard to the environment (oil), we cut/fell trees down without knowing that we are altering the eco- system and nature” (as quoted by Adeniyi, 2008). Uncontrolled and rapid urbanization activities are very much attributed to humans and this fact undoubtedly lends credence to the argument that human beings cause global warming. The main point being emphasized by global warming skeptics is that man is not the cause of global warming; and they doubt that global warming is a real phenomenon. They insist that the climate change that we are going through right now is just part of normal weather patterns. They argue that long before human industrial activities became prevalent in society, a little ice age was already experienced by man from about 900 AD to 1300 AD. This period was known as the Medieval Warm Period. “In fact scientists believe the Earth was warmer than today during the Medieval Warm Period, when Vikings grew crops in Greenland” (Inhofe, 2006). They point out that this Medieval Warm Period is conveniently being dismissed by global warming believers in order to increase advocacy for the presently felt global warming phenomenon. Skeptics insist that global warming occurs “all the time due to natural causes and the human impact still remains impossible to distinguish from this natural noise” (Inhofe, 2006). Skeptics are being spurred in their disbelief as they point out that the global warming issue has already been raised before. Scientists predicted an Ice Age during the 1970s, but the 70s came and went, and there was no Ice Age. This prompted them to emphasize that “obviously, the environmental alarmists were completely wrong then about the impending ‘global cooling crisis’, just as they are wrong today about the ‘global warming crisis’” (Wollstein, 2007). The skepticism is not just about the global warming phenomenon, but in environmentalists’ claims that man is the cause for global warming. Instead, skeptics claim that global warming is actually caused by the sun, not by man. They point out that changes in the sun’s heat output affect the planets within its solar system; in the case of Earth, it is causing increased temperature in the atmosphere. Some scientists claim that the increased temperature of our atmosphere is part of the normal fluctuation in the sun’s heat. And this fluctuation is also manifest in the other planets of our solar system like Mars, Neptune and Jupiter, which skeptics claim to be registering increased temperatures as well. Scientist Abdussamatov also opened up the theory about how a planet sometimes wobbles and tilts at different angles after a certain period of time. This phenomenon is called the Milankovitch cycle, and it causes a Little Ice Age to appear at certain points of the Earth’s journey around the sun (Ravilious, 2007). The Earth’s distance from the sun also affects the temperature of our planet. He insists that this Milankovitch phenomenon is causing increased exposure of the ice caps to the sun causing them to melt. He further postulates that, “man-made warming has [made a] small contribution [to] the warming on Earth in recent years, but it cannot compete with the increase in solar irradiance” (2007, as quoted by Than, 2007). With this reasoning, he then goes on to say that this global warming phenomenon will soon pass in about 15 to 20 years. This theory has convinced various global warming skeptics that global warming is not a true phenomenon, and that man is not the cause for this phenomenon. In fact, some of them are even convinced that global warming is a hoax. These skeptics also criticize the computer models created by global warming activists because complete faith cannot be given to computer scenarios which extrapolate probable scenarios that can lead to the possible doom of the earth. Some scientists have insisted that “the effects of aerosols, and their uncertainties, are such as to nullify completely the reliability of any of the climate models” (Gray, 2001 as quoted by Inhofe, 2006). These computer models cannot be relied on as completely accurate because these models do not account for the uncertainties in the actions of aerosols. Global warming skeptics are doubtful of the actual veracity of scientific evidence being given by the global warming believers. They insist that we are not about to enter the Ice Age, we are just going through some natural adjustments in our weather patterns. Arguments on either side of this issue are impacting greatly on efforts towards sustainable development activities. The US Congress is divided about the issue; most of the Democrats believe the global warming phenomenon, while the rest are still disbelievers. It is difficult to create legislation and set aside federal funds in order to come up with environmental protection programs supporting the earth’s sustainability. It is also difficult to clearly define environmental precautions or mandates that should be prescribed on industries and manufacturers in order to reduce GHG emissions. With this issue dividing the nation, no firm and definitive action can be taken on the matter, and sustainable development activities cannot be gained in aid of our endangered planet. After considering the above points gathered from both sides of the issue, I believe that global warming skepticism is just smoke and mirrors. Global warming is not a hoax; it is a very real and alarming phenomenon. I can definitely compare temperatures from years before to present temperatures, and it is definitely getting warmer. There are also stronger storms and hurricanes being experienced in our country and in other parts of the globe. Many scientists have presented verifiable data proving that global warming is real. These are well-studied and well-supported facts. We are also losing our forest cover, and our mountains are being denuded to give way to houses and various human activities. Even if global warming is indeed just a natural occurrence that will soon fade in 15-20 years time, I would rather err on the side of caution. The measures we can adapt now in order to save our planet are invaluable measures that can greatly benefit our planet. By believing in global warming, industries can be restricted in their GHG emissions, alternate fuel sources can be established, and our forest covers can be restored. By believing that man is the cause for global warming, it is possible to mobilize the people to help in saving our planet. And even if the dreaded Ice Age will never come, the measures that we can adapt now will certainly improve our planet, reduce desertification of our lands, reduce floods, landslides, and pollution in general. We cannot forever take indiscriminate liberties with our planet. At some point, we have to draw the line on what we can and cannot do with our planet. There is no harm in being a global warming alarmist, but, there is great danger in being a skeptic. And for this reason, I cannot align myself with global warming skeptics. Works Cited  Adeniyi, S. (14 October 2008) Bush burning, deforestation, contributing to food crisis, global warming. Desertification Word Press. Retrieved 11 May 2009 from http://desertification.wordpress.com/2008/10/14/nigeria-bush-burning-deforestation-food-crisis-global-warming-google-nigerian-tribune/ Environmental Pollution Causes Global Warming (26 June 2007) Ygoy.com. Retrieved 11 May 2009 from http://globalwarming.ygoy.com/environmental-pollution-causes-global-warming/ Global Warming causes severe storms (1 January 2009) Science Daily. Retrieved 11 May 2009 from http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2009/0109-global_warming_causes_severe_storms.htm Inhofe, J. (25 September 2006). Hot & Cold Media Spin Cycle: A Challenge to Journalists who cover global warming. Retrieved 11 May 2009 from http://epw.senate.gov/repwhitepapers/6345050%20Hot%20&%20Cold%20Media.pdf Jarraud, M. (11 May 2009) Global Warming Proof Undeniable. New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 12 May 2009 from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/science/news/article.cfm?c_id=82&objectid=10571517&pnum=2 Leahy, S. (21 September 2004) Global Warming May Spawn More Super Storms. Common Dreams. Retrieved 11 May 2009 from http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0921-01.htm New Proof that Man has Caused Global Warming. (18 February 2005) Times Online. Retrieved 11 May 2009 from http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article516033.ece Ravilious, K, (28 February 2007) Mars Melt Hints at Solar, Not Human, Cause for Warming, Scientist Says. National Geographic News. Retrieved 11 May 2009 from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070228-mars-warming.html Than, K. (12 March 2007) Sun Blamed for Warming of Earth and Other Worlds. Live Science. Retrieved 11 May 2009 from http://www.livescience.com/environment/070312_solarsys_warming.html Wollstein, J. (June 2007) Global Warming: Myth and Reality. International Society for Individual Liberty. Retrieved 11 May 2009 from http://www.isil.org/resources/fnn/2007june/global-warming-hoax.html Read More