Effects of Global Warming - Research Paper Example

Global Warming Global Warming Introduction Green house gases are important as they are capable of maintaining thetemperature of the earth. Green house gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapor allow the solar radiation to pass and maintain the temperature of the earth by warming up the atmosphere. However, at night tend to go back to the space, green house gases trap the solar radiation at night by blanketing the solar radiations. Solar radiations are reradiated by the green house gases that help in maintaining the temperature of the earth. In this way, green house gases are helpful in maintaining the temperature of the planet. Solar radiation enter the blanket due to shortwave nature but unable to escape trough the blanket due to long water nature after reflecting through the surface of earth. However, as the concentration of the green house gases in the atmosphere increased due to the immense usage of fossil fuel resources, the part of the solar radiation that makes a safe escape to the space is unable to escape to the space. Thus, the temperature of the planet is increasing continuously. The phenomenon is often termed as global warming. It is estimated that estimated that between 1906 and 2005, the average temperature of the earth’s surface rose by about 0.74°C (Hoyt & Schatten, 1993). Global warming was a term that was first used in 1975 by an American scientist “Wallace Smith Broecker” who discovered the climate of the earth is warming consistently due to various human caused problems. He published a paper in a magazine that he named “Are we on the brink of a pronounced global warming?” where he first coined the term. In 1979, the term is used to depict the physical phenomenon that is heating up the planet. The article was published by National academy of Science and titles it as, “The Charney Report” (Yukozimo, 2014). Ozone layer Ozone Layer is a region of dense gases is the stratosphere of the earth that is capable of blocking most of the harmful solar Ultra violet radiations. Ozone layer has higher concentration of ozone as compared to the earth’s surface. More than 90% of ozone is present in the stratosphere of earth. Other atmospheric gases are also there in the earth’s stratosphere. Due to the increasing concentration of the refrigerants, solvents and propellants in the atmosphere, the ozone layer is under depletion with the rate of 4% per decade. Man made chemicals like halocarbons, CFCs, HCFCs, freons, halons are influencing the ozone depletion. The depletion of the ozone layer is promoting the global warming by allowing the ultra violet light to penetrate through the ozone layer and reach the surface of earth. The more the light has concentration of ultraviolet radiation the warmer will be the solar radiations (Hoyt & Schatten, 1993). Causes of Global warming Several activities are influencing the earth’s temperature to increase at an average level. Natural activities are there to balance the temperature of the earth; however, human activities are disrupting the natural balance of various processes. Human activities The massive use of fossil fuel resources increased the concentration of green house gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane and nitrous oxide. As the concentration of the green houses gases in the atmosphere increased, the atmosphere is unable to maintain the balance and it continuously getting warmer. The increased use of fossil fuel resources is also backed up by cutting of he forests. Forests do consume carbon dioxide emissions during the process of photosynthesis and maintain the balance between the carbon dioxide emissions and atmospheric level of carbon dioxide. Putting industrial untreated waste water into the streams and rivers is also a major problem that is influencing the aquatic and marine life. The plants in the oceans and rivers efficiently produce oxygen by taking the atmospheric and oceanic carbon oxide. However the untreated waste water from various chemical factories is influencing the biodiversity of the oceans and rivers. The whole process is further increasing the concentration of green house gasses in the atmosphere (Ruddiman, 2005). Natural Events Natural events remain under control until the balance is breached. Recent human activities influenced the natural balance between various processes. Natural events like volcanic eruption generate massive amount of green house emissions into the atmosphere. On the other hand, massive increase in the number of grazers also influences the level of green house gases in the atmosphere. Effects of Global Warming Effects on Environment Global warming produced many harsh environmental effects. The rise in the temperature of sea has raised the sea level due to various reasons. One is the thermal expansion of water and other is melting of mountainous and arctic glaciers. The sea level elevated to about 8 inches averagely in the 20th centaury. The elevation is the sea level in the past 3000 years is less the rise in the sea level in 20th centaury. The temperature of earth from 1906 to 2005 risen to 0.74°C averagely (Hoyt & Schatten, 1993). This rise in temperature seems noting for a hot region but for a temperature sensitive region, a little rise in temperature may have catastrophic effects. This rise in temperature in the arctic region made most of glaciers to melt and the remaining are melting constantly. The similar condition is with the mountainous glaciers. On the other hand, the white ice manages to reflect to solar radiations and maintain a low temperature that suits the regions but due to melting of ice, the dark ocean consistently absorbing the radiation making the regions warmer. There were about 150 glaciers in the Glaciers National Park in 1850 but now there are only 25. Due to the increase in the temperature, the forests fires are increasing that is further reducing the carbon dioxide absorption through photosynthesis. The weather is going extreme due to rise in the sea level, melting of the mountainous glaciers and alteration in the hydrologic cycles (rain cycles) (Hilderman, 2011). Effects on human and animal health Insect borne diseases are increasing as winters control the birth rate of insects. The insect larvae are unable to survive the winters. However, due to elevation in the temperature, the winters are ineffective in most regions and insect larvae can easily survive the winters that makes the insets to have high birth rates. In most regions, the increase in the number of mosquitoes depicts the problem. More mosquitoes, the more three will be diseases carried by mosquitoes like Malaria and dengue (Hilderman, 2011). In some regions, the increase in the number of patients with respiratory related problems is another health impact of the global warming. The skin related problems are also increasing due to harsh sun. Some sensitive animals are under extinction due to the harsh climatic conditions. The animals like polar bears and some other arctic animals are under threat of extinction due to the climate change. Methods to reduce Global Warming There is a need to act now to reduce the impact of global warming and let it not further disrupt the balance of the planet. We must significantly reduce the utilization of fossil fuel resources. What individual can do? At an individual level we must utilize alternate energy resources and reduce the utilization of energy as mush as possible as most of the energy production units utilize fossil fuel resources to generate energy. At an individual level we must follow green architecture and green home plans to reduce the energy consumption and utilize the energy efficiently. What industries can do? Industries have to treat the waste water before putting to t the rivers or oceans. It is better to reutilize the similar treated water. Industries must generate energy through alternate energy resources like solar, wind, etc. recycling of goods should be promotes it uses less energy as compared to that of new products. What governments can do? Government should promote alternate energy resources. Government should reduce the taxes on the industries and individuals those are using less energy or either utilizing alternate energy resources to encourage other to follow the footsteps. Governments should increase the taxes in the industries and individuals that use more energy and produce more wastes. References Hilderman, Richard (2011). “Signs of Climate Change”. North Earth News, 60-64. Hoyt, D. & Schatten, K. (November 1993). "A discussion of plausible solar irradiance variations, 1700–1992". Journal of Geophysical Research98 (A11): 18,895–18,906. Ruddiman, W. (2005). Plows, Plagues, and Petroleum: How Humans Took Control of Climate. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. Yukozimo (2014). Who Discovered Global Warming? [Online] Retrieved from: http://discovery.yukozimo.com/who-discovered-global-warming/ [Accessed: 31 March 2014] Read More