Current Environmental Problem - Research Paper Example

? 18 February, Current environmental problem: Global warming of the problem: Global warming is the name of phenomenon in which the Earth heats up. Temperature of the Earth has experienced a manifold increased over the years as a result of increase in the extent of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Such gases include but are not limited to carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (NO). These greenhouse gases entrap the light from sun and its heat in the atmosphere of the Earth. This results into an increase in temperature. The rise in temperature is very harmful for the life on Earth, of both animals and plants. Global warming is a naturally occurring phenomenon and has, thus many advantages to offer. Had there been no such phenomenon, the Earth would have lost all heat, thus getting frozen. However, the global warming also exposes life on the Earth to innumerable threats. The constantly accumulating heat is sufficient to make the Earth unusually warm so that life on Earth would extinguish. First the immense heat would directly cause death of animals and plants. Secondly, deaths would occur because of lack of food. Ultimately, global warming when increased to dangerous extent, would cause death of all living beings. Humans are considered as the cardinal source of global warming, because their activities result into increase in the extent of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Scientific evidence of global warming: There is sufficient amount of scientific evidence to show that humans have played a big role in aggravating the global warming. According to the report about the change in climate generated by the Intergovernmental Panel (Liloia), human activities are the biggest contributors towards global warming. Many people tend to reject this truth thinking it is nothing more than a fake scientific theory. This, however, is a very wrong interpretation and usage of the term “theory” because science does provide objective evidence to render it much more than just a theory. One of the most important discoveries of science that speak of humans as the main contributors towards global warming is that there has been a rise in global temperatures along with the increase in CO2 rate in the atmosphere. There has been a tremendous increase in the level of water in rivers, seas and oceans since the past few decades. Glaciers have started to melt away as a result of increased global temperatures. This has resulted into frequent floods, cyclones and tsunamis. According to (Eilperin), 72 per cent Americans believe that global warming is truly happening. Applicability of ecological knowledge to the problem of global warming: Various types of ecological factors are applicable to this problem. Why the ecological factors are applicable in the discussion of global warming can be explained with the help of a case study. There has been a significant change of climate in the Nilgiri hills of Southern India. Nilgiris and the areas near it make part of the peninsular India’s continental block. This block consists mainly of metamorphic rocks like charnockites, gneisses and schists (Chhabra). “The characteristic ecological features of the upper Nilgiri plateau at above 1200m are the shola-grassland ecosystem” (Chhabra). It is referred to as the climax ecotype. It has essentially resulted from the balance caused by three main reasons: 1. Firing done by inhabitants of the region. 2. Tough climatic controls in the region. 3. Climatic alterations happened in the Pleistocene era (Chhabra). Each of these three factors played its part in the development of shoal-grassland climax ecosystem in Nilgiri. These factors are explained below: Firing done by inhabitants of the region: Todas, who are the indigenous people of Nilgiri set the area on fire immediately after the frost season starts, and migrate to the western side of plateau. When it is monsoon, they get back to the burnt area because it has by then, sprouted fresh grass. Tough climatic controls in the region: Frost spreads in Nilgiri during winter. The temperature on the surface readily drops even below the freezing point because of the radiated energy in the nights. When the sun rises in the morning, trees tend to transpire in an attempt to offset the heat. However, the frozen soil does not allow them to draw water from it. Therefore, the trees wilt in the start of the winter season, then fade and ultimately vanish. This causes significant decrease in the number of trees in the region and hence contributes to the global warming. Climatic alterations happened in the Pleistocene era: According to the peat bog studies cited in (Chhabra), the area remained cool and dry between 40000 and 35000 years from today. Between 35000 and 15000 years from now, the climate remained cool but became increasingly dry. However, between 15000 and 7000 years from now, the climate became hot and humid. The fires generated by humans together with the climatic factors have caused an altogether increase in temperature. Scientific theory relevant to global warming: There is a growing trend among gardeners to cultivate the plants in the greenhouses. This is so because greenhouses better sustain humidity than open air. Light transforms into heat as it pours into the greenhouses from the glass windows. Heat, once formed retains in the greenhouses. This is actually what is called as the greenhouse effect. Earth’s atmosphere plays the role of glass windows and thus, greenhouse effect occurs. Ground absorbs the sunlight after it passes through the atmosphere. Upon hitting the ground, the light turns into heat. The constantly accumulating heat adds up to the already high temperature, and gives rise to the phenomenon of global warming. Although global warming has occurred to much extent, naturally, yet man has a big hand in the production of greenhouse gases that are the fundamental source of increase in the global warming. Greenhouse gases comprise gases that are usually generated from the burning fossil fuels. The gases entrap heat in the atmosphere of the Earth. The increased temperature of Earth is causing the polar ice caps to melt, thus increasing the level of water in oceans as well as their temperature. This is greatly altering the temperature of the ocean system of the Earth, hence giving rise to the phenomenon known as global superstorm. Once the global superstorm gains strength, it is capable of establishing blizzard conditions that may generate sustained winds with speeds over 100 miles / hr (“Scientific theories”). The global superstorm can cause sudden deaths. If it occurs in summers, it may cause massive flooding to destroy all low lying regions. On the other hand, the global superstorm can initiate an ice age if it occurs in winter. The global superstorm theory is difficult to reject because superstorms have occurred a number of times in the past and there is scientific data to prove it. It is because of the very superstorms that many a species of animals and plants that have existed in the past can no longer be seen. Most of the frozen Siberian mammoths show signs of a warmer climate in their time (“Scientific theories”). Discussion of global warming in the context of junk science: In context of the latest research conducted by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Climatic Data Center, the conception that increasing level of CO2 in the air is causing global warming is mere junk science. According to USA Today, “Warnings about global warming may not be dire enough, according to a climate study that describes a runaway-train acceleration of industrial carbon dioxide emissions,” (Milloy). According to the authors of the study, rate of the CO2 generated by man increased up to three times between 2000 and 2004 as compared to its rate in 1990s (Milloy). It has always been emphasized that increase in CO2 extent in the atmosphere is the fundamental cause of increase in global warming. If that is so, there should have been a threefold increase in the extent of global warming since 1990s up to 2004. This could have reflected in the form of a threefold increase in the temperature, since rise in the global temperatures is the fundamental symbol of increase in global warming. However, the study conducted by the US Department of Commerce’s National Climatic Data Center found great variation between the rise of CO2 extent in the air since 1990 up to 2004 and that of the global temperatures in the same period. Graphs that overlaid the CO2 trend upon the trends of ocean temperatures, surface and near surface temperatures showed that the “ever-changing global temperatures aren’t keeping pace with ever-increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels” (Milloy). There is no doubt in the fact that global temperatures have increased with the increase in CO2 level in the atmosphere. However, the increase in CO2 level is not at all consistent with the increase in global temperatures. The former is much more than the latter, and there is no comparison between the two. In light of this research, it may be said that holding increase in CO2 level in the atmosphere responsible for increase in global warming is indeed, a case of junk science! Works cited: Chhabra, Tarun. “How Traditional Ecological Knowledge addresses Global Climate change: the perspective of the Todas – the indigenous people of the Nilgiri hills of South India.” n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2011. . Eilperin, Juliet. “Fewer Americans believe in global warming, poll shows.” 25 Nov. 2009. Web. 18 Feb. 2011. . Milloy, Steven. “Junk Science: Hot Air Study Melts Global Warming Theory.” 27 May 2007. Web. 18 Feb. 2011. . “Scientific theories: Global Warming and the Superstorm.” n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2011. . Read More