Question

essay on global warning

Answer 1

INTRODUCTION

What exactly is global warming and why is it worthy of consideration? Global warming is the scientific phenomenon linking an increase of the average earth temperature because of a trapping of radiation within the earth like a greenhouse. This has been a natural phenomenon throughout the natural history of the world but it has only become a problem in the last few hundred years because of an anthropogenic increase in greenhouse gasses.

CAUSES

This essay on global warming needs to look at the causes of the problem. Global warming is caused by an acute heating of the earth’s atmosphere as a result of energy being trapped. Greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide and methane can cause the atmosphere to build up, leading to solar radiation becoming trapped within the earth like within a greenhouse, hence the name. Over time, the trapping of this radiation leads to the earth’s atmosphere rising in temperature and the earth becomes warmer as a result. The causes of global warming are both natural and anthropogenic but the anthropogenic influence is the most damaging.

The phenomenon of global warming has been occurring naturally as a result of the natural rotation of the sun which changes the intensity of solar radiation hitting the earth, also natural processes such as volcanoes produce a large amount of Sulphur dioxide and other greenhouse gasses which can result in global warming too. Once these greenhouse gasses become released, they can contribute to the buildup of the atmosphere and work to trap more solar radiation within the earth.

Global warming is also largely a result of the release of methane from cracks in the earth, landfill sites and through natural gas leaks. Methane has an effect on the atmosphere which is four times as bad for global warming as carbon dioxide. Cattle and other animals that produce methane can also contribute significantly to global warming, much of this has been a problem because of human animal farming which produces hundreds of cattle for the meat industry.

PROBLEMS

Global warming and greenhouse gasses are problematic as they raise the earth’s temperature, but exact effects of global warming exist and what effect will global warming have for our planet and our society in the future? Polar ice caps can melt, there will be widespread flooding all over the world, there will be an increase in the frequency and intensity of harmful natural disasters and the consequences to the economy will be detrimental to societal progress.

SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM

As a society, there are certainly many solutions to prevent global warming and reduce its harmful effects, yet it will be difficult to coordinate these efforts together. It could be a lot easier to live for many more years if we were to stop burning so many fossil fuels, yet the problem is the incentive for people to change their ways and adopt new practices, especially in the light of global capitalism and consumerism. Any global warming essay ought to shed some light on the solutions we can achieve.

Answer 2

Global warming is a gradual process of heating of earth’s surface and whole environment including oceans, ice caps, etc. The global rise in atmospheric temperature has been clearly noticed in the recent years. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, in the past century there is increase in the earth’s surface average temperature by around 1.4 degree Fahrenheit (means 0.8 degrees Celsius). It has also been estimated that global temperature may increase by another 2 to 11.5 degrees F in the next century.

There are many causes of the global warming, some are natural causes and some are human made causes. The most important cause of global warming is greenhouse gases which are generated by some natural processes as well as human activities. The increase in the level of green house gases has been seen in the 20th century because of the increasing population, economy and use of energy. Increasing demand of industrialization in the modern world to fulfill almost each need is causing the release of variety of green house gases through many industrial processes in the atmosphere.

The release of carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) gas has been increased in the recent years by 10-fold. The release of carbon dioxide gas varies according to the natural and industrial processes including photosynthesis and oxidation cycles. Methane is another green house gas release in the atmosphere by the anaerobic decomposition of organic materials. Other greenhouse gases are like oxides of nitrogen (nitrous oxide), halocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), chlorine and bromine compounds, etc. Such green house gases get collected to the atmosphere and disturb the radiative balance of atmosphere. They have capability to absorb heat radiations and cause warming of the earth surface.

Another cause of global warming is ozone depletion means declination of ozone layer over Antarctica. Ozone layer is declining day by day by increasing release of chlorofluorocarbon gas. It is a human generated cause of global warming. Chlorofluorocarbon gas is used at many places as aerosol propellants in the industrial cleaning fluids and in the refrigerators, the gradual release of which causes declination to the ozone layer in the atmosphere.

Ozone layer causes protection to the earth surface by inhibiting the harmful sun rays to coming to the earth. However, gradually declining ozone layer is the big indication of increasing global warming of the earth surface. Harmful ultraviolet sun rays are entering to the biosphere and get absorbed by the green houses gases which ultimately increase the global warming. According to the statistics, it has been estimated that the size of ozone hole has been twice the size of Antarctica (more than 25 million km2) by 2000. There is no any clear trend of ozone layer declination in the winter or summer seasons.

Presence of various aerosols in the atmosphere is also causing earth’s surface temperature to increase. Atmospheric aerosols are fully capable to scatter (causes cooling to the planet) and absorb (makes air warm) the solar and infrared radiations. They are also capable to change the microphysical and chemical properties of the clouds and possibly their lifetime and extent. The increasing amount of aerosols in the atmosphere is because of human contribution. Dust is produced by agriculture, organic droplets and soot particles are produced by biomass burning, and aerosols are produced by the industrial processes through the burning of wide variety of products in the manufacturing process. Various emissions by means of transport generate different pollutants which get converted to the aerosols through many chemical reactions in the atmosphere.