Background Of Global Warming

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Benjamin Enright

Period 6

Global Warming

Imagine living on a planet that is ten degrees warmer then Earth; where more than seventy five percent of the surface is water, and where there are constant, ferocious storms destroying the landscape. This is what Earth would be like if global warming rates continued to rise. Global warming is a highly debated topic dealing with the climate of the Earth. Many argue that the rising amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are creating a hole in the ozone layer, a layer in the atmosphere called stratospheric ozone; the ozone layer’s main function is to prevent radiation from entering the atmosphere. A hole in the ozone would allow an excessive amount of superfluous heat radiation into the atmosphere. This combined with the "greenhouse effect" is causing the Earth’s average temperature to slowly increase. Some argue that global warming is a myth and that humans have nothing to do with the temperature rise in the atmosphere. However, humans do have a profound effect on the temperature of the Earth and have the capabilities of decreasing the rate of temperature rise on the planet.

Many skeptics believe that the Earth’s average surface temperature has risen a very minor amount over the past centuries—not enough to alter the Earth or plants and animals living on the planet. Some critics of global warming claim that ground stations that record surface temperatures are located in urban areas where there is a large amount of heat coming from factories and transportation vehicles. Therefore, the readings are incorrect and should be done in more rural areas. These critics also claim that the average ground stations have recorded only a 0.6 to 0.8 degree Celsius increase in the average surface temperature in the past 100 years, which is well within the natural variations recorded in the last millennium (Glover 2007). With information like this, there is a great debate on whether global warming is real and whether humans have anything to do with it and if it is real how humans can possibly stop or slow down the process.

However, there is also much information supporting global warming as a serious issue that has a great effect on the planet and its inhabitants. Although some argue that the Earth’s surface temperature has only increased by a small amount, the Earth’s temperature has surely increased, proving that there is some type of global warming.

Global warming is defined as a rise in the average temperature in the Earth’s atmosphere, sufficient enough to cause climatic change (Passante 18). Global warming was first discussed as an issue in 1896 when a Swedish scientist named Svante Arrhenius claimed that fossil fuel combustion may eventually result in enhanced global warming. He also proposed a relation between atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and temperature (Enzler 2011).

The main cause of global warming is the rising amounts of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere absorbing partial amounts of the infrared radiation being radiated by Earth’s surface (Britannica 2012). These gases that are preventing infrared radiation to escape Earth’s atmosphere come from the burning of fossil fuels and other human activity. 98% of carbon dioxide emissions come from fossil fuels being burned in cars, homes, factories, and businesses (Passante 19). The large amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere create a filter that allows some radiation to escape while holding other radiation back. This process of heat energy entering the Earth’s atmosphere, bouncing of Earth’s surface, then not being able to escape is called the greenhouse effect. It is called this because this process resembles that of a greenhouse that keeps plants heated by having transparent windows that allow sunlight in but do not let the radiation out. A major part of the efficiency of the heating of an actual greenhouse is the trapping of the air so that the energy is not lost by convection. The greenhouse effect refers to circumstances where the short wavelengths of visible light from the sum pass through a transparent medium and are absorbed, but the longer the wavelengths of the infrared re-radiation from the heated objects are unable to pass through that medium (Nave). The radiation is unable to escape because the greenhouse gases, the most common being carbon dioxide, create a layer in the atmosphere that partially absorbs infrared radiation as it bounces off Earth’s surface. In the mid-18th century, the beginning of the industrial age, carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere were 280 parts per million (ppm). By the end of the 20th century the C02 levels were at 369 parts per million and today the levels are at 560 parts per million (Britannica 2012). If the carbon dioxide concentrations continue to rise there could be drastic consequences for the Earth. The infrared radiation that does not escape Earth’s atmosphere lingers and slightly increases the Earth’s average temperature. And as long as carbon dioxide levels are increasing, the Earth’s surface temperature will increase as well.

There are already multiple effects of global warming in the world today. Due to the planet having a slight increase in temperature, there are many more storms occurring now then previous years (Passante 18). Also due to the temperature rise, there has been ice melting worldwide, certain animals have been forced to migrate north to cooler living areas, and the sea level rise has increased over the last century (National Geographic 2007). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that the sea level rose by 17cm during the 20th century due to the ice melting because of the increase in Earth’s temperature (Britannica 2012). According to Nasa, glaciers have shrunk, ice on rivers and lakes is breaking up earlier, plant and animal ranges have shifted and trees are flowering sooner (Nasa 2007).

Even more disturbing than the current effects, are the possible future effects. With the continued rise of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the temperature of the Earth’s surface will rise to as much as 4.5 degrees in the next 50 years and 10 degrees in the next century. Also, warmer temperatures mean more precipitation, more flooding, more hurricanes, and more melting of ice caps (Passante 20). With the melting of the ice caps due to the warmer weather, as well as the more common precipitation, the sea level will rise between 7 and 23 inches by the end of the century (National Geographic 2007). Global warming also deals with the oceans and ocean currents. When ice caps melt, cool fresh water is released into the oceans. This fresh water mixes with saltwater and alters the saltwater content of the water. This occurrence can slow down and even redirect the circulation of oceans. Warm water of the Gulfstream might turn towards Europe, bringing cooler weather to Europe and the northeastern United States (Passante 20). Lastly, global warming will do much damage to humans, animals, and plants. If global temperatures continue to rise, there would be increased extinction of many plants and animal species, shifts in patterns of agriculture and rising sea levels as well as significant economic and ecological damage (Britannica 2012). That is why it is so essential for people to realize what they’re doing to the atmosphere and find a solution to the problems of global warming.

The main way to stop or decelerate the rate of global warming is to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. A commonly cited goal is to stabilize GHG (Greenhouse gases) concentrations to around 450 – 550 parts per million, which is about twice pre-industrial levels (National Geographic 2007). One of the largest challenges and solutions of global warming is the elimination of the burning of fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and eventually natural gas (Biello 2007). Buildings worldwide contribute around one third of all greenhouse gas emissions. The second leading source of greenhouse gas emissions is transportation. People use transportation everyday multiple times per day, and each time they use this transportation, they are burning fossil fuels and emitting greenhouse gases. Burning a single gallon of gasoline produces 20 pounds of CO2 (Biello 2007).

Global warming is an issue that must be addressed in order for the continuation of an inhabitable planet. The possible effects of an increased average surface temperature are very deadly. In order to avoid these catastrophes, people must realize what they’re doing to their planet and must find a way to help the environment and our world.