Global Warming

[rpgoof]

Here is my paper thats due tomorrow that I wrote on this issue. I don't know if I did the parenthetical information correctly but I don't really care :P

-----

GLOBAL WARMING

The man ran inside his apartment for a breath of fresh air. The air pollution aggravated his asthma and the heat outside was absolutely unbearable. The man sat on his couch to watch TV. He switched to the news and watched in horror as he witnessed yet another flood take the lives of many. This has not happened yet, but the continuous pumping of greenhouse gases into the air is going to have an effect on the Earth and its population. These gases are slowly increasing the Earth’s average temperature, strengthening the greenhouse effect, and changing the climate. The effects of global warming are certainly dangerous, but if nations around the world work hard enough, the global warming problem can be solved.
Before learning about the aspects of global warming, the greenhouse effect must be thoroughly understood. The greenhouse effect is a process of the Earth that traps heat in the atmosphere. The gases that trap the heat are called greenhouse gases (Pringle 11). One of the two most common gases is carbon dioxide, which is released by burning fossil fuels like coal and petroleum. Everyday activities like driving a vehicle is a common releaser of carbon dioxide. Another common gas is methane, which is released from livestock. Production of cattle for food is a common cause of the release of methane (“Climate” sect. 7). Human activity has increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. As a result, the greenhouse effect intensifies, trapping a greater amount of heat in the atmosphere (Pringle 11). A 30% increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in the past 200 years has resulted in a one degree increase of the global average temperature (“Science” para. 2). The last ice age was only nine degrees cooler than today (“Climate” sect. 1). Why is this bad? A direct result of higher temperatures is higher needs for cooling buildings (sect. 18). As more energy is used for cooling, the cost of cooling rises, power consumption increases, and more greenhouse gases are released at the power plant. Another result is the melting of permafrost – frozen soil – in cold areas like Alaska and northern Russia (sect. 21). If buildings were built on this permafrost, they would become potentially unstable. A third result of higher temperatures – which is, perhaps, the most frightening – is the melting of glaciers.
Since temperatures have been rising over the past 200 years, glaciers around the north and south poles have been shrinking (Pringle 7). These melted glaciers have no where to go but straight to the ocean, causing the sea level to rise. Jonathan Overpeck, director of the Institute for the Study of Planet Earth at the University of Arizona in Tucson, tells about the effects of a rising sea level: “The maps show that three foot rise would swamp cities all along the United States eastern seaboard. A twenty foot sea level rise would submerge a large part of Florida.” (Lovgren para. 5) The computer modeled maps Overpeck created do show accurate results. However, the sea level will not rise twenty feet any time soon. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an organization in the United States that protects the environment, knows the truth about the rising seas:
In the last century sea level rose five to six inches more than the global average along the Mid-Atlantic and Gulf Coasts…. The Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that the global average sea level will rise between seven inches and two feet in the next century. (“Climate” sect. 16)
According to the experts in the EPA and IPCC, there is little chance the sea level will even raise three feet. Although New York is not going to be swamped, there are still negative effects of melting glaciers and rising seas. The Arctic is affected most by global warming, so the most melting is occurring there. This results in less ice available for wildlife. Animals such as polar bears and seals depend on the ice to survive (sect. 18). Another result is the rising possibility of floods (Pringle 7). Five thousand square miles of the United States coasts are within two feet of the high tide line (“Climate” sect. 16). Coastal cities will be more prone to storm surges and flash floods than ever before. Fresh water rivers will become infected by salt water from the oceans. Ground water will also be affected by “salt water intrusion.” (sect. 17) Beaches will be eroded. These beaches matter because they act as protection against harmful ocean waves and storms. Costs of damages are said to increase “102%-200% for a three foot rise” of the sea level (sect. 16). Although cities aren’t going to drown, there are still dangers from a smaller rise in sea level.
A change in the climates around the world is a third result of global warming. Climate is not day-to-day weather. Climate is the overall average weather conditions in a given area. Although natural climate changes, such as an ice age, are inevitable, global warming is caused by man and can be stopped (Pringle 8-9). As the climate gets warmer, organisms that favor colder climates will be forced to more northward. The locations of forests and the types of tree in the forest will change. This could become a problem for the timber industries that cannot change their location in correspondence with the forests (“Climate sect. 14). The unique wildlife that is located in a national park may have to move away from the park’s habitat. The water supplies available, soil moisture and rainfall patterns will have an influence on the food crops’ ability to grow in a given area (sect. 13). Warmer climates also bring deadlier diseases. Malaria and yellow fever are two dangerous diseases that favor warm climates. The possibility of an extreme heat wave will also increase (sect. 12). Increasingly powerful hurricanes are another result of climate change. It is already evident that hurricanes have become more powerful with visible results of storms such as hurricane Katrina. As the oceans get warmer, hurricanes will increase in power (Burdeau para. 10). The ocean current that brings warm water from the equator to Europe is also at risk. This warm ocean current, called the Gulf Stream, is responsible for giving Europe the climate that it has (Davy para. 5). Emma Davy, an author for Weekly Reader, explains the process that warms Europe, “As the warm, salty Gulf Stream water surrenders its heat to the air, it becomes colder and denser…. That sinking of cold, dense water draws more warm surface Gulf Stream water northward.” The process that does this is called thermohaline circulation. Thermohaline circulation is totally dependant on the water being dense and salty. Glaciers are made of fresh, less dense water. If a significant amount of fresh, glacier water invades the Gulf Stream, the thermohaline circulation process will be threatened and Europe will become drastically colder (para. 7).
Despite all this information, there are still people that do not believe global warming is occurring. Senator James Inhofe, former chairman of Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, says, “…could it be manmade global warming is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people? It sure sounds like it.” (West para. 7) More than 19,000 scientists have signed a petition from the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine saying that “there is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of … greenhouse gases is causing… catastrophic heating of the Earth’s atmosphere and disruption of the Earth’s climate.” (Bast para. 6) Disbelievers say that if there were a small amount of global warming, it would actually be beneficial. The Medieval Warm Period from 800-1200AD allowed great advances in civilization. The Vikings were able to settle in Greenland (para. 10). Computer models are also said to be inaccurate and too drastic. The programmers make “flux adjustments” that can drastically increase the effects of global warming (para. 8). If countries around the world were to make ‘the switch’ to clean energy, many jobs would be lost (para. 12).
The disbelievers of global warming have obviously been misguided by false information. An increase of temperature, decrease in the size of glaciers, and rise of the sea level was actually recorded! Al Gore, environmental activist and former Vice President, tells about the false information by saying,
There are many who still do not believe that global warming is a problem at all. And it’s no wonder; because they are the targets of a massive and well-organized campaign of disinformation lavishly funded by polluters who are determined to prevent any action to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming out of a fear that their profits might be affected if they had to stop dumping so much pollution into the atmosphere. (Gore para. 5)
Those who don’t believe in global warming are victims of polluters that want to make money without stopping their pollution of the air. The minor groups of scientists and polluters may not believe, but major organizations around the world, such as the United States EPA and the IPCC, are believers (West para. 5). Major oil companies have also acknowledged the threat. BP, one of the largest oil companies in the world, says, “There is an increasing consensus that climate change is linked to the consumption of carbon based fuels and that action is required now to avoid further increases in carbon emissions as the global demand for energy increases.” (para. 15) Shell Oil, one of the leading oil companies in the US, says, “Shell shares the widespread concern that the emission of greenhouse gases from human activities is leading to changes in the global climate.” (para. 17) If countries around the world worked to expand their alternative energy industries, it would actually create jobs (“We” sect. 3). Wind, solar, and geothermal energy are great sources of clean energy. Increasing the efficiency of energy will help decrease greenhouse gas emissions and save money (sect. 2). These are great solutions, but global warming cannot be solved by one person. Everyone around the world must work together (sect. 4). Companies have already started to produce more energy efficient cars and alternative fuels. If the 1908 Model T got twenty miles to the gallon, modern technology should be able to get much more (sect. 6).
With all these threats of harsh weather, changing climates, rising seas, and high temperatures, it may feel like global warming can never be stopped. However, changes are already taking place. Increased energy efficiency and alternative fuels are already coming into the picture. With more alternatives to fossil fueled energy, global warming can be solved. The whole world will need to work together to stop the oncoming threat of global warming. The world must work to save itself.

References

Bast, Joseph L. “Eight Reasons Why ‘Global Warming’ Is a Scam”. Heartlander 1 Feb
2003. 15 Apr 2008 <http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artid=11548>.

Burdeau, Cain. “Global Warming Enters Hurricane Debate”. Associated Press 24 Jan
2008 <http://0-discover.prod.sirs.com.elib...oweb/disco/do/
article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000 271506>.

Climate Change US E.P.A. 14 Mar 2008. US E.P.A. 2 Apr 2008
<http//www.epa.gov/climatechange/>

Davy, Emma. “The Big Chill”. Weekly Reader 6 Dec 2002. 11 Apr 2008 <http://0-
Discoverer.prod.sirs.com.elibrary.mel.org:80/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn
%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000163750>.

Global Warming Quotes. Woopidoo.com. 11 Apr 2008 <http://www.woopidoo.com/
Business_quotes/global-warming.htm>.

Lovgern, Stefan. “Warming to Cause Catastrophic Rise in Sea Level?” National
Geographic 26 Apr 2004. 27 Apr 2008 <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/
news/2004/04/0420_040420_earthday.html>.

Pringle, Laurence. Global Warming. New York: Arcade Publishing, 1990.

Science FAQs | cooler heads. 2008. CEI. 18 Apr 2008 <http://www.globalwarming.org/
Primer/scienceFAQs>.

We Can Solve it. 2008. We Can Solve It. 2 Apr 2008 <http://wwwn.wecansolveit.org/>.

West, Larry. “Is Global Warming a Hoax?” About.com 2008. 4 Apr 2008<http://
Environment.about.com/od/faqglobalwarming/f/gw_faq_hoaz.htm>.

[CarbonOS]

It's pretty scary to predict whats in the future eh?

[Gow616]

Nice paper by the by, let us know what grade you get on it.

My thoughts on the subject matter:

Originally Posted by Gow616

From this person I know...

Only thing I would add is that this year has had the most snowfall since 1966 and now we have some "global warming" scientists backtracking to the ideas of "Climate Change" and "Global Cooling".

We can screw up the local environment but for a global environment screw up it would require the end scenario of Russia and USA launching thermonuclear weapons at each other.

Face it, Mother Nature destroys more in a year than we do in a 100. After all, the top half of Africa used to be Rain forests...

[chi]

wow, interesting stuff...

[mr.handsomeman]

wow man! i wonder what you got on this paper?
let us know, nice essay, good points, and I can see that you did your research with the works cited part.

[Atrocious]

I know how to decrease global warming...

We need more pirates, due to the number of decreasing pirates. The climate of the earth will continue to get hotter.

Below I have included a graph that compares the number of Pirate to global warming.

[Gow616]

Luckily, I know a satirical statement when I read one.

I.E. Although a little bit silly it can still be considered a part of a serious discussion.

Something interesting about that graph though...the hottest year on record is 1934 but by that satire graph standard 2000 is hotter than 1934. I guess it is also a satirical statement on the fact that people believe it is hotter now than what recorded data shows in the past.

[spenc938]

Well written paper, but I'm not yet sure as to my opinion on the subject. It does make sense, but then again the counter arguments also have to be taken into consideration.

[Hostile]

My opinion is global warming is this. One I think it should be called climate change not global warming. It is undeniable that the climate is changing, I totally see that. I just am not so convinced if the climate change is caused by humans or if it's a natural cycle. In the 1970s people were preaching global cooling, so go figure.

[spenc938]

Originally Posted by Hostile

My opinion is global warming is this. One I think it should be called climate change not global warming. It is undeniable that the climate is changing, I totally see that. I just am not so convinced if the climate change is caused by humans or if it's a natural cycle. In the 1970s people were preaching global cooling, so go figure.

That's kind of what I was trying to get across. He just worded it much better than I did.

[nathanlawliet]

**** dude what class are you taking??

For global warming, I'm in environmental science. I used to think that the world was heating up because of people, but now since we still have had cold days in April, I just think the Earth is transitioning into the next ice age.

But it always helps to reduce the amount of heat we produce in case that isn't the case, and that we really are heating up the Earth. If that's so, we need to do something now or climate change will destroy us.

[ShotgunSnipist]

Originally Posted by Atrocious

I know how to decrease global warming...

We need more pirates, due to the number of decreasing pirates. The climate of the earth will continue to get hotter.

Below I have included a graph that compares the number of Pirate to global warming.

OH MY GOD! YOU BUY SOME CANNONS I'LL START LOOKING FOR A BOAT!