Showing posts with label Geography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Geography. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Introduction
Global warming is the oddly rapid increase in Earth’s normal surface temperature over the past century, mainly due to the greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide emissions as people burn fossil fuels. This happens when the earth’s atmosphere entraps the sun’s heat.  Between 1906 and 2005, the global average temperature rose from 1.1 to 1.6o equivalent to F 0.6 to 0.9 degrees Celsius (Billy, 2006).  The change of the temperature rise has gone up for the last 50 years.  Global warming will affect people, weather, animals and plants everywhere.

Causes
Global warming causes are categorized into two; anthropogenic or man-made causes and natural causes. The release of methane gas form wetland and arctic tundra is one of the natural causes. Methane is a greenhouse gas. A greenhouse-gas traps heat in the atmosphere. Climate change is another natural cause as the earth goes through a cycle of the climate changes. (Billy, 2006)

Man-made changes possibly are responsible for the most damage. The biggest man-made problem is pollution. Pollution comes in many different ways. One thing that causes pollution is burning of fossil fuels which are fuels composed of organic matter such as oil, or coal. When they are burned, they give off a greenhouse gas known as Carbon dioxide. Also mining oil and coal allows methane gas to escape. Since Carbon dioxide contributes to global warming, the raise in population makes the problem worse because people breathe out CO2. As well, the trees that convert the CO2 to oxygen are being demolished because people are cutting down trees for homes and buildings. To make it even worse, people do not replace the trees which are an essential part of our eco system, so we are continuously taking advantage of our natural resources and not doing anything of benefit in return.

Effects
A raise in global temperature will possibly enhance the ability for severe weather, which could result to frequent and strong storms.  An increased temperature causes evaporation of water that finally leads to increased rainfall and further increasing the possibility for flooding. Global warming will make several countries become inapt for agriculture. (Minkel, 2007)

Additionally, environmental changes may cause human health implications due to increased global warming. Excessive heat waves in 2006 and 2003 resulted many deaths in North America, India, and Europe (Billy, 2006). The world is also witnessing a renewed spread   of diseases, prone to increase if temperatures continue to rise, including a spread of diseases that were earlier limited only to tropical areas. Whereas the thought of swimming in a warmer ocean is enjoyable to most people, increasing ocean temperatures can cause serious ecological damage.

Solutions
Scientists have offered some great measures, from carbon dioxide capturing rocks to space nets aiming to solve the crisis (Gore and Melcher Media, 2006). There are some things that should be done, including enhancement to vehicle fuel economy and energy efficiency, so less energy has to be produced. Increases in wind and solar power, nuclear power, bio fuels produced from crops, natural gas and hydrogen produced from renewable sources have to be considered (Krupp and Horn, 2008). Also planting trees and making changes to the farming methods can raise the amount of carbon gas stored.  Trees and plants absorb carbon gas as they grow, impounding carbon naturally. (Dumaine, 2008)

Conclusion
The bottom line it is coming and we have to find out what we can do to save this planet. Food will be affected, waters rising will be a disaster, and we got to be ready for catastrophes. This is going to hit every individual; we are all in a mess, and it is the earlier time we agree to this FACT. Serious efforts need to be put in place to overcome the problems due to global warming. Every individual ought to try the best to solve the problem and try as much as possible to restore the earth for the sake of the future generation.

Work Cited
Bily, C. A. (2006). Global warming. San Diego: Greenhaven Press.

Minkel, D. (2007). Global warming. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press.

Gore, A., & Melcher Media. (2006). An inconvenient truth: The planetary emergency of global warming and what we can do about it. New York: Rodale Press.

Dumaine, B. (2008). The plot to save the planet: How visionary entrepreneurs and corporate titans are creating real solutions to global warming. New York: Crown Business.

Krupp, F., & Horn, M. (2008). Earth, the sequel: The race to reinvent energy and stop global warming. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.