The Earth's general climate system is given energy by solar energy emitted from the sun. Earth absorbs around 70% of the incoming heat, and also gives off infrared energy7 already within its climate system. The overall climate of the earth is determined by a balance of absorbed and released heat. Atmospheric Gases, otherwise known as greenhouse gases, absorb this infrared energy that the Earth is trying to release. The process of atmospheric gases absorbing the Earth's energy and reducing the amount of heat omitted is known as the greenhouse effect. Water vapor and carbon dioxide, both greenhouse gases, are the main contributors to the greenhouse effect. However, not everyone knows that there are many other dangerous greenhouse gases, and that human-generated greenhouse gases make up 40% of the total effect. As more of these gases are released into the atmosphere, more heat becomes trapped and as a result the Earth's overall temperature rises. However, the effects of this global warming are not immediately noticed because much of this heat is stored within the depths of the ocean. Scientists have determined that from 1900-2001 the global temperature has risen 0.6 degrees Celsius, but when the time frame is expanded to 1900-2006, it becomes 0.74 degrees Celsius.
During the industrial revolution, people in the U.S. needed more and more energy for the new technologies that were being created, like the steam engine. The U.S. mainly burned coal as an energy source, and became reliant on it. However, coal is a fossil fuel, or a natural fuel source formed by dead organisms, so it releases carbon dioxide when burned. The world has become reliant on fossil fuels as a source of energy: around 80% of the world's energy is from the use of fossil fuels.
If this trend of global warming continues, there will be many consequences for it. The polar ice caps are currently melting, raising the sea level. If the sea level is raised high enough, it will eventually change our current shorelines and threaten cities that are close to sea levels. In addition, as the ocean grows warmer, more intense tropical storms will strike. These are few of the many problems that will arise due to global warming. Rapid climate changes will occur, and there is no guarantee that people will be able to adapt quickly enough.
Ramanathan, V. and Tim P. Barnett. "Experimenting with earth." The Wilson Quarterly Vol. 27, No. 2 (April 2003), pp. 78. Elibrary (accessed February 10, 2013).
Image sources:
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/global-warming2.htm
There is a temptation these days for people to resort to pseudoscience to prove a 'scientifically proven' point. There is still much dispute in the scientific community as far as some of the things you present.
ReplyDeleteTo name a couple:
"Human-generated greenhouse gases make up 40% of the total effect"
This number is just speculation. We can measure how much greenhouse gas humans are emitting, and we can measure how much greenhouse gas is in the atmosphere, but to know what percent change we are responsible for we also need to know how much greenhouse gas is naturally caused, which to-date we have no method of easily measuring.
"If this trend of global warming continues, there will be many consequences for it"
Not necessarily true. Lots of positive things can come of a warmer climate and increased greenhouse gases as well. Crops grow faster with more carbon dioxide, fewer people will die from cold (more people die from cold than heat), hospitable and agricultural latitudinal zones will increase, etc.
While the earth is with no doubt warming, and the greenhouse effect no doubt exists, the extent to which humans have influenced that warming, and whether that warming is good or bad, are unanswered questions. I would encourage you not to phrase your statements as if they have more scientific backing than they actually might.
I think you make good points. I find it fascinating, and scary, that while there is now widespread agreement that the production of greenhouse gasses is having detrimental impacts on the world, we seem incapable to halting their production. At least at this moment. Why is that? Are the movements that began in the Industrial Revolution so profound that we are now not even capable of altering them?
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