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What Is Causing Global Warming?
Global Warming is the increase in the overall temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere. Human behaviour is gradually unbalancing the world’s natural climate balance. By burning fossil fuels we are releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the Earth's atmosphere. Carbon
dioxide makes up more than 75% of greenhouse gases (see diagram below), which trap the sun’s heat, keeping Earth at a suitable temperature for mankind. More CO₂results in an increased volume of greenhouse gases, therefore causing the Earth to heat up.
dioxide makes up more than 75% of greenhouse gases (see diagram below), which trap the sun’s heat, keeping Earth at a suitable temperature for mankind. More CO₂results in an increased volume of greenhouse gases, therefore causing the Earth to heat up.
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Every day we burn huge amounts of oil, coal and gas (which are all fossil fuels) to produce energy. With a growing demand for energy for transportation, agriculture, electricity and industry, we are releasing carbon dioxide into our atmosphere faster than it can be naturally removed (refer to the Carbon Cycle below).
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What Are The Effects Of Global Warming?
Global warming is beginning to have major effects on our world . Although in the past, Earth's climate has naturally fluctuated between being very cold and very hot it is currently an ideal environment for life; but for how much longer?
Firstly, with a warmer world comes increased air temperatures. This is effecting the poles hugely. As the ice melts, animals such as polar bears and penguins lose their habitats. In addition, melting ice leads to a rising sea level, which brings many problems in itself.A one-metre rise in sea level would wipe out a third of the world’s croplands. This creates food shortages and a loss of jobs and money.
Firstly, with a warmer world comes increased air temperatures. This is effecting the poles hugely. As the ice melts, animals such as polar bears and penguins lose their habitats. In addition, melting ice leads to a rising sea level, which brings many problems in itself.A one-metre rise in sea level would wipe out a third of the world’s croplands. This creates food shortages and a loss of jobs and money.
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Global warming is also effecting our weather, making temperature extremes greater, rainfall and flooding heavier, hurricanes stronger and droughts more severe. Average precipitation (rain and snowfall) has increased across the globe.
As well as this, our oceans are being forced to absorb more carbon dioxide . Absorbed CO₂reacts with water and forms carbonic acid. This lowers the pH level in the ocean (makes it more acidic) and affects the formation of corals, plankton and shells. Losing these organisms has the potential to wipe out all marine life, due to the fact that they all play key roles at the baso of marine food chains.
Another effect from burning fossil fuels is the formation of acid rain. Acid rain is caused when oxides of sulphur and nitrogen are released during the combustion of fossil fuels. These gases dissolve in the water in clouds and cause rain water to become more acidic than normal. The problems with acid rain are that it; corrodes buildings, statues and bridges; kills plants; changes the PH levels in soil; and acidifies aquatic environments; resulting in the death of organisms.
As well as this, our oceans are being forced to absorb more carbon dioxide . Absorbed CO₂reacts with water and forms carbonic acid. This lowers the pH level in the ocean (makes it more acidic) and affects the formation of corals, plankton and shells. Losing these organisms has the potential to wipe out all marine life, due to the fact that they all play key roles at the baso of marine food chains.
Another effect from burning fossil fuels is the formation of acid rain. Acid rain is caused when oxides of sulphur and nitrogen are released during the combustion of fossil fuels. These gases dissolve in the water in clouds and cause rain water to become more acidic than normal. The problems with acid rain are that it; corrodes buildings, statues and bridges; kills plants; changes the PH levels in soil; and acidifies aquatic environments; resulting in the death of organisms.
What Could Happen In The Future If We Don't Act Now?
- Our world will continue to heat up, resulting in many areas currently used for growing crops becoming deserts.
- Sea levels will rise and many low lying areas will be totally flooded.
- Many creatures will perish as habitats change in response to new climate patterns.
- Millions of people will become refugees, desperately seeking new homes and new lands where there is available food and water.
What Are We Doing About Global Warming?
As global warming and climate change become a growing concern worldwide, we are being forced to find alternate ways of producing energy, that do not cause an atmospheric increase in CO₂. Failure will force us to change the way we live. There are two main approaches to stabilising levels of CO₂ in the atmosphere. One approach is to replace fossil fuels with alternative sources of energy that either don't produce any CO₂ (renewable energy) , or just recycle existing CO₂ (biofuels). The second is to find ways to remove existing CO₂ from the atmosphere and store the carbon where it is harmless.
We are beginning to use biofuels instead of fossil fuels. Biofuels are created from plants and are considered 'carbon neutral'. This is because when they are combusted, they release the same amount of carbon dioxide that they absorbed during photosynthesis, so there is no increase or decrease of CO₂in our atmosphere. They work by fermenting plant material to produce ethanol to fuel vehicles or provide heating. Biofuels are also a renewable source of energy, meaning they won't run out. However there are some significant disadvantages to biofuels, such as; using land to grow plants for fermentation means less land to grow food, which could result in increased food prices or food shortages; natural habitats are lost due to more land being needed to grow the crops; the burning of corn (a popular plant for producing biofuels) can release large amounts of nitrous oxide (which is another greenhouse gas) into our atmosphere and this defeats the point of biofuels in the first place; and there are in fact better solutions to the problem, such as cars that run on hydrogen.
We are beginning to use biofuels instead of fossil fuels. Biofuels are created from plants and are considered 'carbon neutral'. This is because when they are combusted, they release the same amount of carbon dioxide that they absorbed during photosynthesis, so there is no increase or decrease of CO₂in our atmosphere. They work by fermenting plant material to produce ethanol to fuel vehicles or provide heating. Biofuels are also a renewable source of energy, meaning they won't run out. However there are some significant disadvantages to biofuels, such as; using land to grow plants for fermentation means less land to grow food, which could result in increased food prices or food shortages; natural habitats are lost due to more land being needed to grow the crops; the burning of corn (a popular plant for producing biofuels) can release large amounts of nitrous oxide (which is another greenhouse gas) into our atmosphere and this defeats the point of biofuels in the first place; and there are in fact better solutions to the problem, such as cars that run on hydrogen.
Another option is to use renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar and tidal power, instead of coal, oil and gas to generate electricity. These methods of producing energy have reliable sources that will not run out, unlike fossil fuels. Also, they do not release carbon dioxide or any other harmful waste products. However, these are not without their problems as they require large land or sea areas to produce comparatively small amounts of power and their output varies with the weather.
There is a possibility of capturing the carbon dioxide emitted from fossil fuels and storing it underground, where it cannot escape into our atmosphere —a process called "carbon sequestration." (For more infomation on this topic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_sequestration)
In addition to reducing the gases we emit to our atmosphere, we can also increase the amount of gases we take out of our atmosphere. Trees and plants absorb CO₂as they grow, through photosynthesis, reducing the amount of carbon in our atmosphere naturally. So by increasing forestry, we could help stabilise our CO₂emissions.
In addition to reducing the gases we emit to our atmosphere, we can also increase the amount of gases we take out of our atmosphere. Trees and plants absorb CO₂as they grow, through photosynthesis, reducing the amount of carbon in our atmosphere naturally. So by increasing forestry, we could help stabilise our CO₂emissions.
What Can You Do Personally To Help?
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Preventing Global Warming isn't just about finding alternate energy sources, it's also a case of what each and every one of us can do to reduce the amount of energy we use. If we all use that little bit less energy, then not so much will need to be produced, resulting in a reduced amount of CO₂emissions.
The 3 ‘R’s – reduce, reuse, recycle – sum up some of the things we should all be doing. Reducing is the most important aspect of the cycle, because it has a direct result. Reducing your personal energy consumption involves turning off electrical appliances when they’re not in use; finding alternates to car travel (try walking, biking, public transport or car pooling); and buying products with limited amounts of packaging. Reusing is the second best option, as it takes less energy to reuse things than o make them from scratch and you are not wasting the raw materials; try reusing plastic bags, scrap paper, water bottles, food boxes and packaging, and envelopes. Reuse things instead of throwing them away, and if you can’t reuse then Recycle them . Paper, tins, wine/drink bottles, cardboard, newspapers and food packaging can all easily be recycled. As well as recycling the things you buy, try buying products that contain recycled materials. Many brands of paper towels, rubbish bags, greeting cards, and toilet paper, are made from recycled materials. If seven billion people all do their bit, it will make a huge difference.
"Dealing with global warming doesn't mean we have all got to suddenly stop breathing. Dealing with global warming means that we have to stop waste, and if you travel for no reason whatsoever, that is a waste."
David Attenborough
The 3 ‘R’s – reduce, reuse, recycle – sum up some of the things we should all be doing. Reducing is the most important aspect of the cycle, because it has a direct result. Reducing your personal energy consumption involves turning off electrical appliances when they’re not in use; finding alternates to car travel (try walking, biking, public transport or car pooling); and buying products with limited amounts of packaging. Reusing is the second best option, as it takes less energy to reuse things than o make them from scratch and you are not wasting the raw materials; try reusing plastic bags, scrap paper, water bottles, food boxes and packaging, and envelopes. Reuse things instead of throwing them away, and if you can’t reuse then Recycle them . Paper, tins, wine/drink bottles, cardboard, newspapers and food packaging can all easily be recycled. As well as recycling the things you buy, try buying products that contain recycled materials. Many brands of paper towels, rubbish bags, greeting cards, and toilet paper, are made from recycled materials. If seven billion people all do their bit, it will make a huge difference.
"Dealing with global warming doesn't mean we have all got to suddenly stop breathing. Dealing with global warming means that we have to stop waste, and if you travel for no reason whatsoever, that is a waste."
David Attenborough
