Global Warming Causes and Effects Free Essays

Global Warming: Causes and Effects The term â€Å"global warming† is often used synonymously with the term climate change, but the two terms have distinct meanings. Global Warming is a gradual increase in the earth’s temperature. Novdia explained that â€Å"global warming refers to the documented historical warming of the Earth’s surface, based upon worldwide temperature records that have been maintained by humans since the 1880s† (Global Warming). We will write a custom essay sample on Global Warming: Causes and Effects or any similar topic only for you Order Now Global warming is a major crisis in the world today. Three causes of global warming are the greenhouse effect, increase of carbon dioxide emission, and the effects of temperature increase. The greenhouse effect is a primary cause of global warming. It is a gradual rise in temperature in the earth’s atmosphere due to the heats absorption from the sun and entrapment of gases, water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, in the air around the earth. An example of this is a bright sunlight will effectively warm an individual’s car on a cold, clear day by the greenhouse effect. The longer infrared wavelengths radiated by sun-warmed objects do not pass readily through the glass. The trap of this energy warms the interior of the vehicle. The trapping of the hot air so that it cannot rise and lose the energy by convection also plays a major role. Stephen Novdia stated, â€Å"The greenhouse effect was discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1824, first reliably experimented on by John Tyndall in 1858, and first reported quantitatively by Svante Arrhenius in 1896† (Global Warming). Greenhouse effect then becomes a primary cause of global warming. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions cause global warming. It is gas in the earth’s atmosphere that came from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are formed by natural resources and are decomposed from buried dead organisms. A study on Carbon dioxide emissions in a magazine article on May 2009 found the following evidence: â€Å"In the 19th century, scientists realized that gases in the atmosphere cause a â€Å"greenhouse effect† which affects the planet’s temperature. [The planet’s temperature will increase dramatically by the gases in the atmosphere absorbing the heat. ] These scientists were interested chiefly in the possibility that a lower level of carbon dioxide gas might explain the ice ages of the distant past. At the turn of the century, Svante Arrhenius calculated that emissions from human industry might someday bring a global warming. Other scientists dismissed his idea as faulty. In 1938, G. S. Callendar argued that the level of carbon dioxide was climbing and raising [the] global temperature, but most scientists found his arguments implausible. It was almost by chance that a few researchers in the 1950s discovered that global warming truly was possible. In the early 1960s, C. D. Keeling measured the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere: it was rising fast. Researchers began to take an interest, struggling to understand how the level of carbon dioxide had changed in the past, and how the level was influenced by chemical and biological forces. They found that the gas plays a crucial role in climate change, so that the rising level could gravely affect our future. † (Weart) This magazine article influence Americans to recycle because the article is geared to them. With the CO2 causing the increase in weather, it also causes the increase of the greenhouse effect. The CO2 can affect the climate change and the future of the world if the greenhouse effect increases. Causes of global warming exist and so do the effects. Revkin stated, â€Å"Americans lead in moving to a world where ‘fossil fuels have been largely modified for carbon recycling or replaced by carbon-neutral alternatives. † (Challenges to Both Left and Right on Global Warming) A result of increase of weather are polar ice caps and temperature rising. When the temperature increases, the polar ice caps will melt, causing glaciers to melt as well. Glaciers are made up of fresh frozen water and when they melt into the ocean, which is composed of salt water, the ocean currents will be altered. The result of ocean currents altering will also affect the species that live in the ocean. Some species live in salt water and others live in fresh water, but cannot live in both. The increase of water in the ocean will cause evaporation to increase. The increase of probability and intensity of droughts and heat waves will increase as well. With all the water in the ocean and the weather increasing, it will cause warm water and more hurricanes. Global warming has both causes and effects. It is one of the most major crisis that will affect the world today, yet the most difficult to resolve. If I had a choice, I would make everybody recycle and you use resources. I would also have Americans reduce the Carbon emissions. Even if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases today, the Earth would still be warm by some kind of degree Fahrenheit. How to cite Global Warming: Causes and Effects, Papers Global Warming Causes and Effects Free Essays What is global warming? Global warming is an increase in the overall temperature which is caused by too much carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases The amount of carbon dioxide can increase or decrease the climate temperature. Each of these gases their life span in the atmosphere is different and their amount it is roughly the same the out the world. We will write a custom essay sample on Global Warming Causes and Effects or any similar topic only for you Order Now Greenhouse effect A greenhouse gases is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiant energy within the thermal infrared range3. Greenhouse gases are formed by different gases such as carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrogen oxide, water vapour CFC’s. Carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas Carbon dioxide is formed in the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels (A fossil fuel is a fuel formed by natural processes, such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms, containing energy originating in ancient photosynthesis3), solid waste, trees and wood products. Methane as a greenhouse gas Methane is a natural gas and it can also be created by humans. Methane is created through production and transportation of coal and oil. Methane becomes a greenhouse gas if it exposed in the atmosphere before being used. When its in the atmosphere it absorbs the sun’s heat. Nitrogen oxide as a greenhouse gas The main cause’s nitrogen oxide in the atmosphere agriculture, Oceans, Human sewage, etc.†¦ Carbon Emissions and Their Effects Impacts on weather pattern Carbon emissions have a bad effect and are the reason of the climate change which causes flooding. Heavy floods people and animals lose their lives through drowning, homes are destroyed (people will be left homeless and without their valuables and food). Infrastructure will also be affected. And the economy of the country might suffer. Impacts on water supply Water is one of the things that humans, plants, animals cannot survive without it. Because of carbon emission we might lose it. The increase in temperature results in water which evaporates into the sky being trapped in the atmosphere and land left dry. Water supply might also affect the electricity supply, plants that supply electricity need water in order for them to be functional. Impacts on farming and food Increase in carbon emission can affect the growth in livestock and farming. Even though plants need CO2 to survive increase in it may result in increase in temperature which will result in shortage of water supply. Livestock need water to survive, increase in temperature causes the stress in animals, and in a long run they can be vulnerably. The decrease in fertility and production of milk may happen. Decrease in milk production may result in dying of the offspring’s. Impact in human health Rise in greenhouse means less oxygen for us humans and animals. The temperature change is different it depends on where you from. People from the regions with poor air quality are at risk of having poor air quality, and those who live in floods places are at risk having more floods in future. And insects that are stop by the cold temperature will move to places with higher temperature spreading diseases. Heat waves can lead to heat stroke and dehydration, and are the most common cause of weather related deaths How to cite Global Warming Causes and Effects, Papers