Global Warming

Global Warming

Global warming refers to an increase in the average temperature of the earth’s surface This occurs when greenhouse gases trap sun’s heat and light in the earth’s atmosphere, which increases the temperature. They warm the world

•Greenhouse gases are:

Carbon Dioxide (CO2),

Water Vapor (clouds),

Nitrous Oxide (N2O) and

Methane (CH4),

The gases allow sunlight in, which warms the earth. This heat bounces off the earth as infrared radiation. Greenhouse gases such as water vapor (clouds) and carbon dioxide (CO2) trap and retain the heat.The greenhouse effect is necessary to make life possible on earth.

Causes of Global Warming

Scientists have two views:

a) Global Warming is due to earth’s natural cycle of warming and cooling.

b) Global Warming is the result of human activities.

Historical evidence demonstrates that since industrialization humans are dramatically contributing to the “greenhouse effect” such as:

пÑ"? Pollution from factories

пÑ"? Carbon Dioxide from burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas, oil

пÑ"? Deforestation

The most important greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide (CO2). First producer of CO2 is from the burning of fossils fuels, increased 80% in the last twenty years. The second is deforestation that produces 20-25%. Since 1750, levels of atmospheric concentration of CO2 have increased by 31% percent above the pre-industrial levels. In 2000, the atmospheric concentration of CO2 was of 383 parts per million (ppm) by volume

Effects of Global Warming

• NASA reports that 2005 ranks as the hottest year on record, matching 1998

• The global average temperature has increased 1.1oF (0.6oC)

• Affecting the ecological productivity. Higher concentrations of carbon dioxide have the tendency to reduce photorespiration, suppressing growth.

• Biodiversity as a result of the ecosystems interactions with the changes in temperature.

• Disrupting the entire food chain and changing the ecosystems, the habitats and possibly to extinction of species.

• Glaciers are melting and sea levels rising

•Extreme weather events such heavier storms, hurricanes and flooding. Global Warming does not create hurricanes, but it does make them stronger and more dangerous:

пÑ"? the proportion of hurricanes is reaching to category 4 or 5

пÑ"? the precipitation of hurricanes has increased 7% the last twenty century

пÑ"? Evaporation, causing heavy rainfall and more erosion

• People die from heat exhaustion and respiratory problem, asthma and other lung diseases

Global Warming Predictions

• Summary of the risk and impacts of Global Warming, by The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

• The geographic distribution of the risks and impacts of Global Warming produced by man’s greenhouse gas emissions by IPPC

• By the year 2100 is expected to increase by 3oC.

• Increase in intensity and duration of hurricanes and tropical storms.

• Shorten the amount of usable fresh water on the planet.

• By the year 2030, Glacier National Park will have no glaciers left.

• Threatening polar bear habitat and possible extinction of other flora and fauna.

• By the year 2050, 15 to 37% of plant and animal species could wipe.

What can de done?

• Greenhouse gas emissions (mainly CO2) must be reduced by 60-80% by 2050.

• Kyoto Protocol, international agreement to develop measures to stabilize greenhouse gas - mainly carbon dioxide вЂ" emissions of developed countries.

• United States and Kazakhstan have not sign the agreement, being United States the world’s larger producer of greenhouse gases.

•Interesting Facts from The American Thinker Magazine (Dec. 2007):

пÑ"? 75% of the countries that signed the agreement increased their emissions of greenhouse gases faster than United States.

пÑ"? 18.0% increased of worldwide emissions,

пÑ"? 21.1% emission increased just from countries that ratified the agreement,

пÑ"? 10.0% emission increased from countries that not sign the agreement, and

пÑ"? 6.6% emission increased from the United States

• It is the