GLOBAL WARMING

Is Global Warming Real?

Is Global Warming Real?

Introduction

There is no single definition of global warming as it is a phenomenon related to entrapment of greenhouse gases caused by the burning of fossil fuels. This activity causes the surface temperature of the earth's atmosphere to rise and lead to drastic weather changes. These changes cause disasters like floods, hurricanes and droughts. Scientists believe that global warming is caused by the increase in the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The gases are released with the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, petrol and natural gas. The Greenhouse effect occurs as these gases prevent the Sun's rays to escape the Earth's atmosphere; causing global warming of the planet. During the past century, there has been a lot of progress in industrialization as humans have increased dependency on machines. This progress has caused humans to use more of the earth's resources. Mechanization of processes has increased the need for using more fossil fuels. Global warming can lead to food shortages in countries that experience droughts as some regions will have more rain and other fewer. Regions with more rain would have floods and that would cause huge losses to the infrastructure of the country. Recent times have witnessed catastrophic disasters causing huge financial as well as loss of life.

Discussion

Scientists have been concerned over the way that Greenhouse Gases have increased in the past two hundred and fifty years. This has been due to the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation; trees play a vital role in absorbing carbon dioxide. Forests have the feature of absorbing carbon dioxide and giving out oxygen. According to appendix 1 since the Industrial revolution of 1750 carbon dioxide has approximately risen by thirty eight percent. Methane levels have gone up by approximately hundred and forty eight percent (Simmons, 2010). Carbon dioxide is the most damaging gas to the atmosphere as it accounts for eighty percent of the total Greenhouse gas emissions. The other factor of global emissions is deforestation that contributes to twenty to twenty-five percent of all Greenhouse gas emissions (Sohngen & Skutsch et al, 2007, pp.322-34). Greenhouse gases allow the Sun's light to come into the atmosphere but trap a part of its radiation and warm up the air. A certain amount of Greenhouse gases is beneficial; without them the Earth's temperature would be zero degrees. These gases help maintain the normal temperature of fifty nine degrees Fahrenheit. When the Greenhouse Gases increase they trap more of the sun's radiation and increase the temperature considerably. This increase translates to hazardous climate changes that have been witnessed in the past decade.

Global warming has been the topic of discussion for many governments and scientists because of the consequences it can have on the planet Earth. The Kyoto protocol is an agreement to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that binds the industrialized countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. As of 2011 one hundred and ninety one countries have agreed to bind by ...