Global Warming

Introduction

The phrase global warming refers to a phenomenon in which the Earth's surface temperature increases from its long-term averages because of an atmospheric blanket of greenhouse gases (GHGs; primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and chlorofluorocarbons) that serve to trap reradiated solar energy from escaping into space. This blanket of greenhouse gases is responsible for providing Earth a temperate, stable, and life-sustaining climate. In common parlance, global warming regularly uses interchangeably with climate change. In the present context, it used in a more restricted sense as a driver of global climate change (Houghton, p. 27-58). In this paper, we would be discussing two sides of arguments of Global warming, one supporting the effects of Global warming and the other stating against it.

Arguments for Global Warming

We have been observing significantly warmer day- and nighttime temperatures, especially at higher Northern Hemisphere latitudes, a troubling rise in sea levels been measured. Sea level rise is attributable to both the thermal expansion of water as it warms and to the melting of polar ice caps and glaciers. Over the past generation, scientists have measured increased rates of glacier melt in the Arctic, on Greenland, and on Antarctica (Crowley, p. 270-227).

One consequence of the melting of so much frozen fresh water from the Arctic ice is the potential disruption of the oceanic thermohaline circulation; driven by water temperature and salinity. In the Atlantic Ocean, this circulation is responsible for the Gulf Stream, which delivers warmer, tropical waters to northern Europe, moderating its mean surface temperatures and climate. Scientists concerned that the melting of the Greenland ice cap

Caused by global warming will interfere with the Gulf Stream by dumping enormous volumes of fresh water into the North Atlantic, thereby decreasing the salinity (and density) of waters that normally sink to the ocean floor and return to the Southern Hemisphere (Arguez et al, p. 1-135).

At the rate, it is presently occurring; global warming will have a significant effect on environmental and human systems over the next century and beyond. Increased surface temperatures will result in sea level rise that will threaten the death and displacement of many millions of the world population who live in low-lying, densely populated coastal areas including Bangladesh and Indonesia. Threatened coastal regions also contain many of the world's major economic and population centers including London, New York, and Shanghai (Knox, p. 430-432).

In addition to having notable change on regional weather patterns, global warming will ...