Download Kelsey Camacho May 2, 2010 Block 2 Global Warming

Kelsey Camacho
May 2, 2010
Block 2
Global Warming
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Greenhouse Gases/Effect
The Greenhouse Effect is an essential part of the Earth. The process in itself is
relatively simple. First off, it should be known that energy from the sun enters
Earth’s atmosphere, but not all of the energy reaches the surface. Gases and
clouds have an ability to reflect about 25% of the energy back into space, while
another 25% is absorbed and trapped by greenhouse gases such as ozone,
carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor. These gases capture longer
wavelength energy from the Sun, and this causes heat to be trapped in the lower
atmosphere. The Greenhouse Effect is a natural process that keeps the surface
of the Earth at a tolerable temperature for life to exist. It is not harmful in itself,
but however, human activities such as burning fossil fuels can create an excess
of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide. This can be very harmful to the
environment.
The most abundant greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are water vapor,
carbon dioxide, atmospheric methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and
chlorofluorocarbons.
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Impacts and Consequences of Global Warming
Global warming is a gradual rise in temperature in the troposphere that may lead
to climate change. The Greenhouse Effect plays a fundamental role in this
process, especially since human activities contribute to gases in the atmosphere
responsible for trapping heat.
A major impact of global warming is the changes taking place in the North and
South Poles. Ice and snow are extremely significant to global climate. However,
measurements taken recently by scientists show ice and thinning glaciers floating
in areas around the North Pole. Less ice can have serious consequences,
because it cools the Earth and balances temperature with its albedo, reflecting
80-90% of sunlight back into space. Without ice, temperatures in the troposphere
will continue to rise.
There are mixed impacts of global warming, giving it positive and negative
aspects. For example, a rise in temperature creates frequent rains in drier areas
in Africa and South Asia. The excess rain increases crop production and
provides more fertilizer with the abundant carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
A negative aspect of global warming is the melting polar ice caps in Greenland
and Antarctica. This can cause sea levels to rise by 100 meters, therefore
causing flooding in many areas.
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How to reduce/control climate change
The world is making progress with slowing global warming and shifting climate.
Great Britain has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by substituting natural gas
for coal. They have also increased energy efficiency in homes and businesses,
while adding taxes on fossil fuels such as oil.
Reducing, reusing, and recycling are also very important. By recycling half of an
average household’s waste, one can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide
annually.
Replacing regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs is also
important. If every US family changed one bulb in their household, we would
eliminate 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gases.
There are many energy efficient techniques that make the environment a safer
place.
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Relevant laws/treaties
The Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997 by 160 nations who wanted to reduce
carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide emissions, and other greenhouse gases
to about 5% below 1990 levels by 2012. The purpose of the law was to prevent
human intervention in global climate.
The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 was passed in California. It has many
requirements, such as preparing a plan to find the most cost-effective solution for
reducing greenhouse gas emissions, identify a statewide level of greenhouse gas
emissions to be met, mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions, etc.