Many people think about global warming as a major environmental issue, but on the other hand some people say that global warming is just a regular cycle of the Earth's climate and that it is just regular cycle of Earth's climate. In this report you will learn all about global warming.
What Exactly is Global Warming?
Many people believe that global warming is an environmental issue that is just occurring now. Well that is not true, global warming is a cycle of climate changes that occurs again and again. Although this is an event that occurs again and again, it is not always naturally caused (although it is a regular cycle of the Earth's climate). Global warming is mainly started when the Earth heats up and that heat cannot escape the Earth's atmosphere, this is known as the greenhouse effect. The Earth warms up and continues to stay warm for long periods of time.
The Causes of Global Warming
Global warming is caused by many things. But is mainly caused by two major things, the first is heat; the other is greenhouses gases. First heat enters the Earth when the sun's rays enter through the atmosphere. Human activities are also contributors to heat being released. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane are released into the atmosphere. Theses gases are released from burning fossil fuels, which cars and factories both do. Greenhouse gases block most heat from escaping Earth. This causes Earth to warm up.
The Effects of Global Warming
Global warming can have many effects on not only the Earth, but your daily lives. Global warming's biggest effect is occurring now and will continue to for about 40 years, it is melting of ice on the North and South Pole. This can increase sea levels, causing many people to live farther away from beaches, causing animals to relocate, and if there is no ice to reflect sunlight the water left will absorb it instead and make Earth even hotter. There are also some that affect humans, which include: increases in storms (mainly hurricanes) will affect people greatly, also hotter weather will cause some people to move to other places, and the need to cool down will increase the need of water.
Is Global Warming a Problem?
My opinion on global warming is that it is a problem and needs to be controlled in a decade or so. People have many opinions on global warming; some think that it is the end of the Earth, others think that global warming is just a little change in climate and that it will go away in a few years. Even scientists have different opinions on global warming. I tried to get an expert opinion, but my expert refused to tell me anything about global warming. In the end most people think that global warming will be a problem for future generations.
Global Warming in the Past
Global warming has occurred since the formation of Earth. Previous rises in temperature were responsible for the melting of glaciers and ending the ice ages. The last ice age came to an end about 10,000 years ago. Scientists are sure that it ended by global warming. Right now greenhouse gases are at there highest point in over 650,000 years. Also in the 1800s the average temperature of the Earth's surface was 15 degrees Celsius. It has now risen 0.9 degrees Celsius. These are a few of the main reasons why many people think that the current global warming is such a big problem. Compared to temperature changes in the past currently it has changed more drastically.
Global Warming in the Future
Global warming in the future is going to be very different. Most scientists believe that the Earth is going to warm up dramatically. They predict that as greenhouse emissions continue to increase, the Earth will warm up by 2.4 to 6.4 degrees Celsius, but if they start to decrease the Earth will continue to warm till 2050 then slowly fall. Weather will also change. Rain storms will occur closer to the poles, which will damage some crops, disrupting food production in some parts of the world. Plants and animals will shift their ranges to the poles or to higher elevation seeking cooler temperatures. As you can see global warming is going to affect the Earth dramatically.
What is Being Done?
There are many ways that people can help control global warming. Since global warming is partially caused by carbon dioxide, people are preserving and planting more trees which soak up a great amount of carbon dioxide. The trees can store the carbon dioxide in their wood. Another way to control global warming is by not releasing greenhouse gases at all. Alternatives to burning coal, wood, and oil (which we will eventually run out of) are using nuclear energy, solar power, wind power, and hydrogen fuel cells for cars. Also the use of biodiesel and ethanol can reduce greenhouse emissions. With all these ways to control global warming one thing is necessary, international cooperation. Agreements must be made with other countries, such as the Kyoto protocol, which requires all the countries that ratified it to cut greenhouse emissions by 5 % by 2010. Unfortunately the U.S. is not part of the Kyoto protocol. This is only the first step in reducing greenhouse emissions, further agreements will need to be made in order to stabilize greenhouse emissions. There are many ways you can also many ways you can help control global warming, remember if everyone does a small part we can control global warming. My action will help reduce emissions which eventually help keep the Earth cool. My action is at the end of the report.
