Sunday, March 04, 2007

Causes of Global Warming

This is my last research on global warming; I have learned many things about the issue. In this last post, I will like to write about some causes of global warming, I know I said on my last post that I will research on various causes and solutions, but I think it will be better if I focus more on the causes of global warming. I believe that it will be better if with opinions we give some ideas of how can we solve or reduce global warming, so I will continue and end up my research with solutions for global warming.

The factor that causes global warming the most is emissions of green house gasses into the atmosphere. Green house gasses in the atmosphere have risen by about a 30% since the past century. The green house effect happens by the sun radiating energy to the earth; energy passes through the atmosphere and earth absorbs much of the energy heating the Earth’s surface, but also some energy is reflected back into space. This process used to take place naturally in Earth’s atmosphere; making the planet earth more suitable for providing human life in it. Greenhouse gasses in earth’s atmosphere make Earth’s surface to absorb more heat energy and stops it escaping from the atmosphere. Usually, greenhouse gasses have molecules with three or more atoms. When the energy penetrates on the molecules, the molecule absorbs heat, it creates a vibration; it vibrates because the atoms are very close together. That vibration produces and releases radiation; this process repeats on and on. Since the industrial revolution, emissions of greenhouse gasses have increase by a lot, making temperature rise. This increase in temperature is causing a lot of damage on Earth.

Scientists believe that the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is mainly because of human activities and the burning of fossil fuels. Also, did you know that plant respiration and decomposition of organic substances release more than ten times of Carbon dioxide to earths atmosphere than the amount that is release by human activity? But, don’t panic! Don’t panic! These releases of carbon dioxide have been in balance during the times before the industrial revolution, that's why nowadays, global temperatures have rise dramatically.

Another factor that strengthens global warming is deforestation. Trees and vegetation absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere turning it into oxygen, turning it into a way we can use it and decreasing the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Unfortunately, humans do not take advantage of that support, and instead we are cutting them down. For example, the Amazon rainforest, the largest rainforest in the world, is being deforested. Several days ago, I was reading an article in the news that said that Brazil’s government proposed to turn more than 50% of the rainforest into an area available just for industrial activity. If the rate of deforestation continues as it is going right know, in a hundred years roughly, our great and beautiful rainforests will fade away. The effects on climate if this happens are unpredictable. The reasons for deforestation to take place are for agriculture, to sell timber and other woods, and in general is economy.

I think that all of what we do, we can undo it, like “ctrl-z”. Obviously global warming is not going to stop happening within juts a minute, but little by little we can improve it and discourage global warming until we reach the point where we will be proud of ourselves because “we did it”. Everyone is worried about global warming but there needs to be more action. People talk and talk and don’t do nothing about it. So why you don’t stand up and do something! I’m very happy with the general knowledge I got about global warming. Soon you’ll see the documentary...Hopefully!

references:
deforestation
Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse Gasses