Global Warming Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Global Warming - Assignment Example Carbon dioxide, though in very less quantity was also found to be very effective. This effect was later called Greenhouse Effect. It is a natural process that restricts the emitted energy from earth’s surface to go back into space. The solar energy is allowed to come in the atmosphere, but the re-emitted infrared energy from the earth’s surface is absorbed by the atmosphere instead. This process causes an increase in the atmospheric temperature and therefore, a cause for global warming. The gases that absorb the emitted energy are called the greenhouse gases. Human Involvement The emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere means reinforcement of the Greenhouse Effect. Following are the major greenhouse gases produced one way or the other by human involvement; Carbon Dioxide Carbon dioxide being the biggest contributor to Greenhouse Effect is produced by fossil fuel burning, biomass burning and a byproduct in industrial process; in particular cement production. It has a lifetime of 5 to 200 years and contributes 60 percent to global warming (Archer et al., 2009, p. 121). The industrial age has changed the natural cycle of our planet. Carbon dioxide levels are the highest recorded in 650,000 years (Gore, 2006, p. 67). This data for the last 650,000 years was taken by analyzing ice deposits in the Antarctic. Al Gore famously argued in â€Å"The Inconvenient Truth† that this data shows a striking relation between carbon dioxide level and global temperature. It shows a steep rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide since the industrial revolution. Fossil fuels are still the primary source of energy and carbon dioxide is a byproduct. At a global scale, our actions have contributed towards increasing level of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Methane Methane is... After going through the major contributing factors involved in global warming, the most compelling evidence point towards relation of atmospheric carbon dioxide and global temperature. The industrial revolution and development over the years was based on fossil fuel as the primary source of energy. It is used in almost all of our development processes and forms the backbone of modern development. We thought that our contributions can never affect our planet at such a large scale. Our contributions have certainly led to the highest level of carbon dioxide in 650,000 years. This reading is a proof that this deviation from normal cycles must be caused by an outside factor; the humans. The critics have taken an approach to explain this change in global temperature as part of natural cycles related to sun cycles and orbital variations. These are, however, not adequate in magnitude to disturb global temperature at an alarming rate. Our dependence on fossil fuel has caused fear in policy ma kers to find a suitable replacement in form of alternative energy or clean energy. Our economic system depends on fossil fuel as well and the infrastructure of our societies is based on it.