My recent status in Facebook:
Global Warming. I always hear it. Whenever people ask “why is it so hot nowadays?” I hear replies like “It’s because of global warming” or “It’s because of climate change.” But global warming is more than that. Every human being on our planet has the responsibility to know ALL about it.
What is global warming?
Global warming is when the earth heats up (the temperature rises). It happens when greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane) trap heat and light from the sun in the earth’s atmosphere, which increases the temperature. To understand it more, imagine a car on a very hot day. The heat and light from the sun can get into the car, by going through the windows, but it can’t get back out. Thus making heat build up inside the car. This is what global warming is all about. The heat and light can get through the atmosphere, but it can’t get out. The excessive amount of carbon dioxide and other gases on our atmosphere trapped it from getting out. As a result, the temperature rises.
Production of these gases comes from different sources:
- Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning power plants. In most cases, fossil fuels are burned to create electricity. Our ever increasing addiction to electricity from coal burning power plants releases enormous amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Every day, more electric gadgets flood the market, and without widespread alternative energy sources, we are highly dependent on burning coal for our personal and commercial electrical supply
- Carbon dioxide emissions from burning gasoline for transportation. With our population growing at an alarming rate, the demand for more cars and consumer goods means that we are increasing the use of fossil fuels for transportation and manufacturing.
- Methane emissions from animals, agriculture such as rice paddies, and from Arctic seabeds. Methane is another extremely potent greenhouse gas, ranking right behind CO2. When organic matter is broken down by bacteria under oxygen-starved conditions (anaerobic decomposition) as in rice paddies, methane is produced.
So what if the Earth gets hotter?
A rise of 1 degree Fahrenheit doesn't seem much. But increase in the Earth’s temperature (no matter how small) causes drastic changes in our climate and a LOT of things too. A warmer Earth may lead to a wide range of impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans. Even if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases (GHGs) today, the Earth would still warm by another degree Fahrenheit or so. Scientists predict that the Earth could eventually warm by as little as 2.5 degrees or as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
Global warming is "bad" for a number of reasons. (Please read every word and think about it)
§ A rise in sea level. Global warming will cause a sea level rise of 9 – 88 cm (3.5 – 34.6 inches). This small rise would cause SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTION to coastal communities. If the whole Greenland ice sheet melted this would lead to a global rise of 7 m (23 ft).
§ More active weather systems. More energy in the atmosphere will lead to more active weather systems, with more frequent and more VIOLENT STORMS.
§ Disturbed rainfall patterns. Rainfall patterns will be significantly disrupted, with FLOODS in some places and DROUGHTS in others.
§ Acidification of the oceans. Carbon dioxide dissolves in water by reacting to make H2CO3 - carbonic acid, causing GREAT DAMAGE to fish stocks and coral reefs.
§ Tipping points/feedback loops. There are many possible tipping points and feedback loops. As glaciers disappear, the planet will not be able to reflect as much solar radiation back into space. When northern permafrost melts, the organic material will decompose and release methane. As the oceans warm, their ability to dissolve carbon dioxide decreases, and if they ever reach a certain temperature, the methane stored under pressure on the seafloor will vaporize.
§ Spread of tropical diseases. As northern latitudes become warmer, previously RARE TROPICAL DISEASES will gain a foothold there.
§ Disruption of ocean currents. The disruption of ocean currents could shut down the Gulf Stream with unpredictable consequences.
§ Habitat loss or change faster than animals can adapt. Temperature zones will move north and south (depending on the hemisphere) too quickly for animals to follow or adapt to new habitats. The loss of polar habitats will leave animals such as polar bears with no place to go.
§ Loss of mountain glaciers exacerbating summer droughts. Mountain glaciers act as natural reservoirs, releasing water which falls as snow in the winter during the summer. The loss of these glaciers will lead to floods in winter and droughts in the summer.
What now?
Whew! It really is alarming. If we don’t act now to stop it, what would happen to us? I know it is not that simple. We cannot walk all the way to our work and not use cars. We cannot close those fuel burning power plants. We use it to produce electricity. We need electricity in our daily living. Comfort has a price to pay off too. But what I’m saying is there’s gotta be another way! There are many possible wedges, including improvements to energy efficiency and vehicle fuel economy (so less energy has to be produced), and increases in wind and solar power, hydrogen produced from renewable sources, biofuels (produced from crops), natural gas, and nuclear power. I know there are lots of invention nowadays that has got to do with solar energy. Like cars who can run by solar power. This is not a one country battle. ALL countries should do something about it. And government of all nations should make laws as to what is best regarding global warming. They are in better position to do what needs to be done. But no matter who we are, we must do our share in saving our planet Earth. In our own small ways, we can help in fighting global warming.
- The least amount of electricity you use, the better. By conserving electricity, we decrease the need for those fossil fuel power plants to emit carbon dioxide. If you can survive without using air conditioner or television or other electronic gadgets, you not only save money in your electronic bill. You also help mother Earth!
- Plant trees. Trees and other plants collect carbon dioxide. They help in purifying the air we breathe. And they will lessen the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.
- Recycle. In our country, garbage is a big problem. What happens to tons of garbage that they collected every day? They were not properly disposed and sometimes they were burned. If we recycle, less trash goes to the dump, and less trash gets burned. As a result, there are fewer greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere.
- Walk. If you can walk your way to another place, do so. Or use a bike. It would lessen the pollution cause by vehicles. Plus it’s a good exercise!
- Don’t smoke. Bad for the atmosphere and bad for your health.
- Watch what you buy. By opting for a refrigerator with the Energy Star label -- indicating it uses at least 15 percent less energy than the federal requirement -- over a less energy-efficient model, you can reduce carbon dioxide pollution by nearly a ton in total. Many things, such as hairspray, now are made to have less of an impact on the atmosphere. Opt for products that would not harm our environment. Less greenhouse gasses will rise into the air, and global warming will slow down.
Blogger’s Note:
I really hope that my status in facebook wouldn’t happen. It may be a hoax or whatever but I’m really glad I came to deep study as to what global warming is all about. I understand it better now. And from now on, I take a firm stand against GLOBAL WARMING! No to Global Warming! YES to a cleaner and better EARTH!
