Global Warming

The western countries have contributed to global warming through emissions of greenhouse gases and it will affect the western countries drastically by the end of this century.   The planet’s climate and temperature naturally fluctuates but the pattern of warming that is happening is caused by the greenhouse gases caused by humans.  Scientists have figured out the main greenhouse gases that cause global warming, “72% of the greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide, 18% methane and 9% nitrous oxide” (Time for Change).  Carbon dioxide is produced from the burning of fossil fuels mainly in cars, factories, and electricity production.  Methane is produced from landfill sites and nitrous oxide is from fertilizers.  Carbon dioxide adds the most warmth to the atmosphere which causes the global temperature to rise.

Projected greenhouse gas concentrations, top three have no explicit climate policies. Green line is a stabilization scenario" (EPA).

The level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has risen dramatically since the 1800’s because of human actions.  Between 1800-1870, “the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 290 ppm (parts per million) and the average global temperature was 13.6°C” (American Institute of Physics).  In 1960, the amount of carbon dioxide measured in the atmosphere was “315 ppm and the average global temperature was 13.9°C” (American Institute of Physics).  In 2013, the level of carbon dioxide reached 397 ppm and the average global temperature was 14.6°C” (American Institute of Physics).  The average global temperature was the warmest it had been in thousands of years and the level of carbon dioxide was the highest it has been in millions of years.  “Since 1990, yearly emissions have gone up by about 6 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent worldwide, more than a 20 percent increase” (National Geographic).  The carbon level goes up 2-3 ppm every year which means that the critical value of 450 ppm will be reached in about 20-30 years.  Reaching 450 ppm of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will cause the earth to be 2°C warmer which will cause disastrous consequences and irreversible effects.  We have already reached 400 ppm and “even if we stopped increasing carbon dioxide levels now, the temperature would still rise other 0.8°C above the 0.85°C that we've already warmed” (Willard). Some people argue that the climate has changed naturally in the past and that people are not responsible for global warming but scientists over the last several decades have recorded global data which proves that higher carbon dioxide levels and a higher global temperature are caused by humans and human actions.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a group of scientists that review the latest scientific findings about global warming, report describe the effects of carbon dioxide emissions, “emissions of CO2 from fossil fuel use and from the effects of land use change on plant and soil carbon are the primary sources of increased atmospheric CO2. Since 1750, it is estimated that about 2/3rds of human CO2 emissions have come from fossil fuel burning and about 1/3rd from land use change. About 45% of this CO2 has remained in the atmosphere, while about 30% has been taken up by the oceans and the remainder has been taken up by the terrestrial biosphere. About half of a CO2 emission to the atmosphere is removed over a time scale of 30 years; a further 30% is removed within a few centuries; and the remaining 20% will typically stay in the atmosphere for many thousands of years” (Willard).  Dr. Erika Podest, a carbon and water cycle research scientist, states that “CO2 concentrations haven't been this high in millions of years. Even more alarming is the rate of increase in the last five decades and the fact that CO2 stays in the atmosphere for hundreds or thousands of years” (NASA). The impacts of global warming in North America will cause snow packs in the western mountains to decrease, 5-20% increase in yields of rain-fed agriculture in some regions, and increased frequency, intensity and duration of heat waves in cities that currently experience them (NASA). The impacts in Europe will also affect them greatly. There will be more  inland flash floods, frequent coastal flooding, the sea level will rise, reduced snow cover and glacial retreat in mountainous areas as well as extensive species losses (NASA).

There are many things that are already happening because of global warming but it will get worse as years pass.  The ice sheets that cover Antarctica, Greenland and the Arctic sea are already melting and the sea level is rising faster.  Some species of animals have had to move to different areas because global warming has caused their current habitats to be unlivable for that species.  Global warming also affects the amount and severity of storms and precipitation certain parts of the worlds receive and can cause drought in other parts.  Scientists are already seeing some of the effects of global warming happening more quickly than they had thought.  According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, “eleven of the twelve hottest years since thermometer readings became available occurred between 1995 and 2006” (National Geographic).  

Scientists state that, “sea levels are expected to rise between 7 and 23 inches by the end of the century” (National Geographic).  Storms and hurricanes will become stronger and more frequent and floods and droughts will also become more common.  There will be less freshwater available and some species will be forced to move while as other species could become extinct.  Wildlife research scientist Martyn Obbard has found that since the mid-1980s, “with less ice on which to live and fish for food, polar bears have gotten considerably skinnier” (National Geographic).  Polar bear biologist Ian Stirling has found, “a similar pattern in Hudson Bay and he fears that if sea ice disappears, the polar bears will as well” (National Geographic).  Not only does global warming affect weather patterns and events but it also will affect species of animals and plants. 

In 2007, the IPCC report “warns that serious effects of warming have become evident, the cost of reducing emissions would be far less than the damage they will cause” (American Institute of Physics).  The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and rising global temperature will be catastrophic to our Earth and ecosystems unless emissions and greenhouse gases are stopped, or greatly reduced, in order to have a sustainable Earth.

Works Cited

EPA. "Future Climate Change." EPA. N.p., 4 Mar. 2014. Web. <http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/future.html>.

NASA. "The Current and Future Consequences of Global Change." NASA. N.p., n.d. Web.

- - -. "NASA Scientists React to 400 ppm Carbon Milestone." NASA. N.p., 2014. Web. <http://climate.nasa.gov/400ppmquotes/>.

National Geographic. "Global Warming." National Geographic. N.p., 2014. Web. <http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/>.

Time for Change. "CO2 - the Major Cause of Global Warming." Time for Change. N.p., 2007. Web. <http://timeforchange.org/CO2-cause-of-global-warming>.

"Timeline (Milestones)." The Discovery of Global Warming. Ed. American Institute of Physics. N.p., Feb. 2014. Web. <http://www.aip.org/history/climate/timeline.htm>.

Willard, Bob. "CO2 – Why 450 ppm is Dangerous and 350 ppm is Safe." Sustainability Advantage. N.p., 7 Jan. 2014. Web. <http://sustainabilityadvantage.com/2014/01/07/co2-why-450-ppm-is-dangerous-and-350-ppm-is-safe/>.