Christ The King College

Global Warming

A Thesis Presented to Mr. Patrick D. Dagaraga Christ the King College

In Partial Fulfillment In the Requirement of the Natural Science I

By Leonel Martin V. Carillero July 20, 2009

Title:

"Global Warming" are we responsible?

Statement of the Problem Global Warming is not a fad. It is not a story that somebody just made up. Global Warming is a scientific reality that all humans face. Some of the things we do have a negative

impact on our planet. And what are those things that caused global warming? We all know that every little thing that has caused global warming has its own effect. To answer that, we will ask to ourselves what the effects of global warming are. Knowing that made us felt that there’s something we need to do as a little contribution for being one who caused global warming. We need to reverse this impact now by giving an effort to reduce it. And what are the things that we could do to reduce global warming?

Introduction Global warming is indeed a scientific reality that all humans are facing. This is the result of the things that we do that have a negative impact to our planet. One who is making or doing those things are the humans. Global warming will not happen without those things that have caused it. Greenhouse gases are the number one cause of global warming. When it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, we should not ask ourselves whether greenhouse gases emitted by human activities have an impact, but how much effect these emissions have on temperature. This greenhouse gases are the water

vapor,

carbon

dioxide,

nitrous

oxide,

methane,

chloroflourocarbon, hydroflourocarbon, trifluoromethyl sulfur pentafluoride and ozone. These gases have big impacts to global

warming.

Deforestation

is

the

second

cause

of

atmospheric carbon dioxide. All of these causes will not happen if humans also will not do things that could cause the causes of global warming. Consequences

comefrom

those

causes.

These

consequences are the things that we are experiencing now. We suffered from the things that caused greenhouse effect. This thesis was made in order for us to be aware more about global warming and for us to know what we can do to reduce global warming. We cannot take back what we’ve done

so reducing global warming is the best way we can do so that all of us will still be living in this world.

Global Warming, increase in the average temperature of the atmosphere, oceans, and landmasses of Earth. This has been happening in the recent decades and is expected to continue. In fact the term global warming is said to be a specific example of climatic changes. In scientific and common terms, global warming refers to recent warming and also implies a human influence on the same. The planet has warmed (and cooled) many times during the 4.65 billion years of its history. At present Earth appears to be facing a rapid warming, which most scientists believe results, at least in part, from human activities. The chief cause of this warming is thought to be the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which releases into the atmosphere carbon dioxide and other substances known as greenhouse gases. As the atmosphere becomes richer in these gases, it becomes a better insulator, retaining more of the heat provided to the planet by the Sun. The average surface temperature of Earth is about 15°C (59°F). Over the last century, this average has risen by about 0.6 degree Celsius (1 Fahrenheit degree). Scientists predict further warming of 1.4 to 5.8 Celsius degrees (2.5 to 10.4 Fahrenheit degrees) by the year 2100. This temperature rise is expected to melt polar ice caps and glaciers as well as warm the oceans, all of which will expand ocean volume and raise sea level by an estimated 9 to 100 cm (4 to 40 in), flooding some coastal regions and even entire islands. Some regions in warmer climates will receive more rainfall than before, but soils will dry out faster between storms. This soil desiccation may damage food crops, disrupting food supplies in some parts of the world. Plant and animal species

will shift their ranges toward the poles or to higher elevations seeking cooler temperatures and species that cannot do so may become extinct. The potential consequences of global warming are so great that many of the world's leading scientists have called for international cooperation and immediate action to counteract the problem.

Almost 100% of the observed temperature increase over the last 50 years has been due to the increase in the atmosphere of greenhouse gas concentrations like water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, nitrous oxide and ozone. Greenhouse gases are those gases that contribute to the greenhouse

effect.

The

largest

contributing

source

of

greenhouse gas is the burning of fossil fuels leading to the emission of carbon dioxide.

The greenhouse effect When sunlight reaches Earth's surface some is absorbed and warms the earth and most of the rest is radiated back to the atmosphere at a longer wavelength than the sun light. Some of these longer wavelengths are absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere before they are lost to space. The absorption of this long wave radiant energy warms the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases act like a mirror and reflect back to the Earth some of the heat energy which would otherwise be lost to space. The reflecting back of heat energy by the atmosphere is called the "greenhouse effect". A.Greenhouse Gases Greenhouse gases occur naturally in the environment and also result from human activities. By far the most abundant greenhouse gas is water vapor, which reaches the atmosphere through evaporation from oceans, lakes, and rivers, which

causes about 36-70% of the greenhouse effect on Earth (not including clouds) Carbon dioxide is the next most abundant greenhouse gas, which causes 9-26% of the greenhouse effect on Earth. It flows into the atmosphere from many natural processes, such as volcanic eruptions; the respiration of animals, which breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide; and the burning or decay of organic matter, such as plants. Carbon dioxide leaves the atmosphere when it is absorbed into ocean water and through the photosynthesis of plants, especially trees. Photosynthesis breaks

up

carbon

dioxide,

releasing

oxygen

into

the

atmosphere and incorporating the carbon into new plant tissue. Humans escalate the amount of carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere when they burn fossil fuels, solid wastes, and wood and wood products to heat buildings, drive vehicles, and generate electricity. At the same time, the number of trees available to absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis has been

greatly

reduced

by

deforestation,

the

long-term

destruction of forests by indiscriminate cutting of trees for lumber or to clear land for agricultural activities. Oceans and other natural processes absorb excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Human activities have caused carbon dioxide to be released to the atmosphere at rates much faster than that at which

Earth’s

natural

processes

can

cycle

this

gas.

Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration increases by about 1.5 ppm per year. If current predictions prove accurate, by the year 2100 carbon dioxide will reach concentrations of more than 540 to 970 ppm. Methane is an even more effective insulator, trapping over 20 times more heat than does the same amount of carbon dioxide, which causes 4-9% of the greenhouse effect on Earth. Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane also comes from rotting organic waste in landfills, and it is released from certain animals, especially cows, as a byproduct of digestion.

Nitrous oxide is a powerful insulating gas released primarily by burning fossil fuels and by plowing farm soils. Nitrous oxide traps about 300 times more heat than does the same amount of carbon dioxide. The concentration of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere has increased 17 percent over preindustrial

levels.

In

addition,

greenhouse

gases

are

produced in many manufacturing processes. Perfluorinated compounds

result

from

the

smelting

of

aluminum.

Hydrofluorocarbons form during the manufacture of many products, including the foams used in insulation, furniture, and car seats. Refrigerators built in some developing nations still use chlorofluorocarbons as coolants. In addition to their ability to retain atmospheric heat, some of these synthetic chemicals also destroy Earth’s high-altitude ozone layer, the protective layer of gases that shields Earth from damaging ultraviolet radiation. The atmospheric concentrations of many of these gases are either increasing more slowly or decreasing. Scientists are growing concerned about other gases produced from manufacturing processes that pose an environmental risk. A substantial rise in atmospheric concentrations of a newly identified synthetic compound called trifluoromethyl sulfur pentafluoride. Atmospheric concentrations of this gas are rising quickly, and although it still is extremely rare in the atmosphere, scientists are concerned because the gas traps heat more effectively than all other known greenhouse gases. Perhaps more worrisome, scientists have been unable to confirm the industrial source of the gas. Another

distinct

issue

commonly

associated

with

greenhouse warming and global warming is the ozone. Ozone is a naturally occurring gas in the lower atmosphere that helps trap heat. The burning of fossil fuels creates even more ozone, as ozone is one component of smog. As ozone builds, so does trapped heat, increasing the greenhouse effect. Additionally, ozone plays a role in the upper atmosphere where it shields the Earth from deadly ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Unfortunately, CFC's - the same human produced compound

that acts like a greenhouse gas in the lower atmosphere destroy ozone. This can result in holes in our upper ozone layer as seen over Antarctica where cold temperatures, atmospheric circulation and other factors combine to 'draw' these ozone holes. Another major man made cause for global warming is the CFC’s

or

scientifically

known

as

Chlorofluorocarbons.

Chlorofluorocarbons are widely used in refrigerators and in aerosol sprays. The chlorofluorocarbons cause global warming by damaging the ozone layer. The ozone layer is a protective layer in the earth’s atmosphere which prevents the harmful radiation of the sun from reaching the earth. The ozone layer is already damaged by the indiscriminate use of various chemicals by man.

B. Deforestation

After carbon emissions caused by humans, deforestation is the second principle cause of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Deforestation is responsible for 20-25% of all carbon emissions entering the atmosphere, by the burning and cutting of about 34 million acres of trees each year. The destroying of tropical forests alone is throwing hundreds of millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. We are also losing temperate forests. The temperate forests of the world account for an absorption rate of 2 billion tons of carbon annually.

Scientists have made several predictions about how global warming will affect weather, sea levels, coastlines, agriculture, wildlife, and human health. A. Weather During global warming, northern regions of the Northern Hemisphere will heat up more than other areas of the planet,

northern and mountain glaciers will shrink, and less ice will float on northern oceans. Regions that now experience light winter snows may receive no snow at all. In temperate mountains, snowlines will be higher and snowpacks will melt earlier. Growing seasons will be longer in some areas. Winter and nighttime temperatures will tend to rise more than summer and daytime ones. The warmed world will be generally more humid as a result of more water evaporating from the oceans. Water vapor is a greenhouse gas, and its increased presence should add to the insulating effect. On the other hand, more vapors in the atmosphere will produce more clouds, which reflect sunlight back into space, which should slow the warming process. Greater humidity will increase rainfall, on average, about 1 percent for each Fahrenheit degree of warming. Storms are expected to be more frequent and more intense. However, water will also evaporate more rapidly from soil, causing it to dry out faster between rains. Some regions might actually become drier than before. Winds will blow harder and perhaps in different patterns. Hurricanes, which gain their force from the evaporation of water, are likely to be more severe. Against the background of warming, some very cold periods will still occur. Weather patterns are expected to be less predictable and more extreme. B. Sea Levels As the atmosphere warms, the surface layer of the ocean warms as well, expanding in volume and thus raising sea level. Warming will also melt much glacier ice, especially around Greenland, further swelling the sea. Sea levels worldwide rose 10 to 25 cm (4 to 10 in) during the 20th century, and IPCC scientists predict a further rise of 9 to 88 cm (4 to 35 in) in the 21st century. Sea-level changes will complicate life in many coastal regions. Erosion of cliffs, beaches, and dunes will increase. Storm surges, in which winds locally pile up water and raise the sea, will become more frequent and damaging. As the sea invades the mouths of rivers, flooding from runoff will

also increase upstream. Wealthier countries will spend huge amounts of money to protect their shorelines, while poor countries may simply evacuate low-lying coastal regions. Even a modest rise in sea level will greatly change coastal ecosystems. New marshes will form in many places, but not where urban areas and developed landscapes block the way. This sea-level rise will cover much of the Florida Everglades. C. Agriculture A warmed globe will probably produce as much food as before, but not necessarily in the same places. Semiarid tropical farmlands in some parts of Africa may become further impoverished. Desert farm regions that bring in irrigation water from distant mountains may suffer if the winter snowpack, which functions as a natural reservoir, melts before the peak growing months. Crops and woodlands may also be afflicted by more insects and plant diseases. D. Animals and Plants Animals and plants will find it difficult to escape from or adjust to the effects of warming because humans occupy so much land. Under global warming, animals will tend to migrate toward the poles and up mountainsides toward higher elevations, and plants will shift their ranges, seeking new areas as old habitats grow too warm. In many places, however, human development will prevent this shift. Species that find cities or farmlands blocking their way north or south may die out. Some types of forests, unable to propagate toward the poles fast enough, may disappear. E. Human Health In a warmer world, scientists predict that more people will get sick or die from heat stress, due less to hotter days than to warmer nights (giving the sufferers less relief). Diseases now found in the tropics, transmitted by mosquitoes and other animal hosts, will widen their range as these animal hosts move

into regions formerly too cold for them. Today 45 percent of the world’s people live where they might get bitten by a mosquito carrying the parasite that causes malaria; that percentage may increase to 60 percent if temperatures rise. Other tropical diseases may spread similarly, including dengue fever, yellow fever, and encephalitis. Rising incidence of allergies and respiratory diseases as warmer air grows more charged with pollutants, mold spores, and pollens.

Chemicals are one of the major contributors to global warming. Chlorine is very harmful to the environment and we should avoid using any type of chlorine compounds. Even fire extinguishers, bubbles in plastic foam, spray paint, bleach, industrial chemicals and household chemicals are harmful to the environment. The phosphates found in laundry detergents and soaps lead to water pollution. Aerosols lead to air pollution. Controlling pollution will help us control global warming. We need to reduce the usage of electricity as producing electricity leads to emission of greenhouse gases. Electricity is produced mainly from fossil fuels and burning them emits greenhouse gases. An average home tends to contribute more to global warming than an average car. We can reduce the electricity usage by switching to energy efficient CFL bulb instead of the incandescent light bulbs. Doing so can reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide by almost 700 pounds over a bulb’s lifetime. Make sure that the appliances you buy are energy efficient. Energy efficient appliances are cheaper to run and can make sure that your energy bill is greatly reduced. Many countries have energy efficient labels on appliances which would indicate how energy efficient the appliance is. Energy spent on heating and cooling our homes are on the rise. With warmer temperatures, the need for cooling has increased and that is consuming a lot of energy. The amount of

energy spent on heating and cooling are pretty much wasted by us. Unless we have good insulation to keep our homes warmer we will be spending more energy to heat our homes. There are many ways to ensure that no cold air enters into your homes and that can reduce the energy used to warm your homes during winter. Also there are many natural cooling options that you can use to help you during the summer ensuring that less energy is spent on heating and cooling your home. Most of the options are simple and can be done using the do it yourself kits. Vehicles emit carbon monoxide which is a greenhouse gas. With the number of vehicles increasing leaps and bounds, the carbon monoxide emissions are greatly on the rise. Every gallon of gasoline that is burnt emits about 26 pounds of carbon

dioxide

and

carbon

monoxide.

Good

vehicle

maintenance and smart driving would reduce the emissions by as much as 30%. If you are buying a new vehicle make sure that buy an efficient vehicle – something that would give out less emissions and would go extra miles for a gallon of fuel. You also have the option of reducing the usage of your vehicle. Walk whenever you can or ride a bike to the nearest store. Car pooling is another idea which can help you reduce emissions. Vehicles running on hybrid fuels are available in the market nowadays. You can always go for such vehicles as they tend not to emit any green house gases. Make sure that you recycle your air conditioner coolant when you have your air conditioner serviced. Thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide emitted can be saved by this move. Even small change that you make to your vehicle and your life style will help your environment. We should try whatever is possible to reduce the usage of energy in and around our homes and yards. Do whatever we can to ensure that the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere is reduced. Plants use carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and during this they give out oxygen. Planting trees and plants around our homes will help reducing the

carbon dioxide present around as the plants would use up the carbon dioxide. Lawns need maintenance and an average lawnmower takes up a lot of energy. So plant more trees and do use a manual lawnmower to maintain your lawn. Destroying forests to make way for residential and industrial development are also reasons for increased global warming. So population control also can help reduce global warming Remember, the more aware an individual is about global warming, the more he or she would contribute in trying to stop increase in global warming. Let us all work together and curtail the emission of green house gases and make our world get rid of global warming. Together we can!

Global Warming is probably mankind’s biggest threat for the future. It is on the increase everyday and it is effecting more and more while its effects are accumulating every day. Our climate system tends to vary through natural, internal processes.

Also

external

forcing

factors

like

volcanic

emissions, solar activity, orbital forcing and greenhouse gases are other factors that can affect climate system changes. Recent study has shown that the increase of greenhouse gases is a major cause for global warming. Just adding carbon dioxide or methane to the atmosphere of earth will make the earth’s surface warmer. Greenhouse gases are already present in the atmosphere which produces a greenhouse effect. This greenhouse effect is needed to keep the earth warm so that it is habitable. But excess greenhouse

gases will result in warmer temperatures and that is exactly what is happening now. Over the years there has been a debate concerning the net effect of the increased greenhouse gases. This debate is allowing for positive and negative feedback on the issue. An example of the feedback process is ice-albedo feedback. With increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, earth’s surface warms up and this leads to melting of the ice present near the poles. As ice melts, its place is taken up by water or land and both of them are less reflective than ice. This means they will absorb more solar radiation and this causes more warming. As warming increases more ice will melt and this cycle keeps going on. The earth’s current climate has been thrown out of equilibrium due to excess greenhouse gases. But climate commitment studies do show us that even if the greenhouse gases are somehow maintained at the present levels, the earth would experience a further warming of about 1ºF. If we don’t control the increase in greenhouse gases, then a lot of changes will occur on planet earth which would only make living on earth tougher. Hence the need to curtail emission of greenhouse gases has become a prime focus in recent years. Nations around the world are now trying to implement actions to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. Many strategies have been proposed to this effect. Some of the strategies to mitigate global warming are energy conservation, carbon taxes, using renewable energy, carbon offsets, carbon capture and storage, nanotechnology and environmental vegetarianism. A combination of these strategies would be beneficial in reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. As global warming is a phenomenon occurring all over the world, countries have to unite and ensure that the emissions of greenhouse gases are controlled to ensure that the world we live in now would be worth living in for all of us.

Therefore, the researcher concludes that global warming refers to the increase of the average temperature of the atmosphere, oceans and landmasses of Earth. Simply put, Earth now is getting hotter. The scientific community believes climate changes like global warming have occurred throughout Earth's history and will continue to occur in the future. Some evidence links global warming to solar activity; however, there are other theories as well. One popular theory relates to the "greenhouse effect." Gases that make up our atmosphere are analogous to a greenhouse in that they allow sunlight to pass through, and then trap much of

the heat from escaping. This naturally occurring phenomenon keeps Earth's surface warmer than it would be otherwise. However, human produced compounds regularly released into the

atmosphere

in

recent

years

have

"thickened

the

greenhouse wall" beyond naturally occurring levels. Even less heat escapes causing the temperature to rise when this happens. And the greenhouse gases that cause the global warming are the water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide. Another distinct issue commonly associated with greenhouse warming and global warming is the ozone. And major man made cause of global warming is the CFC’s or the Chlorofluorocarbon. This global warming will control if all of us will help each other to reduce the global warming. We should stop doing things that are not important and the things that could cause global warming. We could apply the concept of 3R’s, “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle”. Let us all work together and curtail the emission of green house gases and make our world get rid of global warming. Together we can!

Websites:  Globalwarmingpages.com  Globalwarming.com  Wikipedia.org  Encarta.msn.com  Stopglobalwarming.org  Ecobridge.com Books: Ferrer, Diana L.Science and Technology I.G. Araneta Ave., cor. Ma. Clara Street. Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City: Vibal Publishing House,

Inc, 1995.