Global warming Essay Example for Free

Global warming Essay Global warming is the process by which several gases known ‘green-house gases’ (such as carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide, etc) are accumulating in the earth’s environment (as a result of human activity and pollution) and are trapping the sun’s energy resulting in a rise in the planet’s temperature. Some of the largest sources of green house gases include power plants, automobiles, etc. The hypothesis statement in this case is â€Å"Carbon Dioxide is not the only the largest contributor to Global warming, it is in fact the only contributor†. A recent study conducted By the US-DoE in the year 2000 clearly suggests that about 99. 5 % of the gases that cause global warming is carbon dioxide (NRDC, 2007, Eco Bridge, 2008, University of California, 2002). Carbon dioxide is emitted from several human activities. About 40 % of the carbon dioxide emitted in the US is from power-plants that emit the gas from burning coal. Even when LPG and natural gas is burnt, it produces huge quantities of carbon dioxide that contribute towards global warming. About 33% of the carbon dioxide is produced from vehicular emission. Vehicles that have poor mileage contribute larger quantities of carbon dioxide that ultimately result in global warming. About 3. 5 % of the carbon dioxide released in the atmosphere is from aero planes. The upper layers of the atmosphere are damaged as a result of air traffic. From building and domestic use, about 12 % of the total carbon dioxide content is contributed (NRDC, 2007, Eco Bridge, 2008, University of California, 2002). The other gases that can contribute towards global warming is methane (0. 47 %), nitrous oxide (less than 0. 1 %), water vapor and CFC’s (less than 0. 01 %). In actual fact, water vapor contributes towards 99. 99 % of the global warming. However, release of water vapor into the environment is by a natural phenomenon and hence it cannot be considered as a result of human activity. Several studies have demonstrated that effect of water vapor is increased by the presence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Another group of thinking is that water vapor ultimately results in cloud formation, resulting of reflecting back the energy waves of the sun into the atmosphere. Besides, water vapor present in the atmosphere is released back onto the ground, thus helping to cool down the planet (NRDC, 2007, Eco Bridge, 2008, University of California, 2002, Hieb, 2003 University of California, 2002). Since the time of James Watt, the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been rising. IN the US, an average the per capita emission of carbon is about 5 tons every year per head (one of the highest) and in Sweden it is about 2 tons (One of the lowest). Carbon dioxide molecules trap the heat rays that are radiating from the atmosphere and cause and increase in the air temperature. In cities and in areas having high levels of carbon dioxide at the ground level, it is found that the air temperature is comparatively higher. Whereas in forests, the air temperature is lower as the carbon dioxide is converted to oxygen. Over the last 100 years the temperature of the earth has risen by about 1. 5 to 5 degrees. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increased from below 280 ppm to above 360 ppm (Hieb, 2003 University of California, 2002). By just doubling the levels of carbon dioxide in the air, the temperature has increased significantly. The levels of methane and other green house gases have fairly remained constant over the years, but global warming is becoming even more severe. Hence, it can be considered that carbon dioxide is not just the largest contribute to global warming; it may as well as be considered the only contributor (University of California, 2002). References: Eco Bridge. â€Å"Causes of Global Warming. † 2008. Eco Bridge. 6 Apr.2008. http://www. ecobridge. org/content/g_cse. htm Monte Hieb. â€Å"Water Vapor Rules the Greenhouse System. † 2003. Geo Craft. 6 Apr. 2008. http://www. geocraft. com/WVFossils/greenhouse_data. html Natural Resources Defense Council. â€Å"Global Warming Basics. † 2007. NRDC. 6 Apr. 2008. http://www. nrdc. org/globalWarming/f101. asp University of California. â€Å"GLOBAL WARMING: The Rise of CO2 Warming. † 2002. University of California. 6 Apr. 2008. http://earthguide. ucsd. edu/globalchange/global_warming/03. html