Newspapers Global Warming

Just do a quick survey of the newspapers. You will find that news report on global warming make a daily appearance. Global warming becomes a big issue which not only harms the nature but also humans. Global warming refers to climate change that causes an increase in the average temperature of the lower atmosphere (Definition: climate change n.d.). This is because the more advanced man gets, the more global warming which strikes the Earth. Global warming happens because it causes by greenhouse effect, deforestation, industrialization, burning of fossil fuel and population growth and the effects are to biodiversity, water table underneath the ground, flooding, depletion of the ozone layer, rising of earth temperatures and sea levels, rain acid, and water pollution.

The greenhouse effect is the most important cause behind global warming. Dhariwal (1995, pg 90) claimed that researchers at the Goddard Institute and at the University of East Anglia in England foresee a doubling of greenhouse gas concentrations during the next century, which might raise average global temperatures as much as 12.7 degrees centigrade. Besides, reported statistics seem to present a powerful case for global warming. Some temperature records show about 17 degree centigrade of warming over the past century.

So, what is the greenhouse effect? According to Dhariwal (1999, pg 89), when sunlight warms the earth, certain gases in the lower atmosphere, acting like the glass in a greenhouse, trap some of the heat as it radiates back into space. These greenhouse gases, primarily water vapour and including carbon dioxide, methane and human made chlorofluorocarbons, warm our planet, making life possible. Even though the greenhouse effects is actually beneficial to the planet Earth, but human made processes increase the speed of greenhouse effect and the global warming problem occur.

There are natural as well as human made causes of the greenhouse effect. One of the human made causes of the greenhouse effect is deforestation. Deforestation of the world's rainforest has numerous impacts on the environment and is occurring at alarming rates. Deforestation is the process of converting forested lands into non-forest sites that are ideal for crop raising, urbanization and industrialization (Rethinking environment history: global warming n.d.). Deforestation also happens due to the over population in cities and developing countries. A population is growing in the third world. Some people had land until increases in population forced them to cut off the forest. So, they became landless peasants that are forced to look for land in the untouched forest (Population growth an deforestation n.d.). For examples, government in the third world help the poor people to find their living places by concentrate on the cheapest, easiest, way to keep poverty out of sight and give the poor no other choice but to force other species out from the forest and themselves in. Besides, industrial logging is another common form of deforestation which causes global warming. Logging can occur selectively, where only the economically valuable species are cut, or by clear cutting, where all trees are cut (How deforestation happens n.d.). According to World Resources Institute (n.d.), 78 percent of the world's original frontier forests have already been destroyed or degraded due to human demand of raw materials for furniture, building and shipping industries. Furthermore, peasant clear cut or fire forest is to use the soil for agricultural crops and stock rising. For instance, poor people in the forest become “shifted cultivators” and resort to using slash and burn method of tree removal. Trees are cut down and the remains are burned. The ash is used as a fertilizer and the land is then used for farming.

Deforestation brings many negative effects to the environment. First, the most dramatic effects are to biodiversity. Forests are natural habitats to many types of animals and organisms. When there is deforestation, many animals are left without shelters. Those that manage to go through the flat lands and residential sites are then killed by people. For example, most of the plants and animals life in Madagascar are the world's most endangered species comparing to other countries. This is because every day about 138 animals are killed due to they losses their habitat in Madagascar (The effect of deforestation n.d.). Second, the effect of deforestation to environment would be water table underneath the ground. Water table is the common source of natural drinking water by people living around forests. If water table is replenishing, the supply of water underground could also dry up if not replenished regularly. When the underground dry up, people who live nearby the non-forest sites will found that the temperature is increasing and they need to look for other living places which contain natural drinking water. On the other hand, when there is a forest, it will help to hold much of the rainfall to the soil through their roots. However, if there are not enough forests, then water from rain would simply flow through the soil surface and not be retained by the soil. Third, if the rain flow through the soil surface and not retained by the soil, another effect to the environment will automatically begin because non-forest sites are facing problems of flooding. Flooding is a quite serious consequence of deforestation. If flooding happen regularly, it will cause landslide which will endanger people who are living around that place.

Another human made causes of the increase in the greenhouse effect is industrialization. Ng Chan Heng (2005, pg 139-147) claimed that industries which manufacturing products related to electrical appliances most of the time are contributing to the greenhouse effect. This is because chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a third culprit, escape from refrigerators, air conditioners, plastics foam, solvents and spray cans. The amount of chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere is tiny compared with carbon dioxide, but chlorofluorocarbons are thousands of times more potent in absorbing heat and have also been implicated in the “ozone hole”. The appearance of the ozone hole is that human made chlorofluorocarbons release chlorine atoms in the upper atmosphere. Next, some of the brick and cement manufacturing industries also act as a cause toward the greenhouse effect. When the manufacturing industries take their steps to produce the products, it will put off a lot of chlorofluorocarbons to the air. Thus, these gases will affect the Earth atmosphere.

Industrialization carries some pessimistic result to the greenhouse effect. First, industrialization depleting ozone layer. Depletion of the stratosphere ozone layer is of great concern since it protects the earth surface by absorbing 99 percent of the ultraviolet light energy coming from the sun. When chlorofluorocarbon released into the atmosphere, they drift up slowly into the stratosphere, where, under the influence of ultraviolet radiation from the sun, they react with ozone to form free chlorine atom and molecular oxygen, thereby destroying the ozone layer which protect the earth surface from the sun harmful ultraviolet rays. Second, rising of earth temperatures and sea levels. The depletion of the stratosphere ozone layer causing the earth to change from “icehouse phase” to “greenhouse phase” which the average temperatures on earth will going to increase about 3 to 5 Degree Celsius and also rising of sea levels by at least 25 meters by the year 2100 (Global warming n.d.). For example, the rise in world temperature will result in changes to animal habitat. Tropical species are likely to appear in Europe and North America. Besides, rising of sea levels due to melting of iceberg are threatening low lying islands and river deltas, putting million of people at risk, and warming temperatures are resulting in the spread of infection diseases. For example, small and low lying island such as Maldives will disappear soon if the sea levels continue rising.

Furthermore, human made processes that contribute and are a cause to the greenhouse effect are burning of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels likes' coal, petroleum oil, and natural gas provide the energy that powers our lifestyles and our economy (Electric generation n.d.). One of the main uses of fossil fuel is to generate electricity. Coal is the main fuel source for electric generation and continuously follows by petroleum oil and natural gas. For example, the use of fossil fuel in fired electric power plant help United State countries to generates its 2/3 electricity (Fire electric power plant n.d.) . United States uses fossil fuel (coal, oil, gas) widely due to the cost are cheaper (inexpensive to drill or mine for) and long lasting (coal is the most plentiful fossil fuels and it is found over much of the world) compare to diesel and any other gases. Next, fossil fuels also use for fueling transportation. Nowadays, fossil fuels power everything from the planes in the sky to the cars on the road in order to ship the manufacturing industries goods from one place to the other places. Besides, people from difference countries can cross over the sea to meet each other by taking planes or trains. For instance, businessman can have a nice meet and make business together even though they come from two difference countries. This action will bring to the countries economy growth. So, fossil fuels become importance for fueling transportation system. However, fossil fuels are non renewable resources.

Burning fossil fuel create harmful outcomes to the greenhouse effect. First, it contributes to acid rain. Acid rain is a result of pollution. Acid rain damages everything over a period of time because it makes the living things in the environment die. When any types of fuel is burnt, lots of different chemical are produce. The smoke that come from a fire or a car exhaust don't just contain the sooty grey particles but also contain lots of invisible gases. Moreover, when we burn these natural fuels only part of their energy is actually used, a lot of it is returned back to the atmosphere as heat plus it's by products go into the atmosphere in the form of sulfur oxides, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and solid particles (Acid Rain n.d.). These disrupt the carbon cycle and the nitrogen oxides contribute to acid rain. When acid rain falls down to earth, it can make soil acidic down to a depth of three feet. Acid rain kills the plants roots and soon the plants will die (The effect of fossil fuel n.d.). Therefore, many forests have been destroyed do to acid rain. Second, burning fossil fuel affects the aquatic habitat and cause water pollution. When acid rain fall into the lake and sea, water becomes unfit for drinking because the acidity of lake and sea increases. Furthermore, it tells on the aquatic life, both plants and animals. Fishers die or they carry small doses of acid elements in them that those who consume them may die. In addition, if the dead fishers never clean off, it will pollute the water. Consequently, the ecological system will breakdown creating diseases human cannot resist, loss of food supplies from lakes and seas, the necessity of gas masks whenever one goes outside (Srinivasan 2005, pg 106).

Population growth also is an indirect contributor and one of the causes of the greenhouse effect. With the increase in population, the needs and wants of the people increase. They will always demand for the latest or advance technology. Therefore, this increases the manufacturing processes as well as the industry processes (Ng Chan Heng 2004, pg 67-68). Manufacturers most of the time use chemical to generate their machine in the industry because natural resources are no longer exist and it cost the manufacturers a lot of money even though the natural resources are selling in the market. Researchers work in the manufacturing and industry company will do their research and development job frequently to ensure that their technology are the latest and fulfill the consumer requirements. Due to researchers' does experiment too frequent, it automatically results in the increase of the release of industrial gases and toxic waste to the air and water which lead to the greenhouse effect. For example, testing on the automobile engine will cause air pollution and water pollution. This because the automobile engine will release a lot of dirty gases when it react with the chemical contain in the engine. Moreover, after the testing on automobile engine, human pour all the toxic waste into the rivers. This action cause the rivers become dirty and murky.

The population growths bring great impact to the greenhouse effect. First, earth temperature is rising. Human on the earth become many and many but the fresh oxygen are not enough for human breathing due to the carbon dioxide are increasing in the earth atmosphere. Carbon dioxide increases because of trees on the earth are getting lesser and lesser, which mean less process of photosynthesis done by the leaves on the tree. Second, water pollution occurs. Industrial waste in the water contains toxics chemicals. It is alarming that most industries have been started without proper planning and waste treatment plants. The manufacturers just dispose of untreated toxic waste into nearby drains or rivers. When water contain toxic chemicals, it become unsuitable for drinking purpose and the water bodies can no longer cope with the increasing pollution load. For example, in Pakistan, water is mainly used for industrial, agricultural and domestic purposes. However, the water was polluted by the irresponsible user who throws all the toxic chemical waste inside it.

So, these are some solutions to reduce the greenhouse effects which cause the global warming. Solution are needed so we can prevent the negative effects from continue happen in our living place - Earth. Srinivasan (2005, pg 120-122) mentioned that the first solution is reducing the use of fossil fuel. Manufacturer should reduce the amount of fossil fuel use for generate electricity. Besides, if we have enough buying power, then we should buy a hybrid car to replace the car that need to use fossil fuel daily. Manufacturer should implement hybrid car with a reasonable price for all the consumers. This because hybrid car will automatically filter those dirty gases before it release to the environment. Second, we should recycle the usable resources. Recycle usable resources such as paper and plastic bottle will help to reduce the percentage of trees being cut off by human and ensure the natural resources can still be use for the future. Third, a national world wide program for global warming should be more established. Our civil society must come forward, if the civil society come forward with motivational program, people will come forward with a movement, which in turn may ensure Governmental commitment. Forth, law should be enacted prohibiting throwing of mills and factory wastes to water sources. Fine should be given to the industries who throw toxic waste into drains or rivers. Furthermore, strict observance or monitoring should also ensure. Fifth, the world community should raise strong voice to stop those activities that will release a lot of unhealthy gases to the earth atmosphere or endanger those plants and animals life. Activities like nuclear testing should be completely ban if it is too dangerous or will bring great impact to the greenhouse effect.

In conclusion, human activities carry many negative results to greenhouse effect and this causes global warming to happen on the Earth. Therefore, solutions should take immediately by human to reduce the rising of temperatures which will endanger the natural and human.

REFERENCES

BOOKS

H. K. Dhariwal 1999, Greenhouse effects, Pan Asia publications sdn bhd,

Malaysia.

Ng Chan Heng 2004, Population, Pearson Longman, Malaysia.

Professor S. Srinivasan 2005, Environment: Pollution, Publishing Division,

Singapore.

WORLD WIDE WEB

Acid Rain n.d. Retrieved: October 22, 2007, from

http://www.ypte.org.uk/docs/factsheets/env_facts/acid_rain.html..

Definition: climate change n.d. Retrieved: October 18,2007 from

www.web.mit.edu/12000/m2010/finalwebsite/background/globalwarming/definition.

Electric generation n.d. Retrieved: October 25, 2007, from

http://www.iptv.org/exploremore/energy/profile/fossil_fuel.cfm.

Fire electric power plant n.d. Retrieved: October 25, 2007, from

http://leahy.senate.gov/issues/environment.

Global warming n.d. Retrieved: October 24, 2007, from

http://timeforchange.org/cause_and_effect_for_globalwarming

How deforestation happens n.d. Retrieved: October 19, 2007, from

http://www.trfic.msn.edu/rfrc/status.html.

Population growth an deforestation n.d. Retrieved: October 19, 2007, from

http://www.umich.edu/society/deforestation.html.

Rain forest n.d. Retrieved: October 27, 2007 from

http://www.rainforest.web.org/rainforest_destruction/wood_and_paper/logging/ html.

Rethinking environment history: global warming n.d. Retrieved: October 18,

2007, from http://books.google.com

Roy D'Silva 2007, Cause of the greenhouse effect. Retrieved: October 19, 2007,

from http://www.buzzles.com/articles/causes_greenhouse_effect.html

The effect of deforestation n.d. Retrieved: October 19, 2007 from

http://ezinearticles.com

The effect of fossil fuel n.d. Retrieved: October 25, 2007 from

http://library.thinkquest.org/11353/fossilfuel.html

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