Essay About Carbon Dioxide And Accumulation Of Greenhouse Gases

Access the Role of Urban Areas in Climate Change
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“Access the Role of Urban Areas in Climate
Change”
Name: Rachel McCormack
Student ID: 110371361
Date of submission:19th November 2010
Tutor name: Darius Barrlett
The world in which we live is changing rapidly be it population, technology,
or, indeed, the big issue of climate change. As humans, we question this term climate
change; what is it? Climate change can be defined as “Any change in global
temperatures and precipitation over time due to variability or to human activity”. As
of now, we hear a lot about this issue and its causes but, in fact, we dont really know
much about climate change. Through research carried out by various geographers,
scientists and environmentalists, one can, evidently, see that this issue of climate
change is occurring, and fast at that. Some insist that human interaction contributes to
climate change. If this is so, then most certainly the areas, in which, the most human
activity occurs, that is, the urban areas are going to be the most influential.
Climate change is, undoubtedly, a broad issue. The main cause is said to be the
accumulation of greenhouse gases within our atmosphere, which leads to a
disturbance in the greenhouse effect causing global warming. Greenhouse gases
include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Cconcentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are naturally controlled by many
processes collectively known as the “carbon cycle”. The flux of carbon between the
atmosphere and the land and oceans is regulated by natural processes, such as plant
photosynthesis. While these natural processes can absorb some of the anthropogenic
carbon dioxide emissions, it cant cope with the levels we are seeing today. Research
carried out by the National Energy Information Centre (NEIC) proves that major
greenhouse gases have increased by 25 to 30 percent, since the large scale
industrialization began over 150 years ago. During the past 20 years, three quarters of
man-made carbon dioxide were from the burning of fossil fuels. In 1850, there were
almost no record of anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide and atmosphere
concentrations were much lower at 280ppmv. In stark contrast, the anthropogenic
emissions and atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide grew incredibly by the
year 2000. Anthropogenic emissions of CO2 were at an all time high, with over 6500
million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide released in the atmosphere, causing
atmospheric concentrations up to 370ppvm. One can only draw up the conclusion that
we humans in industrialized areas, such as cities, are responsible for such a
phenomenal rise in the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere.
This brings me on to the point of how the concentration of these gases causes climate
change. Firstly, it disturbs the greenhouse effect. The green house effect occurs
naturally in our atmosphere and aids the heating of the earths surface. This process
uses greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, water vapour and methane to change
the energy balance of the earth by absorbing longwave radiation, emitted from the
surface of the earth. The greenhouse effect is an essential part of our earth, as there
Would probably be no existence of life without it. However, if the concentration of
gases in the earth rises, it will disturb the natural function of the greenhouse effect. As
the sun passes through the atmosphere, a number of processes are carried out. Some
of it is reflected back in to space by clouds (26% globally). About 19% of the energy
that is given from the sun is absorbed by gases (ozone), clouds, and particles in the
atmosphere. The remaining 55% of the solar energy passing through the Earths
atmosphere; 4% is reflected from the surface back to space. On average, about 51% of
the Suns radiation reaches the surface. This energy is then used in a number of
processes, including the heating of the ground surface; the melting of ice and snow
and the evaporation of water; and plant photosynthesis. If you add uncontrollable
amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, then it causes interference with
these natural processes. The main issue is the depletion of the ozone, if gases arent
being renewed; they are trapped in the atmosphere. Gases such as fluorocarcons-12
and -11, nitrous oxide and methane, have very long survival times. This enables them
to reach the stratospheric ozone layer. If they reach this layer, this causes problems as
The harsh ultraviolet light causes decomposition of the fluorocarbons releasing
chlorine atoms that destroy the ozone layer. The ozone is important to prevent the
overheating of the earths surface, as it allows reflected sun rays to pass out through