Global GreenhouseEssay Preview: Global GreenhouseReport this essayThe greenhouse effect results from “the dirty of the atmospheric infrared window” by some atmospheric trace gases, permitting incoming solar radiation to reach the surface of the Earth unhindered but restricting the outward flow of infrared radiation. These atmospheric trace gases are referred as greenhouse gases. They absorb and reradiate this outgoing radiation, effectively storing some of the heat in the atmosphere, thus producing a net warming of the surface. The process is called the greenhouse effect. The various independent historical observational measurements conclude that the global average near-surface temperature has increased by about 0.5 degree centigrade over the past 100 years. This observed warming trend is continuing despite the influence of the Mt. Pinatubo volcanic eruption, which caused volcanic emissions to reduce incoming solar radiation for nearly two years. The likelihood that this global warming is due to primarily to natural variability is low. Scientists believe that this global warming trend is resulted from the enhanced greenhouse effect. The notion of an “enhanced” greenhouse effect refers primarily to the incremental global warming caused by the exponentially increasing concentrations of anthropogenically introduced greenhouse gases over and above the greenhouse effect caused by naturally occurring
greenhouse gases. Although there exist large uncertainties, scientists suggest that the emissions of greenhouse gases and sulfate aerosols could, by the end of the next century, lead to an increase in global mean temperatures of about 1-4 degree centigrate. According to a climate model from the Hadley Center for Climate Prediction and Research, in the United Kingdom, there is strong evidence that man-made greenhouse gas emissions are responsible for global warming over the past few decades, however, the sun and volcanoes played a significant part in effecting temperatures during the first half of the twentieth century. The main anthropogenic (man made pollution) driver is burning fossil fuel to produce energy, a process that emits the most significant greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide. This global warming trend can cause a significant global climate changes. Human society is highly dependent on the Earths climate. Climate patterns and human adaptations determine the availability of food, fresh water, and other resources for sustaining life. Largely adapting to the seasonal and year-to-year patterns of temperature and rainfall has also shaped the social and economic characteristics of society. Some potential effects associated with climate change are listed in the following. (From U.S. Climate Action Report)
Water ResourcesThe quality and quantity of drinking water, water availability for irrigation, industrial use, and electricity generation, and the health of fisheries may be significantly affected by changes in precipitation and increased evaporation. Increased rainfall may cause more frequent flooding. Climate change would likely add stress to major river basins worldwide.
Coastal ResourcesAn estimated 50 cm rise in sea level by the year 2100, could inundate more than 5,000 square miles of dry land and an additional 4000 square miles of wetlands in the U.S.
HealthHeat-stress mortality could increase due to higher temperatures over longer periods. Changing patterns of precipitation and temperature may produce new breeding sites for pests, shifting the range of infectious diseases.
AgricultureImpacts of Climate change in developing countries could be significant.ForestsHigher temperatures and precipitation changes could increase forest susceptibility to fire, disease, and insect damage.Energy and TransportationWarmer temperatures increase cooling demand but decrease heating requirements. Fewer disruptions of winter transportation may occur, but increased flooding or lowered river levels may affect water transport. Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
The global Carbon Dioxide budget is complex and involves transfer of CO2 between the atmosphere, the oceans, and the biosphere. Through the photosynthetic process, the land removes about 100 pentagrams of carbon in the form of CO2 per year. However, about the same quantity of carbon in the form of CO2 is added to the atmosphere each year by vegetation and soil respiration and decay. The worlds oceans release about 100 Pg C in the form of CO2 into the atmosphere per year and in turn absorb about 104 Pg C each year. Most of the oceanic carbon is in the form of sedimentary carbonates. Burning of fossil fuels adds about 5 Pg C and biomass burring and deforestation add about another 2 Pg C to the atmosphere in the form of CO2 annually. By summing all of the fluxes of CO2 into and out of the atmosphere, we can find that about 3 Pg C in
2, which covers the entire globe.[12] In other words, the entire global carbon network is an energy resource, not a fossilfuel.
An interesting observation of greenhouse effects, given the wide range and complexity of climate systems, is found in the effects of oceanic and atmospheric heat on the Earth’s atmosphere, ocean water vapor and the Arctic. This effect was explained by the reduction of volcanic activity or aerosol deposition during the preglacial period and the effects of solar activity in the early part of the last thirteenth century. According to this result, the atmosphere has significantly reduced its rate of cooling relative to the preglaciation period, while the rate of rise of greenhouse gases was higher in the late past than the late 20th century. This analysis has been corroborated by the data published in a paper by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, published in 2007 in the International Journal of the Shell Industry. In the atmosphere, the increase in the amount of CO2 that has been released since the past few 100 million years has been a positive factor, because the climate system is undergoing intense, rapid change because of the presence of CO2 in the air. The increase in the amount of CO2 that has been released since the preglacial period has coincided with a change in ocean pH levels. This acidification is known as an ice age. However, although the changes are not statistically significant at a global scale, the changes can influence the climate change response over time. This means the Arctic is different than the rest of the world because Arctic sea ice is less dense with CO2 than many Antarctic regions. This indicates that climate system is undergoing major changes during this period, as is not the case for other parts of the world. The decrease in net ocean surface temperatures in some countries will be very large to some regions, which has to be interpreted by the observed effect of sea level rise across the globe, on the Earth.[13]
The effect of global warming on the sea ice
For the past several decades in some countries the average thickness of sea ice (at least in Alaska) has declined by about 30% over the past 10 years. This is an extremely rapid and rapid decline with many other countries in the world experiencing drastic global changes. Such an event, as the Antarctic ice sheet becomes permanently fractured, will have an irreversible impact on the climate of the entire Western Hemisphere.
The increase in ocean temperatures has been primarily driven by the increased atmospheric CO2. In particular, ice has become thinner by the increase in the concentrations contained in the atmosphere at the poles. In contrast, the recent increase in ice cover in the Arctic and Antarctic has been largely due to the increased Antarctic sea ice. However, the Arctic is still becoming a more complex and unstable place with considerable ocean circulation problems, with more ice loss from the ice sheets and a warming Arctic climate. The Arctic has a relatively high sea level but is mainly below the sea surface. It is expected that the recent increase in the concentration of CO2 from the atmosphere may cause further changes from the present point in time, as the Arctic Ice Sheet is already collapsing. The current Arctic sea ice extent, at the beginning of the twentieth century was