Does Human Activity Cause Global Warming
There has been an ongoing controversy among scientists as to whether global warming exists or not.
Various opponents have put forward various proofs that global warming is in fact a misconception. However, there is tangible proof that the earth is getting warmer and in due time, may be too hot for the existence of man. The proof that the Earth is getting warmer has several sources. For example, the growing season for crops in Australia has lengthened; the melting of the permafrost in Siberia and Canada, just to mention but a few. Further, according to a report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration drawn on research from 48 countries, air temperature near the earth’s surface in the past ten years have risen by 0.
6 Celsius than the 1960s and around 0.4 degree than the 1990s. The report concluded that the amount of humidity has risen, while glaciers, snow cover and sea ice have dropped. Projections by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change state that temperatures are likely to rise in the 21st century from 1.1 to 6.
4 °C (2.0 to 11.5 °F). However, these estimates may be biased since there are differing estimates in the sensitivities to the effects of greenhouse gases and future predictions in greenhouse emissions. Projections by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change state that temperatures are likely to rise in the 21st century from 1.
1 to 6.4 °C (2.0 to 11.5 °F). However, these estimates may be biased since there are differing estimates in the sensitivities to the effects of greenhouse gases and future predictions in greenhouse emissions. This doubts as to the existence of this concept can therefore only be tackled by investing more on accurate and reliable data collection techniques.
Carbon dioxide is usually not considered a pollutant. This is because it is a natural atmospheric component needed by plants for the photosynthesis process. However, its excess presence in the atmosphere is toxic and a threat to the ecosystem. Carbon dioxide increase is a result of burning fossil fuels and wood fuel. Deforestation reduces the assimilation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The faint balance must be maintained in order for the ecosystem to function properly. As the concentration of these gases increases, more heat from the earth is trapped in the atmosphere, while very little of this energy escapes into space. The tapped heat energy causes climatic changes and weather patterns are altered. Such climatic changes, affects the length of seasons, causes drought, causes frequenting storms due to increase in atmospheric moisture and rising sea level as well as hastening of the extinction of species. Human activities that involve the burning of fossil fuels and natural gases, deforestation and the numerous agricultural practices and industrial activities continuously alter the balance of the atmosphere through the increase of particles in the atmosphere. These particles alter the amount of energy that the atmosphere absorbs or reflects back towards the earth surface.
This contributes to climate change. It is therefore certain that human activities have led to the increased concentration of greenhouse gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and many more. Therefore, the concept on global warming cannot be ignored just because there is unreliable data or inaccuracies and inconsistencies in its establishment. Proper policies should therefore be instituted to combat these trend especially human activities that endanger the existence of future generations.
