Meghna Janaki Nambissan ID# 1208022360

English 102 Dr. Cory Grewell 20th February 2013

Argument Proposal

Q: Is Climate Change a Manmade Phenomenon? NO

I certify that this is entirely my own work

Experts have debated the controversial argument that asks whether climate change is a manmade phenomenon for years. They have come to the consensus that there could be two kinds of causes for climate change: manmade and natural. There is a substantial amount of evidence on both the natural causes as well as those causes due to human activity. However, if one did argue that global climate change was solely due to natural factors, as opposed to a combination of manmade and natural, they would say the following; volcanic eruptions are known to promote climate cooling, oceanic currents are known promote climate warming and that solar variation due to the earths tilt in orbit is known to promote variations in temperatures. Society must be made aware that climate change is a global phenomenon, it can drastically improve life or it can do the opposite and be instrumental in societal collapse. After going through an abundance of published literature on global climate change, I have come to the following consensus; most credible geologists and scientists in the climatology field admit that there are both natural and manmade factors to blame for climate change. Those experts that disagree that there is a combination of factors at play, or that it is solely due to manmade factors obviously have forgotten to consider the natural factors that have regularly warmed the climate prior to the Industrial Revolution, and indeed, before any human presence on Earth (Singer 16). One natural cause that most experts agree on is that of volcanic eruptions and them having a cooling effect on the climate. Geologist Kenneth Verosub describes the eruption in 1815 from a volcano named Tambora in Indonesia. He describes it as probably the biggest eruption that we know about in the last 500 years. The eruptions resulted in increased amounts of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere and produced cooling in 1816. [ it is ] often known as The year without a summer. When large enough, volcanic eruptions release a detrimental amount of

dust and ash into the atmosphere to effectively block out the sun. This cycle promotes climate cooling. Julio Godoy, of the Global Information Network states that the circulation of the oceans, also contributes to the movement of heat in the earths climate system. Geologist Kenneth Verosub explains the importance of water to the world, and therefore its effect on climate. He explains, if water molecules heat up they expand which could cause a rise in water levels. Since 70% of the earth is water based, this can have a detrimental effect on the climate. We know that water cannot go from side to side when there is excess, the only option is to move upwards. Solar variability is a common natural cause that has been identified by experts like Fred Singer, who suggests, solar variability may be the most important factor. The idea of solar variability supports my third argument for natural causes. All these experts have different opinions on climate change, but the one thing they agree on is that the world has gone through dramatic climate change within the last 50 -100 years. Models have been built to help these experts build predict future changes. Based on my readings, in my paper I would like to argue that global climate change is due to a combination of manmade and natural causes, such as volcanic eruptions, oceanic currents, and solar variation based on the earths tilt. My rationale for the argument is that global climate change has been going on for years. It was only after the Industrial Revolution that the rate at which it was happening increased. It is a well-known fact that with the Industrial Revolution came the excess burning of fossil fuels, which is a well-known manmade cause for global warming. Volcanic eruptions are known to be a natural phenomenon that promotes climate cooling. I will be using volcano eruptions as the cause for my first argument. In an interview, Kenneth L. Verosub, a well-respected geologist describes the effect

volcanos have had on climate change, he states that volcanic eruptions release an abundance of sulfur dioxide in its gas form into the upper atmosphere, it is then combined with water vapor where it creates a compound known, as sulfur acid is that they reflect sunlight in their liquid form. The drops reflect enough sunlight to help cool the earth. Oceanic currents are looked upon as the natural cause of global warming. This is going to be an example used in my second argument. Patterns are created by the wind pushing the ocean in to horizontal paths. The ocean is known for moving vast amounts of heat across the planet. Cold water from both the North and South Pole move towards the equator, where the water is warmer. This movement plays an important role in determining the atmospheric concentration of CO2. The water medium is known for the reflection of heat. A sound argument can be made that the hotter water in the ocean gets, this could be due to x y or z, will impact the climate, given that the earth is 70% water and 30% land. Solar variability based on the earths tilt in orbit can manifest in different ways. The earth is tilted at 23.5. A slight change to the tilt can affect the climate drastically. The U*X*L Encyclopedia of Weather and Natural Disasters published an article called, "Climate Change and Global Warming which states that, the larger the angel of the earth to the sun corresponds to warmer summers an cooler winters. On the other hand, the smaller the angel of the earth to the sun corresponds to cooler summers and milder winters. Changes in the orbit may be slow, however that does not make its effects any less severe. One must not forget that the sun is the ultimate source of power and energy for all things on earth, therefore an assumption can be made that an increased or decreased output of energy by the sun can result in global climate change.

To wrap up the discussion, I would like to draw your attention to the information above. Global climate change cannot be described as a phenomenon that is solely due to natural causes or manmade factors. Its a combination of these two causes. I plan to argue the effect, volcanic eruptions, oceanic currents and solar variability based on the earths tilt in orbit, have on climate. Climate change has been effecting civilization for years; it is only after the sudden increase of carbon dioxide emissions after the Industrial Revolution that experts became more aware with global warming and blamed the outcome on human activity. My argument proposal aims to look at the natural causes that seem to lend a hand to global climate change whilst acknowledging the human activity that contributing to this phenomenon.

Works Cited

"Climate Change and Global Warming." U*X*L Encyclopedia of Weather and Natural Disasters. Detroit: UXL, 2007. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.

Godoy, Julio. "Norway: Experts Call for Study of Natural Causes of Climate Change." Global Information Network Jul 10 2012. ProQuest Research Library. Web. 21 Jan. 2013 .

Malik, Ashok. "Causes of Global Climate Change." Causes of Climate Change. Delhi, IND: Rajat Publications, 2008. 21-22. Ebray. Web. 23 Jan. 2013.

Singer,S.Fred. "Global warming: man-made or natural?" USA Today [Magazine] Mar. 2008: 16+. General OneFile. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.

Verosub, L. Kenneth. Interview: "Does Global Climate Change have Natural Causes?" Nutrition Health Review 2008: 10-1. ProQuest Research Library. Web. 21 Jan. 2013