Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
Documentos de Cultura
http://globalwarming.com/2009/03/what-is-global-warming/
The prevailing counter opinion is that all that is presently perceived to be global warming is
simply the result of a normal climactic swing in the direction of increased
temperature. Many proponents of this global warming ideology have definitive social and
financial interests in these claims.
Global warming and climate change are aspects of our environment that cannot be easily or
quickly discounted. Many factions still strongly feel that the changes our Earth is seeing are the
result of a natural climatic adjustment. Regardless of one’s perspective the effects of global
warming are a quantifiable set of environmental results that are in addition to any normal
changes in climate. That is why the effects of global warming have catastrophic potential. Global
warming may well be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. It could turn out to be the
difference between a category three hurricane and a category four. Global warming as caused by
greenhouse gas emissions can lead us to a definite imbalance of nature.
The premise of global warming as an issue of debate is that industrial growth coupled with non-
structured methods we as humans use to sustain ourselves has created a situation where our
planet is getting progressively hotter. We have seemingly negatively effected our environment
by a cycle of harmful processes that now seem to be feeding upon themselves to exponentially
increase the damage to our ecosystem.
http://globalwarming.com/2009/03/causes-of-global-warming/
Most modern attention to the problem of global warming began with discussion of depletion of
the Earth’s Ozone layer. Ozone (O3) is a molecular form of Oxygen. The Ozone layer is a
relatively thin strata of these molecules set in the lower portion of the Earth’s stratosphere.
Depletion of the Earth’s Ozone layer has resulted in a large increase in Ultra Violet Radiation
reaching the surface of the earth. Does this increase in UV rays equate to global warming? Not
really. In fact most scientific opinion is that depletion of the Ozone layer results in cooling of
both the stratosphere and troposphere. So why mention depletion of the Ozone layer as regards to
global warming? Because it represents a needed balance between harmful radiation being
allowed to reach the earth’s surface and our desire to stem the rapid increase in our air and water
temperature. Remember, we are viewing global warming as a chain of events.
Currently in the world 40% of all CO2 emissions are caused by power plants. These are burning
coal, natural gas and diesel fuel. Some power plants burn garbage. Some burn methane made
from garbage. And discounting those super green electrical generating plants designed to issue
negligible pollutants, all of our power plants let loose into the atmosphere CO2.
33% of all the CO2 sent forth is the product of cars and trucks. Internal combustion engines
burning fossil fuels…gasoline and diesel spew forth a retching amount of CO2.
3.5% of all CO2 emissions are released from aircraft traveling our friendly skies. Unfortunately,
jets and other aircraft deliver their payload of pollutants directly into the troposphere.
The point to remember is that 98% of all CO2 emissions are related to energy production and
80% of these emissions become greenhouse gases.
The next grouping of events concerns what happens when the small percentage of increased heat
on our planet’s surface and in our air begins to effect long standing conditions.
Currently the measured effect of global warming as caused by the greenhouse effect on the
planet overall is approximately a 1 degree Celsius increase over the last 50 years. This would
seem to mean nothing. One asks, “How could one degree more or less effect anyone or
anything.” In terms of that “anyone”, the effect of a one-degree difference in ambient
temperature will probably go unnoticed. Our bodies are designed to adjust to a huge range of
climatic conditions. No one of us will notice that today it is 71 degrees outside and fifty years
ago it would have been 70. The human body will adjust and adapt even if the average
temperature globally were to increase by ten degrees. Chances are we would set off a huge
oblivious migration to more temperate areas. But that little one-degree change manages to set out
of kilter an incredible array of environmental forces.
Permafrost
While that one-degree of heat made you take off a sweater, segments of the Earth known as
permafrost began a meltdown. Permafrost is a condition whereby sections of the Earth’s surface
have remained at a temperature below freezing (0 degrees Celsius) for at least two years.
Literally, it means permanently frozen soil. In actuality, most permafrost regions have been
frozen for thousands of years. A large portion of the Arctic is permafrost. During summer
months these areas seem to be thawed as they permit a two to twelve foot layer of soil to grow
vegetation. But beneath that summer season lays a still frozen core. These frozen strata of the
Earth lock away huge amounts of gaseous content with the highest concentrations of gases held
in check by permafrost being Carbon dioxide and Methane gas. That one-degree increase in
overall temperature is allowing millions of underground acres of permafrost to defrost and
release even more greenhouse gas.
Tundra
In a similar vein frozen areas know as Tundra are also experiencing a subtle warming. Tundra
describes the soil above permafrost that is frozen for most of the calendar year but thaws for
allowance of small amounts of vegetation growth. Areas of Tundra throughout the world serve as
sinks for absorption of massive amounts of Carbon. As these areas begin to exist for more
months of the year above freezing they both release their stores of Carbon and cease to function
as greenhouse gas depositories.
The extremist view is that within another half century global warming will simultaneously melt
the arctic tundra releasing billions of tons of harmful greenhouse gases and ignite the world’s
rainforests destroying our planet’s ability to create oxygen. Such a viewpoint is falsely alarming
and without basis. The real danger of global warming is sufficient without need to exaggerate.
Polar meltdown
The increase, albeit slight in overall temperature the planet is now in the midst of, is more than
sufficient to cause catastrophic effect. Take for example our next link in the chain of events
feeding the effect of global warming. That is the warming of our polar caps and oceans. An
increase in overall temperature for the troposphere allows that segment of the atmosphere to
absorb more water vapor. Much as we set a dew point for condensation of moisture on the
earth’s surface, the atmosphere has an evaporation point allowing a larger volume off gaseous
H2O to exist. A simple linear logic would allow that a 1 percent increase in overall water
temperature throughout the earth’s atmosphere might allow a corresponding 1% increase in
airborne vapor. In truth there is a non-linear curve to this dialectic, but the general principle
follows suit and allows for our explanation. A 1% increase in water vapor is a huge increase to
the overall amount of greenhouse emissions. The problem however is not caused by the increase
whether it is 1% or 1000th of one percent. The problem is that each release of an unchecked
amount of greenhouse gas precipitates a further release. So if we add excess water vapor to our
ecosystem it then further heats the atmosphere so as to allow even more water vapor to encroach.
Environmental causes
Gaseous emissions are the largest issue as a cause for global warming. But simple environmental issues
still manage to total together and create a factor that is in no way to be discounted as unimportant.
The greenhouse effect has caused our Polar Ice Caps to reduce in size by 20% since 1979. This has
resulted in more land and sea area being exposed to absorb heat from the sun and as our continual cycle
suggests create more excess heat, which in turn melts more polar ice.
Not all of global warming is the result of greenhouse gases and the ensuing greenhouse effect. As the
population of the earth has increased mankind has brought civilization to almost every corner of the
globe. Civilization includes buildings, highways, land cleared for agriculture, cities built where once
stood deserts. Almost everything that we build absorbs more heat than its natural predecessor.
For hundreds of years we have sheared the tops off of mountains and burned down millions of acres of
forest just to look for precious metals. We clear ten thousand year old growth areas just find hardwoods
for lumber. We are still clearing the Brazilian Rain Forests so cattle can be raised on the grassy plains we
create. And the semi-comical side of this is that we have simultaneously destroyed lush plant life that
would have through photosynthesis turned CO2 into oxygen, so as to grow cattle, which are raised in such
abundance that their flatulence (Methane) is a measurable greenhouse emission.
This is not to suggest that we tear down all of our houses to plant a forest of trees and carve up the
superhighways and replace them with lovely green meadows. What we do need is an awareness of our
situation. We need to realize that every move we make as a result of industrialization has a corresponding
consequence.
http://globalwarming.com/2009/03/primary-effects-of-global-warming/
Still, let us once again follow a chain of events so as to be able to completely envision the scale
and scope of the problem.
Yet this is precisely the scenario by which we are all affected. Obviously people living in low
laying areas such as coastal Florida and Louisiana will most directly be affected. A one hundred
year model that allows for the current progression of global warming factors would result in
millions of acres of land mass lost in these areas. Still we have set our viewpoint in the Rocky
Mountains not Holland or the eastern coast of England, both of which are teetering at or below
sea level.
Salt water intrusion
Our Denver citizen might enjoy bottled water from Zephyrhills, Florida or any of the hundreds of
fresh water springs gushing forth in the sunshine state. Salt-water intrusion as a result of rising
sea levels could easily destroy a huge percentage of the potable water available in this and other
coastal states. Agricultural products of low-lying areas around the world will face shortfalls.
Production of fruits and vegetables is dependent on a stable set of environmental conditions.
Ever hear of the Indian River? Well most of America’s grapefruit is grown there along the
Florida coast and should we follow the expected loss of coastline for all of the Southern US
which is projected at a possible 2 mile inward loss of coastline over the next 75 years. Both the
Indian River and Indian River Grapefruit will no longer exist. 50% of American produce is
grown in our low laying areas. A major effect of global warming is that agricultural production
will be decreased. Our planet will be unable to grow as much food.
Beach erosion
A major secondary effect of rising sea levels is massive beach erosion. Our Colorado vacationer
will find the endless stretches of sandy beaches he enjoys on his winter vacation have withered
away to a few hundred yards here and there. But a shortened tourist base is hardly a world
catastrophe…is it? Tourism pumps over 50 Billion dollars a year into Florida’s economy. North
Carolina and Louisiana earn 15 billion dollars each through tourism. In fact every US state and
every nation on Earth with mild climate and a sandy shore depends upon financial gain from
tourism to sustain its economy.
Lest we dwell only on financial impact consider that loss of coastal acreage will displace
thousands of species of animal and plant life.
Extreme weather
Perhaps the most commonly conceived notion as to the effects of global warming is that of
cataclysmic weather. In fervor to promote the cause, too often we see graphic depictions of
raging floods, category 12 hurricanes and dozens of tornadoes sweeping the landscape. These
same depictions seem to serve those who accept the threat of global warming and those who
reject the possibility. One agenda hopes to frighten the world into an austere program of self-
denial so as to instantly curb global warming causes. The other faction points out that currently
there are no typhoons sweeping across Kansas so therefore global warming is a but a myth. As
always when dealing with scientific anomalies the truth lies nicely hidden in between.
Category 4 and 5 hurricanes have risen in frequency from 20 to 35% over the last 30 years. Since
the dawn of the industrial revolution, frequency of hurricanes overall has risen by almost 40%
and the those hurricanes now making landfall deposit almost 10% more rainfall than their pre
1970 counterparts. As an effect of global warming hurricanes are stronger, wetter and more
numerous. Hurricane Fay from 2007 created massive flooding over a dozen states. This increase
in storm activity is directly related to a wider variance between warm and cold ocean waters.
Consider that the measurement of temperature rise in ocean waters is based on an overall
average. Storms are created by the extremes that create that average.
Global warming produces as byproducts, variance in the jet stream, wind sheer, greater quantity
of cyclones, and drought.
Increased rainfall
If we increase the temperature of the air it is able to absorb more moisture in the form of water
vapor. If we cool the air that vapor becomes liquid and falls to the earth as rain. The greater the
amount of water vapor the atmosphere absorbs the greater the amount of rainfall we will receive
during the normal process of reaching a dew point or other yard stick of precipitation. This
increased rainfall results in drastically increased erosion. Areas such as Colorado’s Platte River
long noted for the devastation following its hundred-year floods can in no way accommodate that
same volume of water arriving every decade. Erosion is vulnerable tropical areas such as Africa
results in native plant life dying off and a resultant desertification.
Evaporation, by definition is a cooling process. So why then is this increased evaporation not
countering global warming? Because the water vapor that enters the atmosphere counters the
cooling process while acting as a greenhouse gas. It should be pointed out that change in climate
for targeted areas can often result in a plus side modification meaning that adding water to dry
areas usually results in those areas being able to support vegetation.
Acidic Oceans
Our Oceans are the Earth’s largest sink for the absorption of CO2 from our atmosphere. As
excess CO2 is dealt with, the oceans in an effort to balance the ecosystem have become saturated
with CO2. This has resulted in production of mild carbonic acid and is known as ocean
acidification. While this is an extremely slight change in the ph (acid to base) balance of the seas
it does result in damage to corals. Coral reefs are home to the vast majority of undersea life.
Ocean acidification coincides with Oxygen depletion in our oceans. Heavier CO2 molecules are
supplanting oxygen. Less oxygen equals less fish.
Drought
As temperature swings increase we are left with flooding in some areas and drought in others the
drought creates correct conditions for forest fires. These fires, like our hurricanes, are suddenly
emerging on a much grander scale. The 2009 fires raging through Australia and the 2002 fires in
Florida serve as excellent examples. Massive fires release much more carbon as both particle and
molecule than can readily be absorbed. Once again prevalent anti global warming as reality
belief is that these fires can only be considered a natural effect of the ecosystem and as the
forests are a naturally renewing resource should be discounted as an effect of global warming.
However with global warming defined as a premise of additional stress on our environment we
come to realize that it is not the existence of a naturally made fire but the scale of that event that
matters.
http://globalwarming.com/2009/03/secondary-effects-of-global-warming/
Flooding of coastal areas results in coastal growing plains being destroyed. For many poorer
countries these are the only fertile areas accessible to transportation via waterways. Poor
countries like Bangladesh are completely at risk to massive starvation caused by coastal
flooding.
Many Pacific Island nations will be completely eliminated as sea levels rise. It is already planned
to evacuate the peoples of Tuvalu to nearby New Zealand as flood defense in not economically
or agriculturally possible.
Species Migration and Extinction
People will not be the only living things on the move due to global warming. As regional
ecosystems change many species will be unable to find historical food sources. This will result in
mass migrations to climates hoped to support those species as well as mass extinction of those
animals unable to migrate an /or adapt. Polar bears, emperor penguins, gyrfalcons and snowy
owls are just a few of the species current in peril in the new warmer Arctic and Antarctic regions.
Longer warm seasons result in such basic changes as a Polar bears loss of natural camouflage. A
white bear on brown earth is easy for a seal to avoid.
Birds and butterflies have shifted the range of their migrations almost 200 kilometers in North
America and Europe. Plant life is unable to shift regions as quickly and as such will die out
unless manually replanted in more conducive settings. When herbivores migrate to find a
genetically compatible climate they face the risk of starvation when their traditional foodstuffs
have not migrated with them. Many species are simply unable to migrate to better climes and as
such will suffer the fate of Australia’s white possum. Unable to survive in temperatures above 30
degrees Celsius the entire species was destroyed during a surprisingly excessive heat wave
during 2005. Their loss is directly attributed to global warming.
Severe winters in British Columbia have always managed to keep in balance the voracious effect
of the Pine Beetle. Warmer temperatures have now allowed the beetles to profligate and destroy
33 million acres of Canadian pines.
Mountain run off of melting snows is expected to result in seasonal flooding followed by
seasonal drought in every mountain range in the world. Mountains cover one fourth of the
Earth’s land mass. As upper mountain areas warm it is expected that over heated lower level
animals and plants will simply move up to a higher elevation. But what of life already situated at
the upper threshold? Once they reach the top of the mountain where will they move up to?
Disease spreads in an overheated environment. Ever notice that there isn’t a lot of malaria in
Buffalo, New York or Moscow, Russia. Cold kills germs. Global warming will extend the
favorable zones for many infectious diseases. Encephalitis, Lyme disease and the
aforementioned malaria will join with other bacteria based carriers of illness to spread
throughout areas previously thought of as safe zones.
Our bodies must work harder to cool off when placed in a higher ambient temperature.
Cardiovascular function is directly reduced by even a 1-degree temperature increase.
Higher concentrations of greenhouse gases in the air we breathe are also directly damaging to
lung tissue and lung capacity.
http://globalwarming.com/2010/03/2002-global-warming-is-compared-against-global-dimming-
as-climate-shifts-are-still-noted/
http://globalwarming.com/2010/03/2003-climate-cycles-are-weighed-against-global-warming-
existence/