Environmental Science

Temperatures have significantly increased in the last 100 years. The atmosphere’s greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, and fluorocarbons), capture heat and keep the surface of the Earth warm enough for us to live on. Before the Industrial Revolution, the Earth had a good balance of greenhouse gases. I believe the main contributor to Global Warming was the Industrial Revolution, which caused too much greenhouse effect. Fossil fuels (oil, coal, or natural gas, acquired from the remains of former life) were burned more and more to run our cars, trucks, factories, planes and power plants, which added to the natural supply of greenhouse gases. The gases, which can stay in the atmosphere for at least fifty and up to 100 years, are building up beyond the Earth’s ability to remove them and, in effect, creating an extra thick heat blanket around the Earth. As a result, the earth has heated up many degrees over the past century. According to edf.org the main contributor pollutant (Co2) has risen 31% above pre-industrial levels, which has caused the extra thick heat blanket around the earth to thicken and become more intense. There are many things that can happen to the population here on earth if this is not taken care of. While the Earth is heating up, health problems are becoming more and more abundant. Many of the viruses people catch come from animals and their droppings. Over the last 10 years, the weather has drastically changed. Years of drought followed by heavy spring rains produced a huge increase in plant growth, which in return caused an increase in deer mice, which carry many diseases that are easily spread to humans. Along with deer mice, mosquitoes have become a rather large problem as well. The warm climate and heavy rains help carry the diseases for a longer time span. 

Another danger that is caused by global warming is natural disasters. Hurricanes and heat waves have smashed through towns and destroyed them along with people and their lives. The warmer climate is heating up ocean waters, and warm ocean water fuels hurricanes. Scientists say that global warming will only lead to more intense storms, which will ruin more lives. 

I never realized how much I contributed to the increase of greenhouse gases until I researched for this article. There are many things one can do to help withdraw from contributing to global warming. Home energy accounts for 21 percent of America’s global warming pollution. Traditional incandescent bulbs are actually small heaters that give a little light, and waste a lot of energy making heat. People should use compact fluorescent lights. They use only a fraction of the amount of electricity that a traditional incandescent bulb uses. When it comes to global warming, how and what we drive are two of our most powerful choices one can make. Transportation is the biggest source of carbon dioxide emissions, more than factories or homes. People should pack their cars lightly and should drive more slowly. One should not use the air conditioning unless it is necessary. Car-pooling can help decrease pollution for the air and environment. Planning helps cut back time spent in cars as well, which is great for the economy and environment. 

Global warming is very dangerous and I believe we should do all we can do to put a stop to being a contributor

Sources :

http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/

http://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/Default.asp

http://www.globalwarming.org/