Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Global Warming Causes Cooling (Ice Age?)

One common debate point against those who want to point out flaws in global warming is that there are many scientists who speak of a coming ice age. This is true, however, what those debaters do not understand is that global warming and a coming ice age are not mutually exclusive items as the words "warming" and "ice" might suggest. It all boils down to a matter of location and perspective. Disclaimer: Please note that this article is NOT an argument for or against global warming politics. It is merely meant to show how the science behind a global warming phenomenon could lead to global cooling in other regions. Let me explain:
First, one has to understand the underlying worry of global warming. This primary concern is that the world is slowly growing warmer. This is not necessarily true on a daily basis, but measurements taken year over year and decade over decade compared to the past would indicate this is occurring. As such, it is increasing the melting rate for glaciers and the polar ice caps. Okay, simple enough. How does this lead to the next ice age?
This stems from weather patterns and the Gulf Stream. To understand how weather patterns work, consider the weather in Europe. Central Europe is on the same latitude as Canada and Siberia. However, its average temperature is more similar to that of the United States. How can this be? This is because the Gulf Streams moves vertically as well horizontally (it path resembles that of a wave). Most people are also aware that the Atlantic is considered a warm ocean while the Pacific is considered a cold one. This is because an undersea river travels between the two oceans carrying away Arctic temperatures from the Atlantic into the Pacific. In conjunction, the Gulf Stream moves across the warm Atlantic into Central Europe, leading to temperatures in this region being warmer than they would be otherwise.
However, melted polar ice caps threaten these loops. The underwater river that feeds the Gulf Stream could cease to exist and no longer provide certain regions with the weather that it does. Melted glacial regions could stop these patterns altogether. If the Gulf Stream were to shift or stop altogether, Europe and southern Canada would lose the influx of warm air to their current climates and delve into a second ice age. Other areas, like the southern United States would experience warmer climates and become much more arid, possibly even desert like. So when asked whether global warming would lead to the Earth become warmer or cooler, the answer is...YES.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

The Ultimate Way To Stop Global Warming

The Earth’s surface temperature has risen by about 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past century, with accelerated warming during the past two decades. There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities. Human activities have altered the chemical composition of the atmosphere through the buildup of greenhouse gases—primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. The heat-trapping property of these gases is undisputed although uncertainties exist about exactly how earth’s climate responds to them.

Energy from the sun drives the earth’s weather and climate, and heats the earth’s surface; in turn, the earth radiates energy back into space. Atmospheric greenhouse gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases) trap some of the outgoing energy, retaining heat somewhat like the glass panels of a greenhouse.

Without this natural “greenhouse effect,” temperatures would be much lower than they are now, and life as known today would not be possible. Instead, thanks to greenhouse gases, the earth’s average temperature is a more hospitable 60°F. However, problems may arise when the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases increases.

Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have increased nearly 30%, methane concentrations have more than doubled, and nitrous oxide concentrations have risen by about 15%. These increases have enhanced the heat-trapping capability of the earth’s atmosphere. Consequently, the temperature of the planet earth is rising.

Fossil fuels burned to run cars and trucks, heat homes and businesses, and power factories are responsible for about 98% of world carbon dioxide emissions, 24% of methane emissions, and 18% of nitrous oxide emissions. Increased agriculture, deforestation, landfills, industrial production, and mining also contribute a significant share of emissions. All these have dramatically reduce the lifespan of living earth.

The quest for efficient energy affects every country on the planet. Worldwide there is an increasing interest in developing clean, reliable alternatives to petroleum fuels. Many smart, safe, and clean alternative power sources are available in the market.

People can easily install these clean power sources at their home as alternative energy to help reducing carbon dioxide emission as well as reducing their utilities bill.

In recent year, people has come up with alternative power sources run their cars in order to reduce the spending on petrol gas and of course, reduce the carbon dioxide emission.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Discover Winning Tactics on How to Prevent Global Warming

One of the most relevant topics of our time is how to prevent global warming. Never before was planet earth faced with a crisis of this magnitude. The existence of every living thing now and their descendants to come has been threatened.

Much has been debated about whose fault it is. Some say its mankind's fault, while some say it's the natural cycle of nature. Both schools of thought are right. While we don't have much control over nature and its cycles, we do have control over our own contribution. And its there that are efforts to prevent global warming should focus.

Society is being beleaguered with countless methods on how to prevent global warming. Don't waste water. Conserve electricity. Use recycled goods. Keep appliances like TV and computers off when not in use. Walk more and drive less. Keep a curb on the use of plastics. Plant more trees.

But how effective are these methods and how much of a difference would it really make? Would these practices make a big difference? Are they worth the trouble and effort? Would these practices make much of a difference on how to prevent global warming?

Whatever we choose to do must be done now. We are well near the point of no return. If we don't act soon we will soon be beyond the point of no return. If we are late then no matter what we do we will not be able to reverse the effects of global warming.

While the individual practices the earlier mentioned methods, the government needs to impose stricter laws. It needs to use the power of the media to awaken the lazy and the stubborn. It's the combined efforts of the government, the individual, and the media that would make a difference.

Saving the environment means saving the world. It means saving our lives. It means that the next generation has clean water to drink, clean air to breathe. Green living is no more an option. It is a means of survival.

Working from home saves the gas we use in travel to work. Less paper mail and more electronic mail saves trees. These are just a few of the hundreds of ways on how to prevent global warming. In order to help preserve the Earth for future generations, it is your responsibility to educate yourself on more ways to help minimize and prevent climate change.