...The Changing Climate 1. “Earth’s climate has always been changing; it is the rate of change that is of current concern to scientists.” With reference to Figure 1, and other evidence which you have come across, discuss the validity of this statement. Firstly, global climate change is defined as “a change in the long-term weather patterns that characterize the regions of the world.” From Figure 1, we can see that the Earth’s climate has always been changing (at least temperature-wise), as evidenced by the large fluctuations in temperature as shown in the graph, starting from 150000 years ago. Figure 1 [IMAGE]As shown in the graph, the average global temperature dropped for around 15000 years, and then started to increase sharply for around 10000 years, after which it dropped at remained relatively constant, although it continued to fluctuate by around 1-2oC. The average temperature then dropped sharply around 80000 years ago, and then rose again, followed by another 35000 years or so of relative constant temperature. After that, the temperature dropped steadily until around 15000 years ago, after which it began to rise sharply, with only a small decrease in the rate of increase in the past 2000 years. Hence, from figure 1 alone, we can see that the rate of change in the Earth’s global average temperature has been increasing over the past 15000 years, and even though the rate of change decreased somewhat during the past 5000 years or so, the worldwide...
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...Causes of Global Warming and its present and future impacts on South-West Western Australia Global Warming is an issue at the heart of modern civilisation. The prospect of a rapidly changing global enviroment is enough to cause considerable concern towards life on earth for future generations. Therefore it is important to understand how climate change works, what is causing the climate to change, what effects these changes are having, and how they may continue to affect the global environment. What causes the environments on earth unable to support life? What can be done about these predictions of climates in the future? How will these climate changes affect South-West Western Australia? How does climate change work? Climate change is a natural process that has been functioning on earth for billions of years, it is the regulator of the earth's abililty to support life by the cycles of The Greenhouse Effect. The Greenhouse Effect has made the earth an environment for supporting life through the cycling of energy from the sun via short-wave radiation, which heats the earths surface, then is released into the atmopshere as long-wave radiation. This cycle is made possible by the prescence of Greenhouse gases, which redside in the earths atmopshere, and absorb most of the long-wave radiation given off by the earth, with the remainder being expelled into space. This process cycles the heat from the sun around the earths atmosphere and a climate is the result, without this circulation...
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...Climate Change: Causes, Effects and Solutions HUSSEIN KALAKESH ENG 101 Baker College of Allen Park Climate Change Essay UIN# 107-24597 Climate Change: Causes, Effects and Solutions Nowadays climate change is the biggest problem of the human being. It is already happening and represents one of the greatest environmental, social and economic threats facing the planet. The climate can affect every person and our health directly through increases in temperature. Such increases may lead to more extreme heat waves during the summer while producing less extreme cold spells during the winter. Particular segments of the population such as those with heart problems, asthma, the elderly, and the very young can be especially vulnerable to extreme heat. There can be extreme floods and droughts, hurricanes. The warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global mean sea level. The Earth’s average surface temperature has risen by 0.76° C since 1850. Most of the warming that has occurred over the last 50 years is very likely to have been caused by human activities. In its Fourth Assessment Report projects that, “without further action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the global average surface temperature is likely to rise by a further 1.8-4.0°C this century, and by up to 6.4°C in the worst case scenario”. Even...
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...Global warming: The beginning of Armageddon My Artefact (1) / My Newspaper article (1) Scientists, celebrities, and everyday people have been trying to understand the nature of global warming. Controversy is rampant and there is intense debate around the world on the subject. The most obvious thing that can be said about global warming is that the earth is getting warmer. Specifically, the temperatures near the surface of the earth and the temperatures in the ocean are rising. Since 1990, there have been 10 years that have been hotter than any others in recorded history. The greenhouse effect is said to be responsible for global warming. The greenhouse effect causes certain vapours and gases to form a sort of blanket that covers and warms the earth. Water vapour, methane, carbon dioxide, and several other trace gases make up this blanket. The greenhouse effect itself is not disputed. No controversy exists on this point because the greenhouse effect is recognized as an inherently beneficial process. If all the energy that struck the earth was reflected right back into space, no one could live on earth. This is what would happen without this blanket that is caused by acceptable levels of global warming. However, global warming is not all good. It can cause the earth's covering to increase in density. With a denser blanket over the earth, less of the heat is reflected back into space. This upsets the delicate balance between heat and cold that is usually maintained...
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...GLOBAL WARMING Global warming is commonly referred to as an increase in the temperature of the lowest layers of Earth's atmosphere. Global warming has occurred in the distant past as the result of natural influences, but the term is most often used to refer to the warming predicted to occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases. Primary greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone . Carbon dioxide, as well as other greenhouse gases, is a very important factor in the vital cycles which sustain life on this planet, plants use carbon dioxide in photosynthesis and release oxygen necessary to maintain the lives of animal species, who through exhaling return carbon dioxide in atmosphere, completing the cycle .Greenhouse effect is a natural process which made life on Earth feasible. Our planet's surface temperature would have been 33 degrees Celsius cooler, -18 C instead of present 15 C, if not for naturally occurring greenhouse gases . The temperature of Earth's atmosphere is regulated by a process in which the quantity of energy Earth gets from the Sun is poised by the amount returned back into space. Greenhouse gases in atmosphere let the energy in and prevent it from escaping, directing it back to Earth's surface . By the greenhouse effect, in the discussions of the global warming and other environmental problems, people mean "the enhanced effect which is caused by the increase of greenhouse gases from human sources”...
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...CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND BD PERSPECTIVE INTRODUCTION 1. Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years. A change of climate which is attributed/influenced directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate changeability observed over comparable time periods. In the latter sense it may be qualified as anthropogenic change of climate, more generally known as "global warming" or "Anthropogenic Global Warming" (AGW). 2. Presently this rapid climate change has become the major catastrophe and the greatest threat of the 21st century. No nation, however large or small, wealthy or poor, can escape the impact of climate change. Appreciating the consequences, many a times heads of frontier states, Heads of Governments, Ministers, and other heads of delegations sited together and formed various international agreements to bring down the carbon emission to a level to keep the planet liveable. But the summit concluded without expected consensus/agreement. 3. In pursuant to the present context of climate change, this paper will endeavour to highlight the various causes of world climate change, effects of it and summary of recent Copenhagen accord, analysis, criticism and cause of failure of the accord and the remedial measures to combat climate change in the suffering countries. AIM 4. The aim of this paper...
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...Is Global Warming Skepticism Just Smoke and Mirrors? Dependence of Man on the Environment Greenhouse warming has always been a talk of the future and the talk of skeptics, well it is happening now. Representatives from countries all over the world will meet in July, 2011 to discuss slowing down global warming by setting the limits on the countries' greenhouse gases emissions, which include the emissions of carbon dioxide the industries, machines, and cars produced. (Reis, 2011). Despite of the current evidence of global warming, people still believe that this is something that is completely made up and blown out of proportion. Global warming has a direct affect on everyone and everything on this planet. Global warming affects not only our weather when it comes to heat but also precipitation to include snow, rain and hail. Global warming also causes a negative effect on animals. Animal species have no longer populated certain areas due to the climate change and in due to the climate they need to survive are migrating to where they can get that. Scientist and professionals say that the sea levels have increased due to the melting of the glaciers. (Cunningham & Cunningham, 2009, p. 207) Global warming is commonly referred to as an increase in the temperature of the lowest layers of Earth's atmosphere. Global warming has occurred in the distant past as the result of natural influences, but the term is most often used to refer to the warming predicted to occur as a result...
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... Mikelle Justin L. Raiz Aicon R. Villanueva BSBA 1-7 What is climate change? Climate change is a long-term shift in the statistics of the weather (including its averages). For example, it could show up as a change in climate normal’s (expected average values for temperature and precipitation) for a given place and time of year, from one decade to the next. We know that the global climate is currently changing. The last decade of the 20th Century and the beginning of the 21st have been the warmest period in the entire global instrumental temperature record, starting in the mid-19th century. Climate change, also called global warming, refers to the rise in average surface temperatures on Earth. An overwhelming scientific consensus maintains that climate change is due primarily to the human use of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air. The gases trap heat within the atmosphere, which can have a range of effects on ecosystems, including rising sea levels, severe weather events, and droughts that render landscapes more susceptible to wildfires. Climate change is a large-scale, long-term shift in the planet's weather patterns or average temperatures. Earth has had tropical climates and ice ages many times in its 4.5 billion years. So what's happening now? Since the last ice age, which ended about 11,000 years ago, Earth's climate has been relatively stable at about 14 °C. However, in recent years, the average temperature...
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...Implications for the environment a) Implications in determining the consequences and development within the technological society and the effects a technology has on an organisms, its habitat, what capacity the natural ecosystems have to support life, and biodiversity The development of technology within society has many benefits; however it has shown adverse effects on our natural environment. The need to reach for new advances if we are not managed appropriately can collapse natural ecosystems. Regretfully our ideologies have caused the vast social problems that we are forced to deal with today. Technology advancements have positive implications, but it has also had devastating effects on the environment. We have been practicing a growth at any and all cost ideology in regards to technology and the damage it is causing to the environment. This has created an every growing social issue. This attitude has led to the loss of biodiversity that will inevitably bring the collapse of ecosystems. We take more resources from the earth and space as our population increases.As a result we are disrupting the habitats of animal species that live in undeveloped areas. As we expand our range to make room for new communities we inadvertently displace the natural order of insects, animals and plants that occupy the land. Our attitude towards growth and technology serves human needs and comfort at the expense of animals, organism and the ecosystems that sustain them. Our reliance...
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...Abbreviations GHG – Greenhouse Gas CO2 - Carbon dioxide CH4 - Methane N2O – Nitrogen oxide LNG- Liquefied Natural Gas Abbreviations GHG – Greenhouse Gas CO2 - Carbon dioxide CH4 - Methane N2O – Nitrogen oxide LNG- Liquefied Natural Gas Highlights * We model two major oil and gas companies. * We examine causes of Climate Change * Increase in further research may produce other alternative to exist source of energy * Combined efforts will help to meet carbon reduction target ABSTRACT Playing a major role in the world, the oil and gas industry is faced with the challenge of climate change. This paper establishes the fact that climate change troubles our planet today. In establishing this fact the paper examines the causes of climate change, the relationship between climate change and the oil and gas industry through CO2. It further evaluates the various methods available to reduce CO2 emissions and the challenges the companies have in implementing the methods. This paper uses two major oil companies as case studies, to establish the above stated facts and concludes that oil and gas companies need to be involved in more research and development of alternative supply of energy, in order reduce CO2 emissions, in collaboration with other sectors of the economy in achieving the targets made regarding climate change, environmental laws and policies. Keywords: CO2, Climate Change, Industry, Oil and Gas. 1. INTRODUCTION Climate change is a global topic that...
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...2015 Tewana earth under 2015 Tewana earth under Social Studies Digital Workbook Social Studies Digital Workbook 1 1 4 4 3 3 2 2 Check out this playlist on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9F4LsPUNU8&list=PLBjWhwJHOQvFspoTVjfg24EZOz9-vJs8a Can you think of other songs that need to be added? Check out this playlist on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9F4LsPUNU8&list=PLBjWhwJHOQvFspoTVjfg24EZOz9-vJs8a Can you think of other songs that need to be added? April 22nd is Earth Day 2014 Below is a list of songs that relate to our earth and what we need to be aware of April 22nd is Earth Day 2014 Below is a list of songs that relate to our earth and what we need to be aware of April 22nd marks Earth Day, which globally celebrates the planet you're currently living on (it gives us air, water, food, Internet: what else could you want?). For as long as popular music has been around, musicians and artists have been writing odes for Mother Earth, asking listeners to respect this planet as best you can -- either as literally or metaphorically in their lyrics as they can. You all know some of the big Earth anthems, like Michael Jackson's "Earth Song" and Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me", so we're adding 13 more infamous songs dedicated to the world and keeping it sustainable to this special Earth Day playlist. #GoGreen! No. | Learning Intention | Success Criteria | √ or x | 1 | Understand the relevance of the...
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...GLOBAL WARMING: NATURAL OR MAN-MADE? Donna Berg SCI 207: Dependence of Man on the Environment Instructor: Lincoln Simmons September 3, 2012 GLOBAL WARMING: NATURAL OR MAN-MADE There is no question that there is an increase in Earth’s temperature and we are experiencing what is referred to as global warming. The Earth has experienced this many times in history on a much larger scale, but, humans did not exist (and would not have been able to exist) at the time. The questions now are whether human actions are accelerating the process of global warming and possibly decreasing Earth’s future sustainability; and, if so, what, if anything, can we do to ensure that Earth will have the ability to sustain life for many many many future generations to come. Human activity has been linked to Earth's warming temperatures, rising seas, more intense storms, and a host of other environmental woes, because increases in greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation trap heat that would otherwise escape from Earth which results in global warming; however, global warming may just be caused by natural occurrences, such as cosmic rays, the sun, volcanic activity and the ocean. The combustion of fossil fuels input enormous emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere causing the atmospheric CO2 levels to rise radically. The academic textbook, Contemporary Environmental Issues states, “CO2 is the principal gas contributing to the enhanced greenhouse...
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...recent information on climate change at this website http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/stateofknowledge.html Introduction The current state of the biosphere shows unsettling trends. There is a need to meet these challenges, pursue more knowledge, and work as individuals and as a society toward long-term sustainability. Recent research has sent a message that global warming may not be a hypothetical threat, but a current issue warranting immediate action (Krogh, 2009). Global Warming There is a steady rise in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It is estimated that the average carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has increased approximately 17% in the past 45 years (Campbell, Reece, & Simon, 2007). It is estimated that 20% of the excess carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere can be attributed to the burning of trees after deforestation. The burning of fossil fuel accounts for another 70-80% of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Global temperatures are concurrently on the rise. Carbon dioxide lets radiation through the atmosphere, but retains some of the heat it generates (greenhouse effect). When carbon dioxide increases in the atmosphere, this greenhouse effect is enhanced, and too much heat from the sun is retained in the atmosphere. Some scientists, therefore, believe that elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are responsible for global warming. Increased temperatures, in turn, may have deleterious effects on various species (Issues...
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...Global warming is the rise in the average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans since the late 19th century and its projected continuation. Since the early 20th century, Earth's mean surface temperature has increased by about 0.8 °C (1.4 °F), with about two-thirds of the increase occurring since 1980. scientists are more than 90% certain that it is primarily caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gasses produced by human activities. A greenhouse gas (sometimes abbreviated GHG) is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect.The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. The causes of increasing greenhouse gases are: Burning fossil fuels, thus releasing into the atmosphere carbon that has been safely stored for millions of years by burning coal, oil and natural gas for transport and electricity. An enormous demand for electricity. The growing population of the earth all want cars, refrigerators, air-conditioning and a double garage. Most electricity is generated by burning coal. A constant and growing demand for red meat. Cattle belch out methane, a toxic greenhouse gas, much more dangerous than carbon dioxide. More and more forests and bushland, which absorb carbon dioxide from the air, are being cut down so more cattle can graze. A reduction in the planet's ability to remove...
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...GLOBAL WARMING: Energy, Fall 2005 v30 i4 p36(2) It could get a lot warmer. (GLOBAL WARMING) Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2005 Business Communications Company, Inc. If humans continue to use fossil fuels in a business as usual manner for the next few centuries, the polar ice caps will be depleted, ocean sea levels will rise by seven meters and median air temperatures will soar to 14.5 degrees warmer than current day. These are the stunning results of climate and carbon cycle model simulations conducted by scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. By using a coupled climate and carbon cycle model to look at global climate and carbon cycle changes, the scientists found that the earth would warm by 8 degrees Celsius (14.5 degrees Fahrenheit) if humans use the entire planet's available fossil fuels by the year 2300. The jump in temperature would have alarming consequences for the polar ice caps and the ocean, said lead author Govindasamy Bala of the Laboratory's Energy and Environment Directorate. In the polar regions alone, the temperature would spike more than 20 degrees Celsius, forcing the land in the region to change from ice and tundra to boreal forests. "The temperature estimate is actually conservative because the model didn't take into consideration changing land use such as deforestation and build-out of cities into outlying wilderness areas," Bala said. Today's level of atmospheric carbon dioxide is 380 parts per million (ppm). By the year 2300, the model...
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