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Catherine Meyers Crisis and Controversy paper #1 9/23/12 Global Warming Hoax or is it Our Fault? There has been talk about global warming for years. Global Warming is an increase in the earth’s average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in climate and that may result from the greenhouse effect. Some of the “results” of global warming include, increase in temperatures, extreme weather patterns, rise in sea levels, massive crop failures, wide spread extinction of species, and Disappearance of coral reefs.
So the question is, is it a hoax to generate fear and panic and control people’s ivies and financial gain? Or are we really destroying our own planet? There are many polls of scientists actively working in the field of climate that all agree that the earth is warming and human activity is a significant factor. However the internet is buzzing with blob posts that say, “31 ,OHO scientists say there is no convincing evidence” that humans can or will cause “catastrophic” heating of the atmosphere. This idea originates from the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine.
They have an online petition that states, “We urge the United States government to reject the global warming agreement that was written in Kyoto, Japan in December, 1 997, and any other similar proposals. The proposed limits on greenhouse gases would harm the environment, hinder the advance of science and technology, and damage the health and welfare of mankind. There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gases is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth ‘s atmosphere and disruption of the Earth’s climate.
Moreover, there is substantial scientific evidence that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide reduce many beneficial effects upon the natural plant and animal environments of the Earth. ” (petitioner’s. Org). The idea that global warming is a hoax is absurd. I believe that the climate scientist have been intensely researching this matter. There are many reliable sites with access to all the proof that global warming is real. I believe global warming is an important issue that we can no longer be in denial about.
How can something be a hoax when there is hard evidence that global warming exists and that it is only getting worse? When they stated in the petition that there is “no evidence” that greenhouse gases released by us is the cause of global warming. Climate scientists have researched that greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap the heat that would normally leave our atmosphere. This is resulting in higher temperatures all over. The higher temperatures are causing melting Of the polar caps.
Scientists predict an increase in sea levels worldwide due to the melting of two massive ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland, especially on the East coast. Many nations around the world will experience the effects of rising sea levels, which could displace millions of people. (planets). In the petition it states that it “damage the welfare and health of mankind”. Due to the rising temperatures of the sea there have been more deadly weather patterns than ever. “Scientists have come up with the firmest evidence so far that global warming will significantly increase the intensity of the most extreme storms worldwide.
The maximum wind speeds of the strongest tropical cyclones have increased significantly since 1981, according to research published in Nature this week. And the upward trend, thought to be driven by rising ocean temperatures, is unlikely to stop at any time soon. “(Planets). According to recent research, there is a 90% chance that 3 billion people worldwide will have to choose between moving their families to milder climes and going hungry due to climate change within 100 years. In the petition it states that “limiting greenhouse gases would hinder advance in science and technology”.
Going green can provide the world with the opportunity to invent new technology that is safe for the environment. Solar power, Hybrid and electric transportations are just some of the technologies to continue researching with to come up with making a totally green planet. Going green will not only save our planet but it will create more jobs for people by creating new technology that will help us out in the long run. So how about this question, is global warming entirely our fault? I believe that we are a main contributor to global warming.
Climate scientists have determined that a number of human activities are contributing to global warming by adding excessive amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. One Major greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide. It accumulates in the atmosphere and traps heat that normally would exit into outer space. The U. S is responsible for 19. 91 % of the carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. One thing that we do that causes the release of carbon dioxide is driving our cars. Driving your car requires the combustion of huge amounts of fossil fuels.
These fuels have been storing carbon for thousands, possibly millions of years. When your car burns them, that carbon is instantly released as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Another thing that we do to cause global arming is buying a suburban home where the lot was cleared of existing trees and plants that were actively storing carbon. When those plants were killed to build your home, they stopped storing carbon and released all the carbon they had accumulated over tens or even hundreds of years.
Coal burning power plants releases enormous amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere to create electricity. 40% of U. S. ICC emissions come from electricity production, and burning coal accounts for 93% of emissions from the electric utility industry (planets. Com). Every day, more electric gadgets loud the market, and without widespread alternative energy sources, we are highly dependent on burning coal for our personal and commercial electrical supply.
Studies show that since 1990, yearly emissions of carbon dioxide have gone up by about 6 billion metric tons worldwide, which is more than a 20% increase. Almost all of that increase is due to human activities. There is a theory that global warming is not entirely our fault. In 2005 there was data from Anna’s Mars Global Surveyor and Odyssey missions that revealed that the carbon dioxide “ice caps” near Mar’s south pole had been getting smaller or three summers in a row.