Global Warming 2020

Knowing why we are in this fix is the first step to doing something about it. Yes, that’s you and me.

There are four levels at which to understand the cause of global warming.

* The mechanics of global warming

* What we do

* Our beliefs and values, and

* Natural cycles, involving the sun

The mechanics of global warming are simple. There’s too much carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.

The Earth absorbs heat from the sun and radiates much of it back into space or else we would cook. But presently the Earth retains more warmth from the sun, about 0.85 per square metre, than it radiates back into space. It is mainly CO2 that hinders solar radiation back into space and this creates the greenhouse effect.

Currently the atmospheric CO2 content is about 380 ppm (parts per million), up from about a thousand years ago at a level of 280 ppm. Predictions are that it may go up to 500ppm by the end of this century.

And CO2 hangs around for a long time. It takes about 100,000 years for atmospheric CO2 to reduce by about 63% through natural processes.

What we do contributes to so much CO2 in the atmosphere. It got there because of massive amounts of fossil fuels that humanity has been burning since the start of the Industrial Revolution, some 300 years ago.

Coal and oil are the mainstays in power generation and to power our transport. Of course a growing world population needs more energy for food, clothing, housing and comforts. But when there are 8 billion of us, all wanting a big house, the latest electronic playthings, a car, and access to world travel, we’re in trouble.

We’re in trouble because the Earth cannot physically support all those needs and wants and because the energy emissions needed to meet them would choke us.

Our beliefs and values have much to do with why we want so many more things than we really need.

It is to do with ideas about “progress” that started before the Industrial Revolution, during the period known as the “Enlightenment”, starting in the 16th century.

It generated ideas about the importance of the individual, about the use of reason and material wellbeing. Rene Descartes was one of this period’s foremost philosophers. You know his famous quote: “I think therefore I am.” Recently I saw an advertisement using that quote like this: “I think, therefore I shop”.

Funny? Yes, and getting to the heart of the problem. The way we think, about ourselves and about the world is the problem.

Does our consumer world leave room for nature, for things we can make and maintain ourselves, for “slow” and natural growth, for each other and our environments? Not much.

So, it’s our values and our beliefs that continues to put CO2 in the air and are cooking us.

Natural cycles, involving the sun have something to do with global warming too. That’s true.

The Earth is now receiving 30% more solar radiation than it did 4.6 billion years ago. And there have always been cycles of ice ages and warmer “interglacial” periods, depending on the Earth’s orbit, solar radiation strength and changes in ocean currents.

The last “Little Ice Age” was between 1400 and 1840 with significantly lower temperatures. And such events are part of 1,500 year cycles.

Presently the Earth is at the end of an interglacial, warmer time and is due for a cooling down. But it seems that we are not going to let that happen. The steep increase in CO2, particularly over the last 45 years, does not fit into any natural cycle.

We cannot blame the sun. It’s us.

What to do is the question. The facts are that global warming will be with us for a long time, whether we stop putting CO2 into the air today or not. It will get worse as fast developing economies involving billions of people in the USA, China and India will rely on fossil fuels for decades yet. Renewable energy is only at the start of making any inroads.

You can only change what you do by changing how you think. If we don’t figure our way out of our consumerist addictions we will eventually have to go cold turkey. Or is that hot turkey?

There is a need for re-valuation of living well with an interdependent, connected and unpredictable world. One with limits.

What better way to change your thinking than by getting close to people who do live – and some do so very well – with high levels of vulnerability and dependence, like people with disabilities or those who are frail aged.

Giving a hand to those who live in your street or come on your path, is a way to get reconnected with what life is all about.

Whether or not alternate energy sources will be used in time to make global warming tolerable, getting on with each other, in all our diversity, is good for planet Earth.

And for you.

About the Author

Dr Erik Leipoldt has long been concerned about the effects of global warming. He uses his experience of severe disability in practical approaches towards alternate energy sources to survive and thrive with climate change.

Source: Global Warming articles, Greenhouse Gases, Effects of Global Warming, Global Warming research, cause of global warming information at www.goarticles.com

Global Warming Articles : Carbon Dioxide not the cause of global warming ?   by Luka Cempre

 A lot of people have watched the Inconvenient truth by “ex next president” Al Gore. There certanily are some facts and photos that make you think, but is global warming really happening the way that Gore describes it ? There have been many theories against the usual theory that is leaning on the green house. The theories talk about solar activity and that carbon dioxide is acctualy rising and falling due to temperatures happening 800 years before. The product that came out of counter theories is The Great Global Warming Swindle a movie that is worth watching, just to see what people that don’t agree with Al Gore think about the movie.One of the contradictions that is being made in movie is that the usual global warming theory predicts higher increasing of the temperature in the troposphere than on the ground, but the researches (satellite and weather balloon ) have shown that this claim is wrong. As mentioned before one of the strongest theory that is proven with graphs is that increases of carbon dioxide are lagged behind the temperature for about 800 years. That means that high percentage of carbon dioxide in the air is acctualy the consequence of high temperatures in 13th century. In the documentary the scientists are also saying that Carbon dioxide only represents 0.054% of all the gasses in the atmosphere and that humans are only responsible for 1% of those 0.054%, which can’t be enough for global warming. A very strong claim is also that Solar activity is currently at a very high level, and that Solar activity has a big impact on temperature changes, they even backup this saying with a scientist that has earned a lot of money betting on the weather.

There are many theoris that talk for and against global warming. Even though global warming might not be caused by carbon dioxide emissions we should still take care of a super high pollution and switch to natural resources.

About the Author

Luka member of Global Warming Board and fan of {a href=” http://www.zlitt.com/story/The_Great_Global_Warming_Swindle_/96“}Great Global Warming Swindle Movie

Source: Global Warming articles, cause of global warming, global warming research, definition of global warming information at www.goarticles.com

The earth actually releases its own carbon dioxide emissions back into the atmosphere, the atmosphere is a layer of gases designed to keep in heat to warm the earth but over and above these natural greenhouse gases, of which carbon dioxide is one of them, anthropogenic levels of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere representing about 2 percent of the total emissions. Scientists are seeing even these small levels of carbon dioxide is disturbing the natural balance of the earth to regulate its own climate and temperatures.

Carbon Dioxide

The biggest anthropogenic carbon dioxide source comes from fossil fuel pollution. Fossil Fuel pollutions comes from stationary structures like coal burning plants, and mobile sources as well, such as pollution and exhaust from cars, buses and other forms of transportation. Electrical plants also release carbon dioxide and industrial processes, such as making cement do as well.

A second source of carbon dioxide emission comes from the process of deforestation. Deforestation is accountable for between 25 to 30 percent of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. This amount translates to 1.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide. Trees are comprised of 50 percent carbon dioxide, when trees are cut down or burned they expel this carbon dioxide within the atmosphere. Thirteen Million hectares (HA) in forests are destroyed each year primarily in the tropics, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Much of the carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere will also mix with the soil in a process of oxidation.

Humans require oxygen to breath while healthy trees breathe in carbon dioxide, and release oxygen, rotten or dead trees can no longer protect the atmosphere from too much carbon dioxide. Other decaying matter such as volcanoes, animal, plant life, and burned grass will emit carbon dioxide as well.

Methane

Methane gas is another greenhouse gas is a cause of global warming. Methane is naturally found in soil. Digging up the ground for coal, gas, biomass, and oil will release methane into the atmosphere. Landfills where garbage is burned are notorious for releasing methane gas but simply disturbing the ground for rice cultivation or farming livestock (manure) also facilitates the release of methane gas.

Nitrous Oxide is the fourth leading greenhouse gas known as a cause of global warming

Nitrous Oxide is found in soil and in the ocean naturally, but is released by the cultivation of soil for farming especially when nitrogenous fertilizers are added to the soil. Animals waste (from chickens, pigs, and cows) and left to ferment in the ground is responsible for bacteria in the soil and results in another source of nitrous oxide and green house gas emissions.

Hydrofluorocarbons, perflourocarbons, and chlorofluorocarbons

These artificially produced compounds found in industrial processes in factories or over the counter products such as products in aerosol cans are linked to the depletion of the ozone layer.

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About the Author

Peter Bankss Get a Special FREE Report on “How To Save Our Planet

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Getting Involved

If you feel that your local school district is not doing enough to educate their students on the cause of global warming then you could always attend the next parents meeting to discuss your concerns. A meeting directly with the principal is also a good way to make sure that your concerns are expressed about what our young people are and are not learning about their planet. It is vital that we teach everything we possibly know on the cause of global warming so that we can all take responsibility for our actions on the environment.

Even after you have those meetings to discuss your feelings about what should be taught if the subject of global warming you should not stop there. You should be making sure that are teaching everything you possibly can about the cause of global warming to your children in your own home. Only so much can be done within the schools so it is important to make sure that you are addressing a lot of the major issues at home to make sure that everything is reinforced. It is your job as the parent to make sure that your children receive the education that they need in order to grow into strong educated adults.

 About the Author

Global Warming Articles , Master Resell Rights and Health Ebooks

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