Introduction
The word global warming illustrates the increase in environmental temperatures all around the planet Earth. Evidence of global warming is pilling daily in life. The conditions are becoming tougher, and all the living organisms are struggling to withstand the extreme temperature conditions (Edward and Fredric 2011)
The evidence of global warming is both short-term and long-term. The big question in the mind of everyone is what causes global warming and how can it be corrected. Environmental activists are on the front line trying to find a way out. The causes of the global warming problem are dependent on human activities. No evidence of natural causes of global warming is on records so far (Lathrop and Kathleen 2005).
In my opinion, global warming is an existing problem facing all the living organisms on the planet Earth today. The effect is felt from the depth of the ocean to the peaks of the mountains. Global warming has causes and enough evidence to prove its existence in the world today.
Causes of global warming
The foremost root of global warming is the existence of greenhouse gases. The gases cause the greenhouse effect. The environment is making the Earth warm, bouncing the heat radiations from the Earth’s surface to the space back. The list of greenhouse gases swells every day because the researches are also growing daily. Some of the greenhouse gases are water vapor, methane, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide (Lathrop and Kathleen 2005).
Water vapor levels in the atmosphere increase because the Earth’s surface is warm making water evaporate. The increase in the volume of water vapor in space is a result of the warming of the Earth’s surface. Activities of a man like mining and moving motor engines release large amounts of carbon and sulfur compound gases. Some natural earth processes and respiration produce carbon dioxide as a byproduct (Buranen and Alice 1999).
Decomposition of organic matter, agricultural activities produce methane, while some soil cultivation practices, like the use of commercial fertilizers, cause the release of nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. Industrial activities cause the emission of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that are resistant to environmental degradation causing global warming. Industrial production of acids and fossil fuel combustion emits nitrous and sulfurous gases (Krayne and Stephen 2001).
Focusing on the results of global warming, one can observe that some consequences will include uneven warming of the Earth where some areas may experience cooler temperatures. Warm temperatures cause an increase in evaporation rates and overall precipitations. The effect will vary from other regions that experience wet precipitations, while others are characterized by dry precipitations. Oceans are warm because of the stronger greenhouse effect. High carbon dioxide concentration may affect the distribution of plants and general plant communities in certain regions (Buranen and Alice 1999).
Evidence of global warming
Scientists have accumulated enough evidence to support the existence of global warming. The evidence is classified as biological and physical. The behavior of animals and plants responds to early springs. It can be traced to birds nesting, early frog breeding, early flowering of plants, and early migration of mammals, butterflies, and birds. The lengthening of growing seasons and the previous emergence of butterflies prove the presence of global warming. Many species are shrinking today, for example, the lizard population decreases. Aquatic organisms, mammals, and some plants shift to the poles according to the distribution research (Buranen and Alice 1999).
Melting glaciers are evident in all areas of the world. The melted ice flows into water bodies, such as oceans, leading to an increase in water levels. The rise in water levels puts many people at risk of facing floods. The melting glacier process may even lead to drought and inadequate drinking water in some areas (Buranen and Alice 1999).
Recently, in 2007 the Arctic ice in the sea reached its lowest level in the records. The satellite measurements from 1979 proved that the lowest level of Arctic ice was in 2007. In 2003, Scotland recorded the highest temperatures. Some animals were dying from the effect of global warming (Buranen and Alice 1999).
Scientists have developed some theories to explain the phenomenon of global warming. Most of the theories have been practically proved, and their explanations are in records today. The increase of concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from industries and burning of coal and other fossil fuels increase the greenhouse effect (Buranen and Alice 1999).
Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel, and it is used for the large-scale generation of electricity. The method of producing electricity by combusting coal causes the release of large volumes of carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere. The greenhouse gases from the blanket cover the planet Earth and prevent heat loss making the Earth warm (Simon and George 2006).
The large volume of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes the acidification of oceans. The acidic ocean water causes corrosion of rocks, kills aquatic life, and increases the cost of maintenance of marine machines (Simon and George 2006). The records of the hottest decade keep on changing. All measurements were taken on land or sea clearly show that the world temperatures are on the rise (Krayne and Stephen 2001).
Ice on Greenland has been documented to decline at a faster rate. The weather conditions are extreme nowadays. Global heating makes the ocean water expand and consequently causes an increase in water level. In addition, melting ice from all corners, such as mountain peaks, liquidizes and finds its way through gravity into the water bodies causing the increase in levels of water (Simon and George 2006).
In general, the negative effects of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere outweigh their positive effects. Photosynthesis is the primary producer of food for all living organisms. Plants consume large amounts of carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. On the other hand, an increase in levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes acid rain. The acidic rain corrodes our roofs, rocks, complicates or even kills aquatic life, and causes depletion of nutrients in the soil (Krayne and Stephen 2001).
Other greenhouse gases, such as sulfur and nitrogen compounds, have negative effects on health. The gases irritate the respiratory system of animals, eye irritation, and cause acid rain. CFCs have long-term residual effects. Their presence in the atmosphere does not only cause global warming but also contributes to a higher number of respiratory disorders like tuberculosis and cancer (Buranen and Alice 1999).
To minimize global warming, environmental agencies should impose strong laws to control operations that result in emissions of large volumes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The use of renewable energy sources should increase because they are environmentally friendly.
Works Cited
Buranen, Lise, and Alice M. Roy. Greenhouse gases and their effects, Albany: State University of New York Press, 1999. Print.
Edward, Tarbuck and Fredrick K. Lutgens. Global Warming, Emeritus: Illinois Central College, 2011. Print.
Lathrop, Ann, and Kathleen Foss. Environmental Science. Global warming, Conn: Libraries Unlimited, 2005. Print.
Krayne, Paul, and Stephen Robert. Environmental Chemistry. Air Analysis, Baltimore: Oxford University Press, 2001. Print.
Simon and George. International Geography. Global warming, Westport: Libraries Unlimited, 2006. Print.