| Global warming refers to the increase in average | | | | As with most debates there are the naysayers, |
| temperature near the earth's surface and in its | | | | predominant among them is the American |
| oceans. Climate change is another term used | | | | Association of Petroleum Geologists, the only |
| interchangeably with global warming. However, | | | | scientific society that rejects the conclusion that |
| climate change may encompass other changes in | | | | global warming is a threat. |
| climate besides increases in temperature. | | | | However, if the 30 other scientific societies and |
| In the past century the average air temperature | | | | academies who support the findings of global |
| near the earth's surface has increased by around | | | | warming are to be believed, the consequences |
| 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Various models have | | | | are obviously serious if not downright frightening! |
| attempted to predict how these temperature | | | | So what's being done to control it? |
| changes may impact on the future. They | | | | Governments around the world have undertaken |
| variously predict increases from 2.5 to 10.4 | | | | programs to cut back the level of emissions of |
| degrees Fahrenheit. Most scientists agree that | | | | greenhouse gases. For instance in the US the |
| temperatures are likely to continue increasing. | | | | government has a strategy in place to reduce |
| However, they do not agree nearly as much | | | | emissions by 18% over the 10 year period 2002 |
| when it comes to predicting the magnitude of the | | | | to 2012. To this end the Environmental Protection |
| increase. | | | | Agency has implemented many initiatives to |
| So what actually causes the increased | | | | encourage the reduction of emissions by various |
| temperatures? | | | | industries and other stakeholders. |
| The earth's temperature is affected by many | | | | However, this is not a responsibility that rests |
| factors such as: | | | | exclusively with government or regulatory bodies. |
| The earth's orbit - The tilt of the earth axis as it | | | | Every individual contributes to greenhouse gas |
| revolves around the sun influences the amount of | | | | emissions and therefore has an obligation to help |
| sunlight reaching earth. Therefore changes in the | | | | cut back. |
| earth's orbit affects its surface temperature. | | | | What can an individual do to help? |
| Changes in intensity of heat emitted by the sun | | | | The list of ways to cut back on emissions is |
| can also affect temperature on earth. | | | | probably as long as the many ways that energy |
| Volcanic activity - Lava, ash, dust and hot gases | | | | is expended but there are several obvious and |
| from volcanic eruptions can create volcanic | | | | relatively easy ways to achieve improvements: |
| aerosols which reflect heat away from the earth's | | | | In the US about half of greenhouse gas emissions |
| surface and result in cooler temperatures. For | | | | come from power plants while about a third |
| instance 1816 is said to have been a year without | | | | comes from transportation. Any activity that cuts |
| a summer - widely believed to have been a result | | | | back on power usage or reduced use of |
| of the eruption of the Tambora volcano in | | | | transportation would have a positive impact. |
| Indonesia in the previous year. On the other hand, | | | | Using energy efficient electrical appliances including |
| volcanoes also emit huge quantities of Carbon | | | | compact fluorescent lights instead of traditional |
| Dioxide, which tend to have the opposite effect | | | | globes would help. In the US energy efficient |
| and could lead to higher temperatures. | | | | appliances in more than 50 categories can be |
| The causes listed above have existed for a very | | | | identified by their "Energy Star" rating. |
| long time. However, since the Industrial Revolution | | | | Similarly using more fuel-efficient cars or perhaps |
| and especially since 1900 another cause has taken | | | | even reducing the use of cars and opting for |
| precedence. Increased use of fossil fuels and the | | | | more "green" transport methods such a bicycles, |
| resulting emissions of carbon dioxide have caused | | | | using public transport or even walking could help. |
| massive increases in greenhouse gases. This has | | | | Using vehicles that run on renewable fuel sources |
| led to increased temperatures through the | | | | such as E85 (A fuel containing 85% Ethanol) or |
| greenhouse effect. | | | | bio-diesel. |
| What is the greenhouse effect and how does it | | | | Ensuring that tire pressures are at appropriate |
| impact on surface temperature? | | | | levels and your vehicles engine is tuned to |
| The earth receives heat from the sun. The earth | | | | manufacturers specifications would also help |
| loses heat by reflecting it back into the | | | | reduce fuel consumption. |
| atmosphere. The atmosphere contains a mixture | | | | Switching to greener sources of energy. Using |
| of gases that trap heat and keep the earth's | | | | solar power directly where the technology |
| surface warm. This is similar to the mechanism | | | | permits. Where there is no option but to use |
| that keeps the inside of a garden greenhouse | | | | electricity or other traditional energy sources then |
| warmer than the outside. These greenhouse | | | | it may be possible to make this purchase from a |
| gases are vital for life on earth. If they did not | | | | supplier who uses green, non fossil fuel sources to |
| exist it is likely that earth would be too cold to | | | | produce it. |
| sustain life. However, too much of a good thing | | | | Planting trees to offset the effects of the carbon |
| can have bad consequences. As a result of our | | | | dioxide emissions created in the production of the |
| energy intensive lifestyles and the burning of vast | | | | energy and other products one consumes is |
| quantities of fossil fuels the levels of greenhouse | | | | another alternative. It isn't necessary to do this |
| gases have been increasing rapidly which | | | | oneself. Around the world there are organizations |
| magnifies the greenhouse effect and traps more | | | | that are gearing up to do this on behalf of the |
| and more heat close to the earth's surface. | | | | many millions of concerned consumers. So for |
| Greenhouse gases are primarily Water vapor, | | | | instance a power company could estimate the |
| Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide and | | | | greenhouse gases emitted to produce a |
| Ozone. | | | | kilowatt-hour of electricity and then allow its |
| What are the consequences of global warming? | | | | customers an opportunity to pay to offset these |
| As the earth becomes hotter all year round the | | | | emissions and become "carbon neutral". |
| incidence of droughts and wildfires will increase. | | | | Other ways of conserving energy would include |
| There is already evidence of this in effect. Many | | | | cutting back on waste thereby saving on the |
| US cities have recorded their hottest ever | | | | energy that would be expended on replacement |
| temperatures within the last 3 decades and vast | | | | of the wasted item - Recycle and reuse |
| areas worldwide are drought affected and subject | | | | whenever possible. |
| to horrific wildfires. | | | | Saving on water consumption - A huge amount |
| Warmer water in the oceans feeds energy into | | | | of energy is spent on purifying water for |
| more and more powerful storms and dangerous | | | | consumption so cutting back on water waste will |
| hurricanes. The warmer seas also result in melting | | | | help considerably. |
| of glaciers and ice caps that in turn cause higher | | | | Ensuring you have efficient insulation and that |
| sea levels and flooding of coastal communities. | | | | cooling and heating appliances are cleaned and |
| Many small island nations in the Pacific face the | | | | primed to work efficiently. |
| prospect of becoming totally submerged in the | | | | Although individual actions may seem trivial their |
| very near future. | | | | cumulative impact worldwide can be literally life |
| Spread of insect borne diseases such as malaria- | | | | changing. It is clear that much can be done at an |
| Areas which were previously inhospitable to hosts | | | | individual level to control global warming. Although |
| of these diseases such as mosquitoes become | | | | they cannot agree on the magnitude of global |
| breeding grounds as temperatures change. This | | | | warming the overwhelming majority of the |
| could lead to the spread of tropical diseases to | | | | scientific community agree that it is a very real |
| more temperate areas. | | | | problem. The time for action is now! The |
| Changes in climate will also push many species of | | | | consequences of doing nothing are just too |
| animals and plants to extinction as they struggle | | | | frightening to comprehend! |
| to survive in their changing environments. | | | | |