Global Warming
What is Global Warming?
Global warming is the gradual increase in global temperatures caused by the emission of gases that trap the sun's heat in the Earth's atmosphere. Gases that contribute to global warming include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and halocarbons (the replacements for CFCs). The carbon dioxide emissions are primarily caused by the use of fossil fuels for energy.
Temperature of the Earth
The temperature near the surface of the earth is determined by the balance between solar radiation energy and heat reflected from earth to outer space. Sunlight warms the surface of the earth, which then cools down when the heat (infrared rays) is released from it. If heat exchange were this simple, then the surface of the earth would cool down rapidly as soon as solar radiation stops, with only heat reflection continuing. In reality, however, heat-absorbing atmospheric gases absorb a certain percentage of heat (infrared rays) reflected from the surface of the earth. The atmosphere, thus warmed, radiates infrared rays out toward space and back toward the surface of the earth, warming the latter. In this manner, the earth surface temperature is kept at around 15 (global average), realizing an environment suited for the existence of humans, animals, plants and other life forms.
The natural process of heating the surface of the earth by sunlight is called the "greenhouse effect," and the infrared-absorbing gases in the atmosphere are called "greenhouse gases." If not for greenhouse gases, the temperature of the earth would drop by over 30 to about -18 .
What is Causing Global Warming???
Since pre-industrial times, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by 31 percent. Over the same period, atmospheric methane has risen by 151 percent, mostly from agricultural activities like growing rice and raising cattle.
As the concentration of these gases grows, more heat is trapped by the atmosphere and less escapes back into space. This increase in trapped heat changes the climate, causing altered weather patterns that can bring unusually intense precipitation or dry spells and more severe storms.
Since the Industrial Revolution at the end of the 18th century, there has been a marked increase in the emission of greenhouse gases (mainly carbon dioxide), in proportion to industrial expansion.
As well, artificial greenhouse gases that did not exist before the Industrial Revolution, such as CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) and sulfur hexafluoride, have been produced, and are being released into the atmosphere. Increased greenhouse gases destroy the heat exchange balance, keeping greater amounts of heat in the atmosphere and on the earth (i.e. intensifying the greenhouse effect) and raising the temperature near the surface of the earth to undesirable levels. This phenomenon is called global warming.
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that has been increasing remarkably, mostly as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, which was about 280 ppmv (ppmv is a unit for ratio of volume in parts per million) before the Industrial Revolution, has reached 358 ppmv (about 1.3 times) in 1994. If no other measures than those taken at present are introduced, the figure is expected to reach 500 ppmv in 2050 and 700 ppmv in 2100, and to continue to increase for many centuries to come.
Methane
Methane forms naturally in swamps, lakes and marches, and is also generated as a result of human activities such as livestock farming, paddy field cultivation and underground disposal of waste materials. The atmospheric concentration of methane increased from about 700 ppbv (ppbv is a unit for ratio of volume in parts per billion) before the Industrial Revolution to some 1,720 ppbv (about 2.5 times) in 1994, as human activities have expanded. Although low in concentration, methane accounts for about 20% of contribution to global warming by greenhouse gases, in consideration of the 20-year total sum of its intensity of greenhouse effect (global warming index), based on the fact that its atmospheric residence time is 56 times longer than that of carbon dioxide.
CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon)
CFCs are artificial gases that did not exist in nature before the Industrial Revolution. They have been in wide use as coolant gases in air conditioners and refrigerators, and as industrial cleansing agents. In recent years, CFCs have come to be known as an ozone layer destroyer, but they are also greenhouse gases.
CFCs known as "alternative CFCs," which deplete the ozone layer less, or not at all, are, however, greenhouse gases. For example, the greenhouse effect intensity of an alternative CFC called HFC 134a is about 3,400 times that of carbon dioxide in terms of 20-year total effect, based on its atmospheric residence time. For this reason, despite their small volume, such gases account for about 10% of contribution to global warming by all greenhouse gases.
Nitrogen suboxide
Nitrogen suboxide is a byproduct of the combustion of organic substances and nitrogen fertilizers. The atmospheric concentration of nitrogen suboxide, about 275 ppbv before the Industrial Revolution, had increased to 312 ppbv by 1994 (about 1.1 times). The intensity of its greenhouse effect (global warming index), in terms of the 100-year total effect based on its atmospheric residence time, is 310 times that of carbon dioxide, but its contribution to global warming is only abut 6% because of its low concentration.
30 Simple Ways to Stop Global Warming
These simple actions are easy ways to stop global warming. You can start today with no investment of additional time or money. Just a few minor changes to make in your everyday life.
1. Turn off Lights, Appliances and Other Items Operated by Electricity When They Aren't in Use Pay closer attention to your family's habits. Then become more insistent that items are OFF when not in use.
2. Unplug Appliances and Electric Items When Not in Use - Most people are likely unaware that even when an item is switched off, some current continues to be pulled by the cords. This is especially true of items that have the large AC adapter units incorporated on their cords. This wastes electricity creating more pollution and costing you more money.
3. Run Your Washer and Dryer For Full Loads of Laundry Only - It is also an important step to conserving both water and electricity Use cold water whenever possible and consider allowing your clothes to air dry (it will keep them from shrinking too).
4. Take Shorter Showers - Showers account for 2/3 of all water heating costs. Shorten your daily shower.
5. Keep Your Tires Inflated - Check your car tires each month to ensure they are properly inflated. Under inflated tires wastes gasoline and wears your tires out faster.
6. Buy Local Produce - Shop local farmer's markets or check your grocer's shelves for products grown in your area. This reduces transportation requirements to bring these items to your area from other areas of the country or even the world. In addition, buy only seasonal produce to reduce demand for un-seasonable fruit and veggies that are imported from other areas.
7. Carpool - To work, to school to the shopping mall. Share a ride with a friend or co-worker and keep unnecessary cars off the road (maybe traffic will improve as well).
8. Be Idle Free - Contrary to popular believe, allowing your car to idle instead of turning off the engine for short stops is NOT better for your vehicle. If your car idles for more than 10 seconds, it is equivalent to the fuel required to restart it. So if you are planning to stop longer than 10 seconds, turn off your engine. So when you are at the drive through window or picking your child up from school, turn off the engine.
9. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Do your part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables. Buying products with minimal packaging (including the economy size when that makes sense for you) will help to reduce waste. And whenever you can, recycle paper, plastic, newspaper, glass and aluminum cans. If there isn't a recycling program at your workplace, school, or in your community, ask about starting one. By recycling half of your household waste, you can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.
10. Change a Light Bulb - Wherever practical, replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. Replacing just one 60-watt incandescent light bulb with a CFL will save you $30 over the life of the bulb. CFLs also last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, use two-thirds less energy, and give off 70 percent less heat.
11. Buy Energy-Efficient Products -When it's time to buy a new car, choose one that offers good gas mileage. Home appliances now come in a range of energy-efficient models, and compact florescent bulbs are designed to provide more natural-looking light while using far less energy than standard light bulbs.
12. Plant a Tree - If you have the means to plant a tree, start digging. During photosynthesis, trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. They are an integral part of the natural atmospheric exchange cycle here on Earth, but there are too few of them to fully counter the increases in carbon dioxide caused by automobile traffic, manufacturing and other human activities. A single tree will absorb approximately one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime.
13. Defrost old fridges and freezers regularly - Even better is to replace them with newer models, which all have automatic defrost cycles and are generally up to two times more energy-efficient than their predecessors.
14. Cover your pots while cooking - Doing so can save a lot of the energy needed for preparing the dish. Even better are pressure cookers and steamers: they can save around 70%!
15. Recycle your organic waste - Around 3% of the greenhouse gas emissions through the methane is released by decomposing bio-degradable waste. By recycling organic waste or composting it if you have a garden, you can help eliminate this problem! Just make sure that you compost it properly, so it decomposes with sufficient oxygen, otherwise your compost will cause methane emissions and smell foul.
16. Buy intelligently - One bottle of 1.5l requires less energy and produces less waste than three bottles of 0.5l. As well, buy recycled paper products: it takes less 70 to 90% less energy to make recycled paper and it prevents the loss of forests worldwide.
17. Choose products that come with little packaging and buy refills when you can - You will also cut down on waste production and energy use!
18. Reuse your shopping bag - When shopping, it saves energy and waste to use a reusable bag instead of accepting a disposable one in each shop. Waste not only discharges CO2 and methane into the atmosphere, it can also pollute the air, groundwater and soil.
19. Reduce waste - Most products we buy cause greenhouse gas emissions in one or another way, e.g. during production and distribution. By taking your lunch in a reusable lunch box instead of a disposable one, you save the energy needed to produce new lunch boxes.
20. Eat less meat - Methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas and cows are one of the greatest methane emitters. Their grassy diet and multiple stomachs cause them to produce methane, which they exhale with every breath.
21. Fly less - Air travel produces large amounts of emissions so reducing how much you fly by even one or two trips a year can reduce your emissions significantly. You can also offset your air travel by investing in renewable energy projects.
22. Encourage your school or business to reduce emissions - You can extend your positive influence on global warming well beyond your home by actively encouraging other to take action
23. Encourage the switch to renewable energy - Successfully combating global warming requires a national transition to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and biomass. These technologies are ready to be deployed more widely but there are regulatory barriers impeding them. Take action to break down those barriers with Vote Solar.
24. Protect and conserve forest worldwide - Forests play a critial role in global warming: they store carbon. When forests are burned or cut down, their stored carbon is release into the atmosphere - deforestation now accounts for about 20% of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Conservation International has more information on forests and global warming.
25. pay Your Bills Online - Eliminating your paper trail by banking and paying bills online does more than save trees. It also helps reduce fuel consumption by the trucks and planes that transport paper checksTo avoid unnecessary carbon dioxide-emitting car trips to the bank on payday, ask your employer to directly deposit your paycheck. You'll get your money faster that way too.
26. Open a window - Instead of using air conditioners or electric fans opening a window to allow air circulation maybe enough.
27. Just say no to plastic bags - The plastic bags you bring home from the supermarket probably end up in a landfill. Every year, more than 500 billion plastic bags are distributed, and less than 3% of those bags are recycled. They are typically made of polyethylene and can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade in landfills that emit harmful greenhouse gases. Reducing your contribution to plastic-bag pollution is as simple as using a cloth bag (or one made of biodegradable plant-based materials) instead of wasting plastic ones. For your next trip to the grocery store, BYOB.
28. Include your school - insist that your local schools teach conservation and sustainability and the greenhouse effect.
29. Encourage Others to Conserve - Share information about recycling and energy conservation with your friends, neighbors and co-workers, and take opportunities to encourage public officials to establish programs and policies that are good for the environment.
30. Share this list! - Send this page via e-mail to your buddies, digg it, add it to your favourite bookmark site (like del.icio.us); and if you're a blogger, blog it: the more people you will manage to enlighten, the greater YOUR help to save the planet will be (but please take action on first person too)!
