Global Climate Change Proposal
Global Climate Change Proposal
Nicole Petitta
SCI/245
August 5, 2012
Marc W. Romine
Abstract
I hope this proposal will assist the reader in understanding our Earth’s critical condition and ways even an individual can attribute to the betterment of our environment.
Global Climate Change Proposal Scientists refer to global climate change as any alteration in the average temperature involving the climate system. The climate system involves the following: our atmosphere, including temperature, clouds and wind, precipitation, humidity, atmosphere trace gas and aerosol distribution; oceans; volcanoes; land; cryosphere, which includes ice cover and snow cover; and the sun (Murck, Skinner, & Mackenzie, 2010). The alternations have been increasing more frequently and rapidly over the recent years due to natural process, but more dramatically from human industrialization processes (Shah, 2012). Expert scientists and geologists follow and record these changes over the past century and compare it to past temperatures and environment characteristics. From this, we are able to identify the underlying causes of global warming and ways to possibly slow the inevitable consequences and predictions. One cause contributing to the increased average of global temperatures is the increase of carbon dioxide and other “greenhouse” gases in our atmosphere. The greenhouse effect causes an increase in the Earth’s temperature from atmospheric gases, including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, disrupts the cycle of energy by trapping the outgoing energy from the Earth, which is supposed to be on its way back to space (Shah, 2012). Instead, the energy is retained on Earth; causing natural temperature to increase as well as polluting the air. Human activity has contributed to this natural effect through the excessive burning of fossil fuels since these fuels rapidly release carbon dioxide into our atmosphere while not removing the gas, which leaves high levels of CO2
Nicole Petitta
SCI/245
August 5, 2012
Marc W. Romine
Abstract
I hope this proposal will assist the reader in understanding our Earth’s critical condition and ways even an individual can attribute to the betterment of our environment.
Global Climate Change Proposal Scientists refer to global climate change as any alteration in the average temperature involving the climate system. The climate system involves the following: our atmosphere, including temperature, clouds and wind, precipitation, humidity, atmosphere trace gas and aerosol distribution; oceans; volcanoes; land; cryosphere, which includes ice cover and snow cover; and the sun (Murck, Skinner, & Mackenzie, 2010). The alternations have been increasing more frequently and rapidly over the recent years due to natural process, but more dramatically from human industrialization processes (Shah, 2012). Expert scientists and geologists follow and record these changes over the past century and compare it to past temperatures and environment characteristics. From this, we are able to identify the underlying causes of global warming and ways to possibly slow the inevitable consequences and predictions. One cause contributing to the increased average of global temperatures is the increase of carbon dioxide and other “greenhouse” gases in our atmosphere. The greenhouse effect causes an increase in the Earth’s temperature from atmospheric gases, including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, disrupts the cycle of energy by trapping the outgoing energy from the Earth, which is supposed to be on its way back to space (Shah, 2012). Instead, the energy is retained on Earth; causing natural temperature to increase as well as polluting the air. Human activity has contributed to this natural effect through the excessive burning of fossil fuels since these fuels rapidly release carbon dioxide into our atmosphere while not removing the gas, which leaves high levels of CO2
References: Murck, B., Skinner, B., & Mackenzie, D. (2010). Visualizing geology (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Shah, A. (2012, March). Climate change and global warming introduction. Global Issues. Retrieved from http://www.globalissues.org/article/233/climate-change-and-global-warming-introduction#TheclimatehasalwaysvariedinthepastHowisithisanydifferent U.S. Geological Survey. (2012). Map locator & downloader. Retrieved from http://www.usgs.gov/ Webb, J. (1998, November 5). Small islands say global warming hurting them now. World Environment News. Retrieved from http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=2428&newsdate=05-Nov-1998