Global Warming...Fact or Fiction
Brandy Ricker
WR122
Global Warming…Fact or Fiction?
One of the largest current debates in the world is whether or not global warming is being caused by unnatural interference to the environment or is it a part of the Earth’s natural cycle of climate patterns. It is glaringly obvious that the world as a whole should agree on some drastic changes to improve our environmental situation immediately. ProCon.org states that the US National Academies of Science, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and many others, say that greenhouse gas levels are rising due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, which are causing significant climate changes including global warming, loss of sea ice, glacier retreat, intense heat waves, stronger hurricanes and more droughts. There is so much scientific evidence available to prove that the human race is the direct cause of global warming and if we don’t fix it now, we will be the cause of our own demise. The emissions from vehicles, smoke stacks and other pollutant producing man-made creations release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere. The most recent readings show that the carbon dioxide levels are higher than at any time in the last 650,000 years. (Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate) These readings help support the global temperature increase that occurred during the 20th century. Scientists have known about the greenhouse effect of gases like carbon dioxide since 1859, when British physicist, John Tyndall, began experiments leading to the discovery that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere absorbs the sun’s heat. (Tyndall) Computer simulations show that increased levels of human-produced pollutants will cause global warming and other climate changes. These readings are not specific about how much the world will heat up in the future or how it will affect
WR122
Global Warming…Fact or Fiction?
One of the largest current debates in the world is whether or not global warming is being caused by unnatural interference to the environment or is it a part of the Earth’s natural cycle of climate patterns. It is glaringly obvious that the world as a whole should agree on some drastic changes to improve our environmental situation immediately. ProCon.org states that the US National Academies of Science, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and many others, say that greenhouse gas levels are rising due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, which are causing significant climate changes including global warming, loss of sea ice, glacier retreat, intense heat waves, stronger hurricanes and more droughts. There is so much scientific evidence available to prove that the human race is the direct cause of global warming and if we don’t fix it now, we will be the cause of our own demise. The emissions from vehicles, smoke stacks and other pollutant producing man-made creations release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere. The most recent readings show that the carbon dioxide levels are higher than at any time in the last 650,000 years. (Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate) These readings help support the global temperature increase that occurred during the 20th century. Scientists have known about the greenhouse effect of gases like carbon dioxide since 1859, when British physicist, John Tyndall, began experiments leading to the discovery that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere absorbs the sun’s heat. (Tyndall) Computer simulations show that increased levels of human-produced pollutants will cause global warming and other climate changes. These readings are not specific about how much the world will heat up in the future or how it will affect
Cited: Ball, Timothy, PhD. "Global Warming: The Cold, Hard Facts?" Canadafreepress.com. Canada Free Press, 5 Feb. 2007. Web. 5 May 2013. . Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Caillon, Nicholas, PhD, and Jeffrey P. Severinghaus, PhD. "Timing of Atmospheric CO2 and Antarctic Temperature Changes Across Termination III." Science (2003): n. pag. Print. Chylek, Petr, PhD "Climate Change ProCon.org." Climate Change ProCon.org. ProCon.org, 19 Apr. 2013. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. . Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Mayfield, Max, PhD. "Oversight Hearing on the Lifesaving Role of Accurate Hurricane Prediction." US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Disaster Prevention and Prediction (2005): n. pag. Print. Novakov, Tihomir, PhD Schwartz, Stephen E. "Uncertainty in Climate Sensitivity: Causes, Consequences, Challenges." Rsc.org/ees. The Royal Society of Chemistry, 21 Aug. 2008. Web. 5 May 2013. . Stroeve, Julienne, PhD Tyndall, John. NASA Earth Observatory. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), 2 June 2010. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. . "U.S