Globalization and Global Warming
Memorandum
This memo serves as an informative and analytical document discussing globalizations largest threat - global warming. I will address the following issues:
• What is global warming and how is it being caused? • Who is contributing to its advancement? • The threats and consequences of global warming • Recommendations we can do to slow global warming
Global Warming and It’s Cause
Global warming could have started as early as the 1860’s due to the Industrial Revolution that began after the Civil War. This was a time of invention and creation; where man made machine and machine changed society. Not only did the machine change society, but it also changed the atmospheric gases – more specifically, greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse gases consist of carbon dioxide - known to cause the greatest amount of global warming - methane gas, ozone, and nitrous oxide. These four greenhouse gases act as a blanket over the surface of the earth. As the sun hits the earth’s surface, the heat is reflected back towards the sun. The heat is then contained by the greenhouse gas blanket and warms the earth. Without this blanket, we would live in a very cold world.
This atmospheric balance the earth provides is currently being tested by man. What happens when we expel our own greenhouse gases? The ‘blanket’ thickens and it traps in more heat. This extra heat upon the earth’s surface is known as global warming. Therefore, global warming can be defined as the effect that increased greenhouse gases have on the earth’s atmosphere.
The increase of greenhouse gases are the result of two economical factors: the burning of fossil fuels for energy, and deforestation for industrialization. The first factor contributes to the majority of the expelled greenhouse gases - that is:
The Burning of Fossil Fuels
As globalization spreads and increases industry, it also increases the deposit of polluting gases into the atmosphere. One such gas is
This memo serves as an informative and analytical document discussing globalizations largest threat - global warming. I will address the following issues:
• What is global warming and how is it being caused? • Who is contributing to its advancement? • The threats and consequences of global warming • Recommendations we can do to slow global warming
Global Warming and It’s Cause
Global warming could have started as early as the 1860’s due to the Industrial Revolution that began after the Civil War. This was a time of invention and creation; where man made machine and machine changed society. Not only did the machine change society, but it also changed the atmospheric gases – more specifically, greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse gases consist of carbon dioxide - known to cause the greatest amount of global warming - methane gas, ozone, and nitrous oxide. These four greenhouse gases act as a blanket over the surface of the earth. As the sun hits the earth’s surface, the heat is reflected back towards the sun. The heat is then contained by the greenhouse gas blanket and warms the earth. Without this blanket, we would live in a very cold world.
This atmospheric balance the earth provides is currently being tested by man. What happens when we expel our own greenhouse gases? The ‘blanket’ thickens and it traps in more heat. This extra heat upon the earth’s surface is known as global warming. Therefore, global warming can be defined as the effect that increased greenhouse gases have on the earth’s atmosphere.
The increase of greenhouse gases are the result of two economical factors: the burning of fossil fuels for energy, and deforestation for industrialization. The first factor contributes to the majority of the expelled greenhouse gases - that is:
The Burning of Fossil Fuels
As globalization spreads and increases industry, it also increases the deposit of polluting gases into the atmosphere. One such gas is
Cited: CIA World Factbook. “List of countries by GDP (PPP).” Wikipedia. 2006. 18 Sept. 2006 EPA Greenpeace. “Science.” Greenpeace. 2006. 14 Sept. 2006 Global Forest Watch. “Human Pressure on the Brazilian Amazon Forests.” 2006. Global Forest Watch. 17 Sept. 2006 IPCC IPCC. Chart 2. “Comparison between GDP and CO2 emissions for selected countries.” Climate Change 2001 Synthesis Report 5-6. 2001. 16 Sept. 2006 IPCC. Chart 3. “Third Assessment Report – Climate Change 2001.” IPCC. 2001. 16 Sept. 2006 IPCC Stix, Gary. “A climate Repair Manuel.” Scientific American Sept. 2006: 47. Suplee, Curt. “Unlocking the Climate.” National Geographic May 1998. 13 Sept. 2006 UNFCCC Wikipedia. “Deforestation.” Wikipedia. 2006. 19 Sept. 2006 Wikipedia. “Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.” Wikipedia. 2006. 12 Sept. 2006