Global Warming: What Does It Mean?

 

Global Warming:

When I was studying at the University of Washington, the topic of Global Warming was discussed regularly in my classes and among the students. As I got older, Global Warming started making headlines on television and in the newspaper. Unfortunately, the topic of Global warming has become politicized and this has caused tension among people and factions. But the reality is that the Earth’s atmosphere has increased in temperature due to carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions. This issue isn’t a political one. Most of these politicians won’t be alive when the major, permanent and devastating effects will overcome this Earth. The effects will be forced upon future generations – some of whom aren’t even born yet.

With the advent of industrialization, the Earth’s temperature has been rising and started to peak in the 1960-1980s. As one can see in the graph below, there’s been a rapid increase in the temperature of the Earth. This increase in temperature has been responsible for Climate Change. 

 

This video shows how Carbon dioxide, also known as C02, moves around the Earth and how CO2 emissions have increased over the years.

 

 

 

 

Global warming is the cause of changes in our climate such as shifts in weather patterns, precipitation, and sea levels. These changes cause major weather changes such as hurricanes, drought, flooding, melting of the ice caps, destruction of wildlife, and the extinction of species.

The increase of C02 in the atmosphere is caused by several factors including burning of fossil fuels, destruction of rainforest, human population increase, habitat destruction, and agricultural practices.

 

 

Main Contributors and Their Percentages

 

• Fossil Fuels: The burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation is the largest single source of global CO2 emissions, contributing approximately 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions. 

 

 

 

• Deforestation: Trees absorb CO2, so when forests are cut down, the carbon stored in the trees is released into the atmosphere. Deforestation accounts for about 10% of global emissions.

 

 

• Agriculture: Agricultural practices, including livestock production, rice paddies, and the use of synthetic fertilizers, contribute significantly to methane and nitrous oxide emissions.

 

• Industrial Processes