Understanding global warming
September 24, 2008
It is obvious that you can get information about global warming from various media and that this is the main global present and future topic. My opinion is that ecological topics must be our priority and it is never enough consideration of these issues. I collected useful information and put them together, to show you some amazing facts about global warming that you must pay attention on.
If we take a detailed look of our atmosphere, fewer than 4 out of every 10,000 atmospheric molecules are CO2 molecules which are the most abundant of a greenhouse gases (GHG). Other GHG are methane, nitrous oxide, HFC and CFC. CO2 is produced every time when something burns or decomposes… GHG are essentially important for life on Earth, because of their ability to keep the heat near our planet’s surface. When amount of GHG reaches higher concentrations, our planet's atmosphere starts overheating.
Greenhouse effect (GHG keep the heat comming from the sun close to the Earth surface)
To understand how GHG affect our environment, let’s see next explanation and comparison that transportation and logistics expert Lou Smyrlis gave in his blog:
“If you want a mental picture of greenhouse gases at work, think of trying to sleep on a muggy August night in a Toronto apartment building downtown – without your air conditioner on. Now think of trying to fall asleep in a desert. For those of you who haven’t had the opportunity to do so, I can tell you it can be downright cool. Yet the only difference between the desert and the muggy night in Toronto is a single greenhouse gas – water vapour – which is capable of retaining two-thirds of the heat trapped by all the greenhouse gases”.
To see how GHG can influence on our planet’s atmosphere follow next explanation:
In Venus atmosphere is almost 98% of CO2 and temperature on its surface is 477°C. If percentage of CO2 on Earth atmosphere hypothetically reaches 1%, that would bring the surface temperature to the boiling point.
Before the year of 1800, there were about 280 parts of CO2 per million of molecules in the atmosphere, now it is about 380 parts per million. Scientists figure out that we can reach 550 parts per million over the next century before dangerous changes will appear. It sounds catastrophic, but if we keep going with the same pace as now, we are going to hit 680 until the 2100, estimated the experts.
What can we do to stop Global Warming?
Every big achievement start from nothing, so do our contribution to the better living conditions. If you do not know the problem, you even do not know how to deal with it.
Scientists have predicted the phenomenon of global warming for decades. Unfortunately, some of the adverse effects of global warming, they have also predicted begin to occur throughout the world, including:
- Growing incidence of droughts in some areas, floods in others;
- The rising temperatures of oceans and the sea level;
- Increase extreme weather events such as tornadoes and hurricanes;
- The melting of mountain glaciers and the reduction of snow cover;
- Dying coral reefs, and
- Coastal erosion, and loss of coastal ecosystems.
How to help:
Reduce
The amount of energy you consume and start using renewable energy sources, such as wind power and solar power. Drive economical vehicles with low consumption, hybrid cars or alternative drive cars (hydrogen power drive). Sign up for Green Energy with your local power provider. If they do not have it, then tell them to get it.
Reuse
By using products made with recycled materials. Make or buy a compost bin to use your organic waste as fertilizer for your trees, shrubs, and garden.
Recycle
All materials to your best ability in your local area and purchase Carbon Offsets.
What else can we do?
USE ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS and personally PLANT SOME TREES while they absorb the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and help to keep the planet cool; they evaporate water to the atmosphere and increase cloudiness, which also helps keep the planet cool; and they are dark and absorb a lot of sunlight, warming the Earth.
