The Human Factor of Global Warming

Global warming is one of the most tumultuous topics in today’s society. Some believe it is happening as we speak, while others question its very existence, So, is it real, or is merely a hoax? There is no one answer, but evidence does overwhelmingly support the former. Surely we have all heard this word at one time or another, but few individuals actually know its true definition. Justifiably, however, global warming is not that simply explained. In layman’s terms, it is the dramatic increase in the Earth’s average air and ocean temperature since the 20th century. This increase is primarily attributed to two main culprits: the greenhouse effect and human activity, such as fossil fuel burning. In both cases, carbon dioxide (CO2) is the

In order to understand the issue of global warming (also referred to as climate change), you must first understand what it means and how it happens. Global warming is a result of a process known as the greenhouse effect, in which the light and heat from the sun are trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere by greenhouse gases; which subsequently raises the average temperature on Earth. The greenhouse gases responsible for this process are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and tropospheric ozone, all of which are released into the atmosphere through naturally occurring processes (Warrick, R. & Farmer, G., 1990).

On November 8th, American citizens will go to the polls and vote for the next president of the United States. During the presidential campaign, both candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, have their own different points of view on environmental issues. Hillary Clinton affirms her commitment to the fight against climate change. She supports the Paris Agreement, which is an agreement among many nations to respond to the threat of global warming and to reverse the worst effects of climate change. Donald Trump, by contrast, does not believe that the shift in the climate is a manmade disaster. He claims that global warming just is a hoax and current global warming is just a part of a natural cycle that is naturally occurring. Donald Trump, then, promises to dismantle the agreement if he becomes the U.S. President. It is important to note that many people and scientists share this same belief with Trump, protesting that global warming is a natural phenomenon. The debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump raises an important issue. Are people primary responsible for global warming? Global warming is due to many reasons; specifically, human activities are the major factors causing the planet to get gradually warmer over time.

Recent scientific evidence indicates that humans have upset the carbon cycle, leaving more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas, burning biomass such as ethanol and wood, creating cement and releasing other chemicals into the atmosphere is upsetting the natural flow of carbon.

Global climate has been drastically changing over the past decade reflecting a wide range of impacts that affect not only the environment, but humans as well. Over the last 50 years the magnitude of global warming has been increasing mainly due to human activities. Since the industrial revolution in the 1800s economic growth has been driven by the progress of manufacturing processes, these have significantly contributed to global warming. It is in this period of time when the global concentration of greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere had a significant increment from 280 parts per million (ppm) in the 1800s to the modern levels of 400 ppm in 2016. (CITE acs.org).Greenhouse gases are the most significant drivers of climate change due to their persistent effects over a long period of time that can therefore negatively affect the present and future generations.

97% of scientists believe that humans are to blame for global warming because of the industrial activities have raised two hundred and eighty parts per million to four hundred parts per million in the last hundred and fifty years. The burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil has went up the atmosphere because of carbon dioxide the oil and coal burning it, it combines carbon with oxygen in the air to make carbon dioxide when the carbon dioxide reaches the atmosphere, is rapidly distributed between atmosphere, the upper-ocean and vegetation.

A scientist that reports for National Geographic Magazine stated, “Since 1990, yearly emissions have gone up by about six billion metric tons of “carbon dioxide equivalent” worldwide, more than a 20 percent increase”(“Causes of Global Warming”) Humans are the cause of global warming. Overpopulation of the human race has resulted in a multitude of carbon dioxide gas getting trapped in the atmosphere, warming the earth as if it was a greenhouse. Carbon dioxide (Co2) is a “waste” gas of human beings. One human approximately exhales two and one third pounds of carbon dioxide gas a day(Palmer) Consequently, the gas is warming the earth from the core up. Humans are the cause of global warming.

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas that warms the atmosphere. • Since pre-industrial times, atmospheric CO2 concentrations have increased from about 280 parts per million (ppm) to over 380 ppm. Current concentrations of CO2 and other greenhouse gases are unprecedented in at least the last 650,000 years, based on records from gas bubbles trapped in polar ice. • Independent measurements demonstrate that the increased CO2 in the atmosphere comes

According to the article, “Deforestation: Facts, Causes, and Effects” by Alina Bradford, “deforestation is one of the factors contributing to global climate change due to the enormous amounts of carbon dioxide that is released into the air”. By releasing large amounts of carbon into the air it effects the climate and therefore overall global climate change. Trees help hold a substantial amount of water that is used in the water cycle when it is turned into atmospheric vapor (National Geographic). Without trees to provide the atmospheric vapor that is needed to sustain an environment forests can quickly turn into desserts. CO2 or carbon dioxide is an important molecule if not the most important greenhouse gas when it comes to our ecosystem. Carbon dioxide is a very effective greenhouse gas, not only

How are humans inducing global warming? For beginners, we will start off with the greenhouse gases. The greenhouse gases act as Earth 's blanket. According to the U.S. Energy Information, an organization that provides information on energy and its interaction with the environment, greenhouse gases are mixed in the atmosphere, blocking and trapping the sun 's infrared radiation from leaving the planet, thus warming the Earth 's surface (U.S. Energy Information, 2014). This is the greenhouse effect. Such gases that contribute to the

It is not surprising to read on the internet about ice caps melting and strong storms devastating cities. Global warming is a serious issue that should be put in consideration. However, before trying to fix such issue. We should focus on what is causing global warming. Humans are responsible for global warming. Even though, most of the earth’s population deny being responsible for global contamination/global warming.

Throughout history, the Earth’s climate has been constantly changing. This is mostly due to very small variations in the Earth’s orbit, like orbital shifts and changes in the atmosphere, causing a change in the quantity of solar energy which the Earth receives, which can be seen in the cycles of glacial advance and retreat. However, over the past 1,300 years, climate change has advanced at an unprecedented rate which poses a long term threat on future generations due to the impact our current society is having on the planet, and it is because of this that governments have come together to pioneer efforts to try and resolve this issue. [1]

Humans have mostly contributed to the cause of global warming. Burning carbon-containg fossil fuels accounts for most human-made CO2. Land conversion, like when tropical forests are

Global warming stems back to the beginning of time. In more recent years, however, the discussion about this phenomenon has been that it’s happening too rapidly and opposing sides argue that this may be a natural occurrence involving the sun or the result of human activity in which may be to blame. An adversary from St. Petersburg 's Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory in Russia, the head of space research, Habibullo Abdussamatov stated that “Man-made greenhouse warming has made a small contribution to the warming on Earth in recent years, but it cannot compete with the increase in solar irradiance” (Than, 2007). Research over the years, however, have shown that global warming is mainly or at least partly due to human activity which causes harmful greenhouse gases to be trapped in the earth’s atmosphere. The act of dumping waste in landfills and deforestation is merely two contributing factors amongst some other human actions that contribute to global warming.

Trees will take in the carbon dioxide that is in the atmosphere, however, forests have already started to be depleted due to the railroad system. Because of the need for timber humans have carelessly removed large amounts of trees from the environment. Carbon dioxide is needed for the atmosphere as it is a heat-trapping gas and without it the world would be frigid. But too much carbon dioxide causes over heating of the Earth. The Earth’s climate needs balance. Through deforestation humans have upset that balance and left more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than there should be. Then humans created cars that have released even more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through their exhausts. Therefore, humans are left with excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere contributing to global warming.