CO2 Emissions - What is Global Warming and Climate Change - Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Global Warming Threats

Sun, 06 May 2012 02:47:00 -0500

One of the most pressing concerns of the modern world is global warming. Described as the dramatic increase of the Earths temperature, global warming poses serious ecological problems to people all around the globe. According to scientific studies, the temperature of the Earth has risen by approximately one degree Fahrenheit in the past one hundred years. A more alarming study shows that over the past three decades, there warming rate of the Earth has accelerated. Strong evidence also shows that over the last fifty years, human activities played a significant role on this distressing phenomenon. Human activities contributed largely in changing the chemical composition of the environment. The main cause of global warming is the unprecedented buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

The Green House Effect

Basically, the process that results to the Greenhouse effect has four steps. First, the Ultraviolet rays from the sun enter the atmosphere then hit the Earth. In the form of infrared light, a considerable amount of sunlight converts into heat energy. When impregnated by the enclosing land and air, the heat gets hotter. Infrared rays that are left in the atmosphere are trapped by greenhouse gases and returned to the Earths surface. In effect, the light gets warmer resulting to further warming of the globe.

Environment Unfriendly Human Activities

CO2 emissions in just a few years have escalated due to the rapid and unparalleled development in technology, particularly those that are used in many industries. Factories and many industrial zones are top ranking contributors in the emission of dangerous gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, and substances that are known to have a colossal impact in the depletion of the ozone layer. CFC or Hydroflurocarbon is one of the most lethal ozone depleting substances.Other human activities that significantly contribute to the depletion of the ozone are burning of fossil fuels and the use of cars.

Serious Threats to the Global Population

Explained in simpler terms, global warming is frightening because it tends to create serious havoc in the various aspects of the lives of people around the globe. Among many others, these include health, food production, and the survival of various organisms in the planet. Other effects of global warming are the frequency of powerful thunderstorms, irregular rainfall, drier top soils, and abnormal weather conditions. Due to the unprecedented heating of the globe, glaciers floating in the Arctic and Greenland have been reported to melt in an alarming level. In effect, sea levels throughout the world are constantly rising. This explains why dangerous flooding disasters in many parts of the world have recently been experienced.

Future Implications

If the root cause of global warming will not be properly addressed, more countries will definitely undergo more harrowing effects. Unpredictable climate changes could have a huge and negative impact on existing ecosystems in various parts of the globe. In truth, poorer nations or those that belong to the Third World are more vulnerable to the terrifying consequences of global warming. Furthermore, developed nations that own the biggest industrial infrastructures contributes largely in the emission of dangerous gases resulting to the depletion of the ozone.

How to Stop Global Warming

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:19:00 -0500

Global warming is an issue that literally concerns the whole world. While the different governments are taking their own steps in order to minimize the amount of impact their countries have on the environment, such as imposing laws like the Clean Air Act, there are still some steps that each individual can take to not only help slow down the effects of global warming, but also make the environment a little better as well. This article lists down some simple tips you can follow to help slow down global warming.

Some simple steps that you can take to help slow down the effects of global warming are:

Turn off electrical equipment when not in use. This is one of the most basic tips that you can do to help prevent global warming, yet this is also one of the most easily forgotten methods. Switch off the lights when not in use. Ensure that all electrical equipment are turned off before you leave the house, since no one will be there to use these. Don't just turn these gadgets off; make sure to unplug these as well.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The three Rs remain to be one of the most effective things that you can do to help save the environment, not just slow down the effects of global warming. Don't throw things in the trash immediately. Think of ways that you can do to reuse these. For example, you can use plastic bags to hold your other things and not just the items you originally purchased that were packed in these bags. You can also think of creative ways to re-use things, like using bottles as decorations. You can also bring things you no longer use to the local recycling center so that these won't be sent to landfills, where these will end up being burned down, resulting in even more carbon dioxide making its way to the environment.
Add insulation to your home. Adding insulation and taking steps to check that there are no cracks or gaps in the doors, floors, or walls where the cold can get in will lessen the need of you having to turn up the heat during winter, or even the air conditioning system during summer. This will not only help in reducing your carbon footprint, it will also help lower your electricity bills as well.
Use energy-efficient products. A lot of products have now been designed for energy efficiency, such as light bulbs and various types of electrical equipment. These consume less energy, so you will also be able to enjoy seeing your electricity bills going down when you switch to these.
Use your legs. Instead of driving, you can instead walk to the place you need to go to if your destination isn't that far. If the place isn't nearby, you can always take public transportation or carpool with friends so there will be lesser emissions (the fact that you save up on gas money doesn't hurt, either).
Plant trees. Trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide so that there will be less greenhouse gases in the air.

These are only some of the things that you can do to help slow down the effects of global warming. Promote your cause to your family and friends as well. That way, there will be even less carbon footprint. As more people become more conscientious about how their actions impact the Earth, the greater the likelihood that the effects of global warming will be less likely to happen.

Global Warming Facts

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 02:26:00 -0600

Thanks to facts on global warming become more and more frequently reported on the news, people are becoming increasingly aware about how their actions can impact the environment. Even so, there remains to be individuals who don't know that much global warming information. This article takes a look at some global warming facts so you can find out more about this phenomenon.

About global warming

Before looking at global warming facts, it's important to understand what global warming actually is. This is the phenomenon wherein the temperature of the earth slowly rises due to the heat and light of the sun being trapped into the earth's atmosphere. The reason why this is trapped is because of greenhouse gases (which usually come from fossil fuels), which keep the heat and the light from escaping. Essentially, this works much in the same way that heat in cars remain inside vehicles when parked under the sun while the heat can get in, it can't escape. The problem with greenhouse gases is that these don't dissipate quickly, and these can remain in the atmosphere for several years. During this period, more and more of the gases will be produced, worsening the problem of global warming.

Global warming facts

Some global warming facts that you need to know include:

Carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas primarily responsible for global warming, due to the large amounts of the gas in the environment. The United States is responsible for 19.91% of carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere.
Average temperature around the world has climbed to 0.8 degrees Celsius since 1880. While this might not seem much, this temperature change can already cause the melting of the ice caps. Aside from this, sea levels have been estimated to have risen between 4 and 8 inches in the last century. Experts are estimating that this can reach as high as 2 feet in the next 100 years.
The last two decades of the 20th century have been recorded as the hottest in the past 400 years, and also possibly for several millennia, based on the records of climate studies.
The Arctic region has experienced the effects of global warming the most, with a lot of its wildlife, especially polar bears, in danger of extinction because of the changes happening in their habitat.
The increase in temperature has also affected marine life. A lot of coral reefs are slowly becoming damaged. If this keeps up, scientists predict that all of the coral reefs in the world will be destroyed by 2015.

While there remains a lot of people who are skeptical that global warming is real, there is a lot of global warming evidence and global warming facts that prove that there is truth to the statements made by scientists regarding this phenomenon. While the information about global warming sounds alarming, there are still some things people can do to reverse to reverse its effects. By doing things to minimize your carbon footprint on this world, it is possible for you to lessen the effects of global warming and help preserve the Earth.

What is Global Warming?

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:06:00 -0600

"What is global warming?" This is a question frequently asked by people, thanks to the number of news reports that talk about the numerous effects of climate change in the world. While the global warming controversy remains talked about these days, with some people contesting that the changes happening in the climate are nothing more than natural phenomena, there is enough evidence of global warming that prove that there is truth to what scientists are saying. This article answers the question, "What is global warming?" and gives more information about this phenomenon, including global warming statistics, so you will know what this is actually about.

What is global warming? What causes global warming?

Global warming is the phenomenon wherein the temperature of the earth rises due to the amount of greenhouse gases (particularly carbon dioxide and methane, as well as water vapor and nitrous oxide) in the environment, which trap the heat and light coming from the sun into the atmosphere and prevent these from being released once again.

People are actually the ones who are responsible for the amount of greenhouse gases in the environment. The amount of innovations humans create to make their lives better have caused a downside, which is the increase in the pollution released into the environment. Fossil fuel combustion is required to produce electricity, which then releases greenhouse gases into the environment.

Effects of global warming

Going hand-in-hand with the question, "What is global warming?" is "What are the effects of global warming?" The effects of global warming are many and varied, and most if not all of these are quite alarming. These include:

- Rising seas. As the temperature increases, the polar caps melt off, which results in rising seas and the possibility of low-level islands disappearing.

- Changes in rainfall patterns. The major changes occurring in the environment are being attributed to global warming. Areas can experience droughts, flooding, and other such weather changes that these haven't previously experienced, or at least, not to a major extent.

- The possibility of the extinction of several species. The effects of global warming can change the natural habitat of several species of animals. Polar bears are an example of a species now endangered because of global warming, since the melting of the ice caps has greatly shortened their feeding season.

- Spread of diseases. The rising of the temperature may allow insects and other carriers to migrate to new regions to spread disease, such as malaria.

- Coral death. As seas get warmer, these can also acidify due to carbonic acid formation, which can then result in the bleaching of coral reefs that can damage or even kill these. As a result, fish can also die, since their homes will be destroyed. The warming seas have also triggered the loss of plankton, which serves as food for many types of sea creatures, putting them also in danger of extinction as well.

Can people do something do fight the signs of global warming?

Thankfully, there are steps people can take in order to fight the signs of global warming. Simple steps, such as walking, riding a bike, or taking public transportation to your destination instead of driving to it can already minimize your carbon footprint. Turning off and unplugging electrical devices when not in use can also help in minimizing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. There are simple steps that you can take in order to help fight global warming.

This article only covered the basics of the question, "What is global warming?" Read up on the topic so you can find out what you can do to help save nature by taking steps to fight against global warming and climate change.

Most Extreme: Climate Change

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:42:00 -0600

There is a cartoon in a website that shows a European browsing on the computer and bundled up in thick clothing while on the flip side, there is a South American who is sweltering while browsing on the computer. Times are really changing and so is the world's climate because all over the globe, people are experiencing weird weather and extreme temperatures. Climate change is upon the planet and it seems that it is hopeless to stop it.

So what is climate change? Climate change refers to the lasting and significant change in the weather patterns over the last decades. It also refers to the change in average weather conditions in a specific region or across the globe. In the strictest sense, it refers to the change in the statistical properties of the Earth's climate system over long periods of time and fluctuations in the Earth's weather pattern, such as El Nio and La Nia are not considered. Nowadays, climate change has been used in connection with global warming and is one of the effects that has happened due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the planet.

So what are the causes of climate change? According to scientific experts, climate change can result from natural factors, natural processes, and human activities. Natural factors include the changes in the planet's orbit around the sun and the changes in the sun's intensity. Natural processes refer to the naturally-occurring processes in the climate system such as changes in ocean circulation. Human activities include deforestation, desertification, burning of fossil fuels, and other activities that can change the atmosphere's composition. It has been reported that human activities contribute largely to this phenomenon and that the changes that are happening right now are irreversible.

So what are impacts of climate change? The evidences of climate change are plenty and everyone on the planet is affected with it, one way or another. One evidence of this is apparent in the glaciers. Glaciers are a great indicator that there is indeed climate change. Over the years, the number of glaciers on earth have dwindled and more and more are melting and disappearing altogether. Glaciers are not the only thing that is slowly melting and disappearing as this is also happening in the loss of ice in the Arctic. It has been reported that there has been significant loss and change in both thickness and size of Arctic ice and it is continuing to decline at a rate of 11.5% per decade. Another indicator of climate change is seen in the world's vegetation. Over the years, the increasing temperatures lead to early flowering and fruiting, and fall and winter comes much more later in the year. This affects the plants as well as the animals who are dependent on these plants. Some plants may be subjected to stress which will eventually lead to their death and extinction; the same goes with other animals.

So to climate change skeptics and to people who do not believe that it is happening, here is proof that it is indeed happening and something must be done about it before it is too late.

Hot Earth: Global Warming

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:33:00 -0600

Europe is currently experiencing one of the harshest winters with a lot of people dying from hypothermia and frostbite. Cities have been cut off due to snow storms and officials are worried if the power supply can handle the demand needed to power up the heaters. Meanwhile, other parts of the world are melting under the intense summer heat. Countries near the Pacific have encountered both the El Nio and La Nia phenomena in the recent years, bringing sweltering temperatures and arid conditions or bring in vast amounts of prolonged rainfall. These changes in Mother Nature have been slowly but surely happening for dozens of years, and the Earth is currently undergoing global warming.

Global warming is the term used that refers to the rise of the average temperature of Earth. It also refers to the continuation of the rise of these temperatures. Scientists have said that since the 20th century, the temperature of the planet has been increasing bit by bit, an average of 0.8 C or 1.4 F. Experts believe that the reason for the rise of the Earth's temperature is due to the increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the planet. These greenhouse gases are usually produced by human activities such as burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.

So is there evidence of global warming? There plenty of that, and facts about global warming should be a cause for concern. Aside from the rising average temperature of the planet, the rate of warming is increasing. According to several climate studies, the last two decades were the hottest years ever recorded for at least 400 years, a sure sign of global warming. Another global warming evidence is the rapid disappearance of Arctic ice, and the animals and people who live in these regions are already feeling the effects of this loss. Aside from the loss of ice in the Arctic, snow, ice and glaciers are also rapidly melting. Spring comes earlier and freezing during winter comes much later.

One more evidence of global warming is seen in the coral reefs. These coral reefs are highly sensitive to the changes in the ocean's temperatures and they tend to die because of the stress due to the change in the water's temperature. The death of the coral reefs around the world is said to continue in the coming years according to experts. Aside from the rising temperature of the oceans, extreme weather events are being felt around the world, and an example of this is the harsh winter in Europe and Russia. In the recent years, a lot of countries all over the world have also suffered from heat waves, strong tropical storms, and wildfires. These extreme weather events is detrimental to the health, the crops, and the animals as well.

So to the skeptics out there who ask: Is global warming real?, the answer is a definite yes and it is happening right now. People might scoff at the idea of global warming, and that they are not really affected but it is time to smell the smog in the air and do something about it.

Simple Tips in How You Can Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:36:00 -0600

The amount of carbon dioxide emissions in the air has reached the point wherein people can already feel the effects. While some people have accepted this to be part of life, this mindset can actually make things worse, especially if every person believes that he or she is unable to change things. This article lists down some simple tips you can follow to minimize your carbon footprint.

Some of the things you can do to minimize the amount of CO2 emissions you produce are:

Walking instead of riding. Cars produce a lot of CO2 emissions, so choosing to walk or riding the bike can go a long way to help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. If the place you want to go to is too far from your house, you can take public transport or carpool with some friends or family members. If you really need to drive, try to do several errands at once so you don't have to take out your car more than you should.
Energy-proof your house. A house that isn't energy-efficient will require homeowners to turn up the cold or the heat in order to reach the temperature that they're comfortable with. This can release a lot of carbon dioxide in the environment. To prevent this from happening, try to do what you can in order to improve the insulation in your house. Not only will this minimize your carbon footprint, it can also greatly lower your electricity bills since you won't need to crank up your heater or your air conditioning system.
Go for cold water than hot water. Hot water can also contribute to CO2 emissions. As such, try to use cold water over hot water as much as possible. It doesn't necessarily mean having to take cold baths forever. Instead, you can switch to cold water when you wash clothes or dishes.
Plant some trees. Plants absorb carbon dioxide. While a plant or two may not absorb that much carbon dioxide, every little bit helps. You can also join tree planting projects if you want to be part of something bigger when it comes to reducing CO2 emissions.

If individuals don't do their part to try to minimize their carbon footprint, some scientists believe that it's possible for the world to go into another ice age. By doing these tips and taking care not to contribute to the large amount of CO2 emissions today, you can do your part in helping save the environment.

The Deadly Effects of CO2 Emissions

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:33:00 -0600

Burning fossil fuels cause carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere. This is not necessarily a bad thing. After all, the plants do need carbon dioxide, which they will in turn process in order to produce breathable air for other living things. However, the extremely fast rate that people are burning fossil fuels has produced so much carbon dioxide that the plants will not be able to absorb all of the carbon dioxide in the air. This article takes a look at the consequences of too much carbon dioxide in the environment.

Health problems due to CO2 emissions

Some health concerns that can be experienced by people because of too much carbon dioxide in the air include:

Asphyxiation. Too much carbon dioxide in the air can in turn lower the amount of oxygen, which can be highly dangerous for people, making it extremely difficult for them to breathe.
Organ damage. An increased amount of carbon dioxide in the air can destroy the equilibrium in the system, possibly causing organ damage and even possibly causing a person to go into coma.
Frostbite. Carbon dioxide in the air can cause effects similar to frostbite, such as blisters.

Environmental problems due to CO2 emissions

On the other hand, the environmental problems that may arise due to high CO2 emissions include:

Global warming. The biggest impact of CO2 emissions Is global warming, wherein the high concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere prevents heat and radiation from escaping into the atmosphere. This can also contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer.
Rising sea levels. Because the heat is unable to escape into the atmosphere, it will cause the ice caps and glaciers to melt, leading to rising sea levels, thus making several areas uninhabitable.
Weather changes. Global warming can trigger extreme weather changes through the whole world that can damage property and lead to the deaths of many.
Spreading of diseases. The bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that were previously unable to survive because of the climate can re-emerge because of the weather changes, infecting a lot of people and contributing to even more deaths.

Some people may believe or say otherwise, but the CO2 emissions produced today have reached a point wherein the air itself can become very dangerous for individuals and the environment. As such, be sure to do your part to minimize your carbon footprint to prevent endangering your health as well as the health of others, as well as nature itself.

CO2 Emissions: The Global Carbon Cycle in Brief

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:32:00 -0600

CO2 emissions raises global concern for several reasons, prime among them is the alleged responsibility of CO2 in raising the levels of global temperatures. However, it is very difficult to determine whether CO2 emissions is the only culprit for Global Warming. In fact, the scientific community is even divided about the reality of Global warming.

There are plenty of interesting questions that are raised around CO2 emissions. Do plants like more CO2 in the atmosphere? Do human breathing contribute more to CO2 production? Recent reflections in the role of carbon emissions in climate change has espoused a new wave of thinking. A greener industry is fast becoming the norm in a world struggling to find balance between development and ecology.

As a result, we see technology that seeks to limit our CO2 emissions: electric cars, solar powered houses, wind powered power sources, and other recourses to more sustainable sources of energy to reduce CO2 emissions.

Is there a good side to CO2 emissions?

As mentioned earlier, there is an interesting question about whether plants like higher levels of CO2 in the atmosphere or not. The study is not recent, as there are similar efforts attempting to link the role of CO2 in plant growth since the Medieval times.

There are two ways of measuring plant growth, and that is through its dry weight or biomass, and through its photosynthesis, or the exchange rate of CO2 in its leaves. Studies show that when exposed to higher concentrations of CO2 in a controlled environment, the plants showed positive growth increase in terms of biomass and photosynthesis.

This goes to show that nature is still working to balance itself even when there is a relative increase in the CO2 levels in the atmosphere. While carbon emissions will also likely result in a warmer atmosphere, it was shown that plants will be able to adapt, just like in the Medieval era.

On the other hand, humans when they breathe, constitute a very little percentage in the global scale of carbon dioxide emissions. The largest percentage come from the ocean, the land, and the atmosphere, which exchange CO2.

What we have to watch out for is the small changes in the exchange of CO2 between the ATMOSPHERE and the OCEAN, which will have drastic effects in climate change. The burning of fossil fuels is still arguable as a cause of change, still much less than DEFORESTATION, which may have drastic impact on vegetation and land contribution to the global carbon cycle.

Prevent the Spread of Greenhouse Gases

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:30:00 -0600

Carbon emissions have changed the way the world views the environment and have also affected policies by countries across the globe. There is a deeper and wider awareness about the potential problems that carbon emissions create. More and more countries are getting into talks on how to reduce the carbon footprint they produce.

The Kyoto Protocol

One of the most prominent policies about carbon emissions is the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol aims to drastically reduce the carbon emissions by the countries in the UN. The Protocol wants to prevent the increase of carbon emissions to finally put an end to global warming.

The Protocol was adopted on December 11, 1997 in Kyoto, Japan and enforced on February 16, 2005. As recent as September 2011, there have been one hundred ninety one states and countries that have ratified and signed the agreement. Among the leading nations, only the United States has yet to ratify and sign the agreement.

Under the Kyoto Protocol, thirty seven countries have committed themselves to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases such as methane, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and sulphur hexafluoride that enter the Earths atmosphere. Ideally, the Kyoto Protocol aims to return to the 1990 level of greenhouse gases in the Earths atmosphere.

There are also flexible mechanisms for the different countries who agreed to the Kyoto Protocol. One of the mechanisms they can use is carbon trading. Carbon trading allows them to get more credits from other nations so that they can reach the agreed upon carbon emission level. They can get these carbon credits by starting and implementing projects that reduce carbon emissions in other countries, exchange carbon emission credits from other nations, and through financial exchanges.

What are the objectives of the Kyoto Protocol?

The Kyoto Protocol has the following objectives:

1. The Protocol aims to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases inherent in the earths atmosphere.

2. Prevent global warming and climate change.

3. Prepare each nation that has signed the Protocol to make and implement policies that will help reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

4. Compliance to the commitments of the Kyoto Protocol.

These are the objectives of the Kyoto Protocol. At the end of the day the Protocol aims to prevent the spread of greenhouse gases that has changed our environment and has affected the ecosystems of the planet. There are several harmful effects that greenhouse gases create. You can be a part of the change by lowering your carbon emissions.