Global Warming:Possible Sources & Proposed Solutions

Diana Langie

Understanding the Basics of Climate Change on Earth

What is Global Warming?

Photograph by NASA

Global Warming: increasing average temperature of Earth’s lower atmosphere; an important facet of climate change on Earth

Global average temperature has increased by 1.4°F (0.8°C) since 1880. Temperature rise has accelerated exponentially since the Industrial Revolution

Complex multifactorial climate change

What Causes Global Warming?

Scientists are unable to confirm the exact cause of global warming at this time. The reason(s) for present climate

change are being heavily researched and debated.Credible hypotheses have been established:

Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions

Natural climate cycle: Interglacial period warming

Astronomical events: Changes in Earth’s position in relation to the Sun

Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Greenhouse gases: pollutants in the Earth’s atmosphere that block the escape of long-wave thermal infrared terrestrial reradiation into outer space, trapping heat energy within the atmosphere.

Fossil fuel burning emits greenhouse gases.

Carbon DioxideMethaneNitrous OxideOzoneChlorofluorocar

bons (CFCs)Water Vapor

Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Transportation: Burning fossil fuels (such as petroleum oil used to make diesel and gasoline) to power cars, trucks, trains, airplanes, boats, and other vehicles to transport people or cargo.

The Blue Train of South Africa is fueled by diesel. From travel.nationalgeographic.com

Importation of goods contributes significantly

Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Coal-burning power plant. From ohiocitizen.org

Manufacturing and Electricity: Making, using, and/or improperly disposing of products containing CFCs (such as Styrofoam, air conditioners, and some aerosol products); burning fossil fuels (such as coal) for running factories and electrical power plants.

Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Agriculture: deforestation, raising livestock (cattle produce a lot of methane) and burning diesel to power farm implements, such as tractors and balers.

Both photographs are from news.nationalgeographic.com

Construction: The building of roads and skyscrapers (and general infrastructure when not constructed thoughtfully) requires heavy machinery that is still very inefficient with fuel consumption and produces massive carbon emissions.

Earth has a long-term pattern of cyclic warming and cooling, as shown by continental glacier ice core sample analysis, a valuable proxy data source that reveals detailed records of climate patterns.

Ice ages (or glacial ages) are extended cold periods, lasting from thousands to millions of years.

Interglacial periods are when global average temperature warms, and generally last around 15,000 to 20,000 years.

The most recent ice age was about 18,000 years ago. Currently, we seem to be in the transition phase into an interglacial period, which could help explain why average global temperature is rising.

Interglacial Period Warming

Changes in Earth’s Position Relative to the Sun

Small changes in Earth’s position on an astronomical scale can result in major temperature and overall climate changes within Earth’s atmosphere.

It appears that changes in the Earth’s position relative to the Sun create global climate cycles that are each approximately 100,000 years long.

Changes in Earth’s Position Relative to the Sun

Orbital Variance Theory

Earth’s orbit is not perfectly elliptical. Earth may have drifted closer to the Sun during orbit, a phenomenon that is thought to occur around every 100,000 years.

Increased proximity to the Sun results in higher levels of solar radiation penetrating the Earth’s atmosphere.

Global average temperature would rise as a result of increased solar radiation unbalancing the global radiation energy budget.

Changes in Earth’s Position Relative to the Sun

Axial Precession

Earth’s equatorial bulge, caused by the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Moon, creates a wobbling motion in Earth’s axial rotation called axial precession.

Axial precession subjects the angle of Earth’s axis relative to the orbital plane to constant change. In cycles of about 26,000 years, the angle of the axis ranges from 22° to about 24°.

Changes in Earth’s Position Relative to the Sun

Orbital Precession

About every 41,000 years, the tilt of Earth’s equatorial plane changes in relation to Earth’s orbital plane.

This change is affected by the precession of Earth’s orbit about the Sun, which occurs over 71,000-year time periods.

Though the planets in our solar system have far less of an impact on Earth’s orbital cycles, their gravitational influence contributes to Earth’s orbital precession.

Potential Solutions to Global Warming

It has not been confirmed that global warming is anthropogenic, however, human

activity may very well be at least contributing to global climate change.

Natural ice age cycles and astronomical phenomena are out of human control.

Even if human activities are not the source of global warming, the proposed solutions to

anthropogenic climate change would still be beneficial to humans and the environment.

Potential Solutions to Global Warming

Proposed ideas to reduce human contribution to global warming:

Reduce meat consumption, especially beef.Switch to alternative energy sources: wind

power, solar power, biofuels, and carbon sequestration

Reduce deforestationUse public transportation instead of driving

gasoline-fueled cars

Proposed Solutions to Global Warming

Reduce the amount of goods imported and buy products from local sources

Invest in fully-electric cars, energy-efficient appliances, and energy-efficient heating, cooling, and lighting systems.

Do not use products containing CFCs and properly dispose of air conditioners and refrigerators

Reduce household electricity use

Proposed Solutions to Global Warming

Construct new buildings using energy-conserving architectural strategies and make use of local scrap building materials.

Promote legislation for the regulation of commercial pollution.

Invest in further research on energy conservation as well as global warming itself.

References

National Geographic. (2007, June 14).News.nationalgeographic.com. Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206_041206_global_warming.html

Borenstein, S. (2006, Nov 21). Global warming said killing some species. . Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2006-11-21-warming-species_x.htm

National Geographic News (n.d.). Natural resources defense council. Retrieved from http://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/solutions/

Goreau, T., & Hayes, R. (1994). Coral bleaching and ocean "hot spots". Retrieved from http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/basch/uhnpscesu/pdfs/sam/Goreau1994bS.pdf

Kenward, A. (2011). Global warming amplifying texas drought, wildfires, scientists say. Retrieved from http://www.climatecentral.org/news/record-breaking-texas-drought-and-heat

Lovejoy, N. (2008). Global Warming: Causes, Effects, and the Future. Northeastern Naturalist, 15(2), 315