The Scientific Explanation for Global Warming

Global warming is a vast issue that will in the future affect the international community if nothing is done. The causes of global warming encompass everything from political neglect to an update in technology. When many people discuss the causes of this global catastrophe, they highlight the ideas of greenhouse gases, an increase in carbon dioxide, and deforestation. These are key ideas in what many already know. In fact, the misconception is made when they begin to think that these three concepts and actions are the ONLY causes of global warming.

Global warming is drastically effected by climate change. According to Mark Maslin, “the temperature of the Earth is controlled by the balance between the input from energy of the sun and the loss of this back into space.” This concept is validated by Al Gore in An Inconvenient Truth when he discusses the radiation and heat received from the sun. He highlights the fact that some of the radiation directed towards the Earth is indeed reflected back by the Earth’s atmosphere and into space. However, Gore also indicates that most of the heat is trapped by the Earth’s atmosphere and thus begins to warm the Earth. Greenhouse gases do play major role in this global inconvenience due to the fact that these gases allow more sun to trap into the atmosphere of the Earth.

Al Gore also mentions the drastic increase in Carbon Dioxide emissions. This information is also solidified by a few graphs in Mark Maslin’s text that demonstrate the CO2 emissions from industrial processes as well as changing the amounts of land that is used (i.e. deforestation). These graphs show high concentrations of CO2 in North and Central America, Europe, Africa, South America and Asia. Interestingly, CO2 emissions and the temperature are directly proportional: An increase in CO2 results in an increase in temperatures. This is why storms will most likely get worse in the years to come. Hurricane Katrina is a primary example along with many others pin pointed by Gore. Hurricane Katrina “traveled across warmer water” and ultimately, when the temperatures rise, the wind velocities tend to increase and then the water content increases. Interestingly, according to graphs shown in An Inconvenient Truth, “the 10 hottest years on record occurred in the last 14 years”, and in fact the hottest year was 2005.

Climate change at its worse can be found in the heart of every glacier. The increase in temperatures will eventually melt glaciers and dry up bodies of water: thus, flooding and drought. Gore stated that “Lake Chad, one of the largest lakes, dried up to almost nothing.” In terms of the glaciers melting, the answers can be found in the relationship of the sun, ice and water. When the sun hits the ice, 90% of it bounces back. However, as the ice slowly melts and turns into water, the bigger problem forms because 90% of the heat that hits the water is absorbed, ultimately increasing the speed of the ice melting. This will result in a tremendous rise in sea levels: Think about places like Antarctica.

Global warming has a lot to do with politics and negligence of the global community. According to Al Gore, the actions of society cause many of the problems we are facing. The increase in population leads to “pressure on the earth, pressure on the demand of food and pressure on the demand of water.” This brings us to conflict. This brings us to the fact that wars will eventually form due to disputes over water supply and access. Many people fail to see the importance of developing change to avoid the issues that are soon to come. Global warming can in part be blamed and stated as an affect of the global community not taking a stand. If politicians were to follow the example of Al Gore, create laws and contribute in some way, the problem of global warming may not be as bad as it is becoming. In the words of Al Gore, “if we allow [this] to happen, it is completely unethical.”

An Inconvenient Truth.Al Gore.2006

What is Global Warming?.Mark Maslin