Are Humans Responsible for Global Warming?

Global warming is a constant topic that is frequently discussed throughout the world. Many people including environmentalist, study this topic to determine the seriousness and world impact. The typical understanding of this concept “global warming” is known to be the total long-term intensification in the temperature present in the atmosphere (3). When discussing this topic, it is still important to consider the fact if Global Warming is actually fact or fiction. In order to evaluate this controversial issue, one would need to discuss evidence for or against the idea of global warming. To further discuss this topic, one should evaluate valid sources that can support one’s conclusions.

The rapidly increasing amount of carbon dioxide may be one of the factors that cause climate change. As Hillman states, “Concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are increasing, and have done so since the Industrial Revolution.” An atmospheric CO2 concentration, research shows that there is a dramatic increase from 280 parts per million (ppm) in 1750 to 373 ppm in 2002, a rise of the third. Furthermore, the linear chart demonstrated the trend of annual global CO2

Global Warming is controversial. It is a perplexing phenomenon. Some people think it is a normal occurrence, others are afraid of the consequences and some say it is a myth1. However, sudden climate change start to be adversity. When we look at natural disasters that are not expected to occur, we have to ask what 's happen to this world. When we see differing opinions of scientists and governments about it, it 's can be confusing. “The potential threats are serious and actions are required to mitigate climate change risks and to adapt to deleterious climate change impacts that probably cannot be avoided.” (ACS, 2010). Also there are many organizations which support this phenomenon and have evidence for that like IPCC, NASA, etc. But the real argument is who caused global warming? There are two possibilities: either humans or it occurs naturally. There is evidence suggesting that the Earth 's natural cycles include periods of global warming, but there is also evidence to suggesting that humans have contributed enough CO2 to the environment to cause global warming.

The Earth 's atmosphere has changed all through history. Just in the most recent 650,000 years there have been seven cycles of frigid progress and withdraw, with the sudden end of the last ice age around 7,000 years back denoting the start of the present day atmosphere period and of human development. The greater part of these atmosphere changes are credited to little varieties in Earth 's circle that change the measure of sun based vitality our planet gets. Exploratory proof for warming of the atmosphere framework is unequivocal. The present warming pattern is of specific criticalness in light of the fact that the vast majority of it is likely human-impelled and continuing at a rate that is exceptional in the previous 1,300 years. Earth-circling satellites and other mechanical advances have empowered researchers to see the comprehensive view, gathering a wide range of sorts of data about our planet and its atmosphere on a worldwide scale. This group of information, gathered over numerous years, uncovers the signs of an evolving atmosphere. The warmth catching nature of carbon dioxide and different gasses was shown in the mid-nineteenth century. Their capacity to influence the exchange of infrared vitality through the environment is the logical premise of numerous instruments flown by NASA. There is no doubt that expanded levels of nursery gasses must bring about the Earth to warm accordingly. Ice centers drawn from Greenland, Antarctica, and tropical mountain icy masses

Damon Matthews, a professor in Concordia University’s Department of Geography, found a direct connection between carbon dioxide and global warming. Matthew’s studies show that same global temperature increase, regardless of when or over what period of time the emission occurs. The effect of adding more carbon dioxide is predicted in the theory of greenhouse gases. Swedish scientist, Syante Arrhenius, first proposed the theory in 1896, based on earlier work by Fourier and Tyndall. At the same time, many scientists have reached the same conclusion. If we increase the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the Earth’s temperature will increase. Energy is absorbed from the sun in the form of visible light and ultraviolet radiation. The earth then releases some of this energy as infrared radiation. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere captures some of this heat, then re-emit it in all directions. During this process, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases keep the Earth’s surface 33 degree Celsius warmer than it would be without them. According to an ongoing temperature analysis conducted by a scientist at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), the average global temperature on Earth has increased by about 0.8 degree Celsius. Since 1975, two-thirds of the warming has occurred at a rate of roughly 0.15-0.20 degree Celsius per decade.

The Medieval Warm period was a time of warm temperature in the North Atlantic that that began around 950 AD and has also been proven to show that other climate related circumstances may have been involved with this event. The Little Ice Age was a period of cool climate following the Medieval Warm Period. Global Warming has affected many different aspects of the environment including the increased ocean temperature, coral reef bleaching, the rising of sea level, increased droughts, and the melting of ice endangering the lives of polar bears. Increased ocean temperature has numerous shocking consequences including rise in sea level which can end up deluging coastal habitats, eroding of the shoreline, and causing stronger storms. Because warm water can change to vapor more quickly, causing what started as a small storm to turn into one much more powerful and can create storms such as hurricanes and tsunamis. As Dan Murphy stated in his article entitled “Is Global Warming Generating Storms like Typhoon Haiyan” that the analysis does not indicate significant long-period global or individual basin trends in the frequency or intensity of landfalling (tropical cyclones) of minor or major hurricane strength. Warmer oceans have also been found to spread diseases between marine life more easily and have been known to cause ice to melt leading to the collapsing of polar ice shelves.

Earth, a vibrant blue sphere in the solar system, is the only planet in the solar system that is currently known to host a multitude of life. Everything needed to survive and thrive is provided under a thin veil of atmosphere that separates all terrestrial organisms from the vast, frigid void of space. Earth is made up of intricate, collaborating systems that are often unpredictable. Land, water, air, and life-bearing organisms, including humans, collaborate to create a constantly fluctuating biosphere that is still being investigated to have a deeper understanding of its processes. In today’s technological age, the collection and interpretation of data has become paramount to help devise strategies to combat future threats. Data collection comes in many forms, but the collection and interpretation of climate data will be the topic under scrutiny. Recent data collected and analyzed by scientists suggests that the global climate is increasing in temperature and that information may be a cause for alarm. Why would this be a cause for alarm? The alarm should come from an understanding of how each living organism depends on one another to survive. If the delicate biological cycle is damaged or broken, the results could be catastrophic; forever changing the planet. This change in temperature may potentially affect all organisms that are currently known and those that have yet to be discovered and documented. This scenario is far too

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a type of odorless and colorless gas that can be either manmade or naturally made. Carbon dioxide is a vital greenhouse gas; in moderation. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the concentration of carbon dioxide has increased significantly. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the air is leading to global warming, ocean acidification and a multitude of many problems. In a report released from NASA, the scientist state that “that human-made carbon dioxide (CO2) continues to increase above levels not seen in hundreds of thousands of years: currently, about half of the carbon dioxide released from the burning of fossil fuels remains in the atmosphere and is not absorbed by vegetation and the oceans”. The current assessment of carbon dioxide in the air is 402 parts per million (ppm). One PPM is equivalent to one microgram/one kilogram (0.6 of a mile). Scientist claims that it needs to be brought down to 350 ppm to even start

However, it is the argument that is against human activity being the primary cause of global warming that provides a superior explanation to this currently unknown global phenomena we call global warming. Despite the overbearing support against this argument, there is too much factual evidence about the complexity of the atmosphere and all of its elements that outweigh the predictions being made and then amplified significantly. Using supporting facts leads to a superior argument than using mathematic estimations, which consistently fail to meet their expected results. The changes in climate, including temperature change and rising sea levels, have all been happening for thousands of years providing historical evidence to show this change in climate as a natural occurrence. The most critical aspect of the argument is that rising levels of atmospheric CO2 do not necessarily cause global warming, which contradicts the core thesis of human-caused climate change as stated in a publication made on ProCon.org where the director of Greenpeace International Patrick Moore spoke on the relationship between the CO2 emissions from human activity and global temperature. He states that "there is some correlation, but little evidence, to support a direct causal relationship between CO2 and global temperature through the millennia” (ProCon.org). It is important to acknowledge that regardless what the actual

Human produced carbon dioxide mainly caused by the burning of natural resources and deforestation has caused the earth’s temperature to rise (Spahni). The carbon dioxide adds to a problem known as the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse effect is the building up of different gases in the earth’s atmosphere causing the earth’s temperature to rise. Consequently, the key players in the greenhouse effect are as follows: water vapor 36-70%, carbon dioxide 9-26%, methane 4-9%, and ozone 3-7% (Russel). Thus, to determine the amount of CO2 and other gases that have been in the atmosphere in the past, ice core samples are taken and examined. There are ice core samples taken from as far back as 650,000 years ago (Siegenthaler). There has

Although there are currently many greenhouse gases claiming earth’s atmosphere as their home, carbon dioxide is by far the most abundant and most adversely gas that affects Earth's climate. According to NASA, the amount of energy being emitted from the sun has remained constant since the 1750s. A common misconception when talking about global warming, is that the sun is the main source of the increase of the earth’s global temperatures. But if temperatures were increasing due to the sun, scientists would see warming in all layers of the atmosphere rather than just the lower ones. “Since the Industrial Revolution began around 1750, human activities have contributed substantially to climate change by adding CO2 and other heat-trapping gases

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the global temperature has risen about two degrees Fahrenheit since the late nineteenth century (“Climate”). Scientists define climate change as the escalation of the earth’s average temperature by natural causes or human inducement. As gases in the earth’s atmosphere increase, earth’s temperature follows coherently. Scientists cite a correlation between the earth’s increasing temperature and gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, and chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere. Scientists have found that through human activity these gases show an increase. The upsurge of gases has a lasting effect on the environment: “Scientists warn of the loss of ecosystems and

Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are higher than they have been in the past 400 thousand years, and they are steadily rising. In part, this is due to human impact. Carbon dioxide is a natural greenhouse gas and has been a part of Earth’s atmosphere for millions of years. CO2 levels are constantly fluctuating and have a large impact on the planet including a change in climate and ocean acidification. Multiple methods are used in deciphering CO2 levels of times past. Two proxies include ice cores and the δ18O compositions of marine foraminifera as resources in the determination of CO2 level information. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere comes from many sources.

For a very long time, there is a debate if humans have done the damage to the earth to make it's climate change. Now here's the question. Is there enough evidence that humans have made the earth warmer in it's climate? No there isn't enough evidence to prove that humans have affected the earth's climate.

Greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere form the atmospheric CO2 blanket. This is formed when the sunlight that has passed through the atmosphere is radiated back towards space after it has warmed the earth’s surface. The greenhouse gasses trap this warmpth within earth’s atmosphere, by absorbing the heat energy with greenhouse gas molecules, and this keeps earth at a temeperature that can sustain life. As humans produce more greenhouse gasses, the atmospheric CO2 increases, which means more heat energy is trapped within the atmosphere causing Earth’s heat content to increase. According to the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, “CO2 has increased by nearly 43% in the last 150 years”. This increase in heat content causes temperatures to rise,