What causes Global Warming, what are the outcomes, and how can we help?

Here's Mackie's blog on Global Warming (Science Inquiry Project).  Enjoy!

(By The Way, I only did human impacts!)

Deforestation

One cause of Global Warming is the deforestation of the rain forest.  The planet's forests are like its lungs.  They turn the carbon in the atmosphere into oxygen that humans and animals need to breathe.  Cutting down the trees reduces the conversion of carbon to oxygen, and burning the wood releases the carbon that was trapped in the wood.

Farm animals and CO2

Another cause is farm animals releasing methane greenhouse gases.  This is a natural causes of global warming.  However, as the population grows, more and more farms are being created, and more methane are being released into the atmosphere.  Methane contributes to rising temperatures by trapping heat close to the earth.

Fossil fuel power plants

Fossil fuel power plants are thought to be the biggest cause of global warming.  The plants are responsible for massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Vehicles

Vehicles are largely responsible for global warming because they burn fossil fuels, producing greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide).

Mining

Mining allows the stored carbon to be released into the atmosphere. (Not to mention what the materials (like coal) are used for and shipping).

What else could have caused Global Warming?

Could something other than humans contribute to Global Warming?  (The facts below point to "no")

Volcanoes?

Although volcanoes emit carbon dioxide, the amount of carbon dioxide they release is extremely small compared to human emissions. On average, volcanoes emit between 130 and 230 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. By burning fossil fuels, people release in excess of 100 times more, about 26 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere every year (2005).  

As a result, human activity overshadows any contribution volcanoes may have made to recent global warming.

Sun?

If the Sun was the cause of Global Warming, temperatures in both the lower atmosphere (troposphere) and the upper atmosphere (stratosphere) become warmer. Instead, observations show the pattern expected from greenhouse gas effects: Earth’s surface and troposphere have warmed, but the stratosphere has cooled.

The stratosphere would get warmer if the Sun was involved because the ozone layer absorbs its ultraviolet light; more ultraviolet light during solar maxima (when the Sun is brighter) means warmer temperatures.

Possible Outcomes

What are some (more than) possible outcomes to Global Warming?

Hurricanes

The rising air and water temperatures mean that the frequency and intensity of hurricanes around the world will increase.

Spreading of diseases

As countries in the north begin to warm up, they could become plagued with insects that carry diseases from the south, which the northern populations are not acclimatized to.  The bacteria that couldn't live in the cold climate would then thrive in the warm weather.

Melting of the polar ice caps

This will make the sea levels rise significantly, which will make the ecosystem unbalanced. Also, this will somewhat desalinate the ocean, which will change the temperature of ocean currents and this will mean that climates in various parts of the world could drastically change, not to mention kill the animals that live on the ice caps.

More heat waves and droughts

Global warming may cause some serious droughts and heat waves in many areas of the world, although a few areas may actually become wetter. Africa and Europe are expected to receive the worst of it, and with water already being a shortage in Africa, there could be some serious consequences.

Economic consequences

Global warming will not have good effects on the economy either. Disease and damage that more severe hurricanes will cause will cost a lot. Many places that used to be good for growing crops will become too hot to grow anything, and the value of the value of the land will go down.

HOW CAN WE HELP FIX GLOBAL WARMING?

Here are some tips on how you can help:

LIMIT GLOBAL WARMING POLLUTION

Speak out!  Tell others about how pollution hurts the world.

CLEAN ENERGY

Use renewable energy.  Pick a Green-certified energy supplier that gets at least half of its power from wind, solar energy and other clean sources.

DRIVE SMARTER CARS

Choose an efficient vehicle.  High-mileage cars, like hybrids, use less gas and save money. 

Over its lifetime, a 40-mpg car will save roughly $3,000 in fuel costs compared with a 20-mpg car.

Remember to check your car. If all Americans kept their tires properly inflated, gasoline use nationwide would come down 2 percent.  A tune-up could boost your miles per gallon anywhere from 4 to 40 percent, and a new air filter could get you 10 percent more miles per gallon.

GREEN HOMES AND BUILDINGS

Weatherize your home by adding isolation. Heating and cooling consume about 40 percent of energy in your home.

Buy energy-efficient appliances (look for the Energy Star label).  

Replace your light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs.  

Compact fluorescent bulbs can last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.  Compact fluorescent lights lower your energy bills and keep a half-ton of carbon dioxide out of the air.

BETTER TRANSPORTATION

Choose alternatives to driving such as public transit, biking, walking and carpooling, and bundle your errands to make fewer trips. Using a Basil Wicker basket on your bike is one way to carry things around.