Geography Essay by Terry to

Question 1:
Most people say that global warming is caused by the excess greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. Still, some scientists argue that global warming is caused by natural factors, and the warming trend can be reverted in the future. First of all, IPCC suggested that global warming is caused by intensified greenhouse effect. To balance the absorbed incoming energy, the Earth must, on average, radiate the same amount of energy back to space. Because the Earth is much colder than the Sun, it radiates at much longer wavelengths, primarily in the infrared part of the. Much of this thermal radiation emitted by the land and ocean is absorbed by the atmosphere, including clouds, and reradiated back to Earth. This is called the greenhouse effect. The glass walls in a greenhouse reduce airflow and increase the temperature of the air inside. Analogously, but through a different physical process, the Earths greenhouse effect warms the surface of the planet. Without the natural greenhouse effect, the average temperature at Earths surface would be below the freezing point of water. Thus, Earths natural greenhouse effect makes life as we know it possible. However, human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels and clearing of forests, have greatly intensified the natural greenhouse effect, causing global warming. The two most abundant gases in the atmosphere, nitrogen (comprising 78% of the dry atmosphere) and oxygen (comprising 21%), exert almost no greenhouse effect. Instead, the greenhouse effect comes from molecules that are more complex and much less common. Water vapour is the most important greenhouse gas, and carbon dioxide (CO2) is the second-most important one. Methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and several other gases present in the atmosphere in small amounts also contribute to the greenhouse effect. In the humid equatorial regions, where there is so much water vapour in the air that the greenhouse effect is very large, adding a small additional amount of CO2 or water vapour has only a small direct impact on downward infrared radiation. However, in the cold, dry polar regions, the effect of a small increase in CO2 or water vapour is much greater. The same is true for the cold, dry upper atmosphere where a small increase in water vapour has a greater influence on the greenhouse effect than the same change in water vapour would have near the surface. Adding more of a greenhouse gas, such as CO2, to the atmosphere intensifies the greenhouse effect, thus warming Earths climate. The amount of warming depends on various feedback mechanisms. For

example, as the atmosphere warms due to rising levels of greenhouse gases, its concentration of water vapour increases, further intensifying the greenhouse effect. This in turn causes more warming, which causes an additional increase in water vapour, in a self-reinforcing cycle. This water vapour feedback may be strong enough to approximately double the increase in the greenhouse effect due to the added CO2 alone. Additional important feedback mechanisms involve clouds. Clouds are effective at absorbing infrared radiation and therefore exert a large greenhouse effect, thus warming the Earth. Clouds are also effective at reflecting away incoming solar radiation, thus cooling the Earth. A change in almost any aspect of clouds, such as their type, location, water content, cloud altitude, particle size and shape, or lifetimes, affects the degree to which clouds warm or cool the Earth. Some changes amplify warming while others diminish it. Much research is in progress to better understand how clouds change in response to climate warming, and how these changes affect climate through various feedback mechanisms. Which is referring to human source of greenhouse effects, human activities that produces greenhouse gases. These green house gases are mainly methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide. We can find these gases produced during the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, agriculture activity, garbage treatment, and industrial activities. However, some scientists say that global warming is just part of a longterm fluctuation of global temperature. It is natural for global temperatures to get higher because of increase input of solar radiation. First of all, the change in the shape of the earths orbit in a cycle of 100,000 years. When the earths orbit is more elliptical, the distance between the sun and the earth can be shortened, so that more solar radiation can be received on earth. After that, the change in the tilt of the earths axis in a cycle of 41,000 years; during times of high obliquity, the angle of the summer sun at high-latitude region increases, so that more solar radiation will be received there, hastening the melting of polar ice caps. Last but not least, the change in the amount of aerosols in the atmosphere. When the atmosphere contains fewer aerosols, less solar radiation will be reflected and more solar radiation can reach the earth directly. Therefore, causing the natural global warming effect. There are international conferences held stably, discussing the issue of global warming, for instance, the Kyoto Protocol. Its arguable that whether the conference is effective or not. People saying that the conference is effective because it can raise global awareness of climate change. International collaboration can also be made in combating global warming. Also, it can set up greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets - strategies for low carbon economy. People that are against this are claiming that some MDCs feel unfair and pointless

because they have to burden the historical responsibility but some rapidly industrializing LDCs (China, India) have high total emissions of GHGs. Other than that, meeting GHG emissions reduction targets will increase the cost of production, lower the standard of living and hamper economic growth. Most importantly, when it is in times of global financial crisis and in weak economies, countries are more concerned about livelihood and would not spend money on green technologies. Therefore, the conference will not be effective at all.

Question 2: The global temperature has increased by 0.74C since 1850. It is known as the global warming. Global warming affects the patterns of global climate, the sea levels, the ecosystems and human society the consequences of global warming may not be good, therefore, measures have been suggested to ease the problems of global warming. There are a couple harmful effects of global warming. First of all, it will cause the rising of sea levels, more storm surges and coastal flooding and inundation of low-lying countries will occur. Also, more unpredictable and extreme climatic conditions: worsening drought in inland areas and heavy rainfall and severe typhoons in coastal areas. Changes in world ecosystems will occur; higher evaporation dries up the soil, and kills the vegetation, eventually intensifies desertification and sandstorms. There will be also extinction of polar species of animals and plants and coral bleaching. Human will also suffer from more heat-related problems. The warm weather will also encourage the spread of bacteria, parasites and carriers of infectious diseases. The warm climate will also affect agriculture production. Its because corps will need more irrigation, and therefore, increase the cost. Moreover more pest problems will happen. Ski resorts in mountains will be affected and damper the local tourism. In the long run, it will affect the freshwater supply. Fortunately, there are measures to ease the problem of global warming. For example, replace fossil fuels with renewable power resources; improve energy efficiency in power plants and factories, use mass transit systems and less private transport; Improve car design: magnetically levitated trains (maglev trains), hybrid cars, electric cars; Recycling waste, reduce landfilling and incineration of solid waste environmental education to raise the awareness of global climate change. Large-scale afforestation will also help.

Moreover, one of the most important measures is the sustainable development. For instance, organic farming or use less nitrous fertilizers in farming, develop a low carbon economy. Changing the lifestyle you are having, is also a big step to develop a sustainable environment. We can also reduce carbon footprints by this method. These measures will surely ease the problem of global warming.