Global Warming is a Fictitious Devil Created by Scientists

The most hotly contested debate of recent times has been over the existence of global warming. The global warming
controversy has divided scientists into two factions one that believes in the existence of the global warming phenomenon
and the other that is directly opposed to this belief. By definition, global warming is understood to be the consistent warming
of average temperatures on Earth. The adverse effects of global warming can be witnessed in the melting of polar ice-caps,
the rising sea levels, the increased risk of coastal flooding, and the increase in the frequency of heat waves, among others.
Scientific evidence suggests that the leading causes of global warming are greenhouse gases, particulates and soot.
Greenhouse gases are those gases which absorb and then emit radiation. The process by which heat or thermal radiation is
absorbed by such gases and re-radiated in all directions is known as the greenhouse effect. Without this effect, temperatures
on Earth would be below freezing point. The gases which contribute to this effect are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide,
ozone, water vapour and CFCs. However, with the onset of the Industrial Revolution, human activity caused a manifold
increase in the levels of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere, which in turn caused the greenhouse effect to
intensify. Particulates and soot absorb solar radiation, thus an increase in their levels contributes to global warming as well.
This increase in the average global temperatures is causing glaciers to retreat and sea levels to rise. If this pattern continues,
it will result in coastal flooding as well as land being claimed by sea. These changes also affect precipitation patterns
increased precipitation in some areas and drought like conditions in others. Studies and trends predict a rise in extreme
weather conditions such as heat waves and storms. The effects of global warming are not limited to the climate alone. It has
also affected the ecological system and resulted in the extinction of several species. Long term effects include ocean
acidification, decomposition of clathrate (water and ice which contains extremely high levels of methane) and disruption of
thermohaline or ocean circulation.
Despite the alarming evidence that proves the existence of global warming, it has its share of sceptics. These sceptics reject
the notion that global warming is caused by human emission. They attribute climate change to natural cycles. They assert
that hotter temperatures have existed in the Earths history and the phenomena of global warming and cooling take place
cyclically. A scandal called Fakegate that broke out in November 2009 serves to solidify the claims made by the naysayers.
A leaked report of the International Panel for Climate Change showed that their computers had made some faulty
calculations which meant that the actual warming in temperatures was much less than the gross overstatement of the IPCC
and it lay within the natural rates of climate change. They also stated that the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctic have
actually grown in thickness.
Despite the arguments against it, there is too much evidence that piles up in favour of the existence of global warming to
ignore. There are only so many incidents that one can ignore by labelling them as consistent with normal millennial climate
cycles. Climate change takes place slowly. Thus, something is triggering the current accelerated climate change. Scientists
have not been able to prove it but they feel that it is extremely likely (95% - 100%) that these changes are being caused
because of human intervention. Surface air temperatures and subsurface ocean temperatures are rising due to the
accumulation of green house gases. Global warming is a reality that cannot be denied. Thus, as inhabitants of this planet, we
must look towards solutions to the global warming problem.
We must look at exploiting renewable energy and phasing out fossil fuel based energy. Maximising energy efficiency i.e.
minimising the energy used for heating, cooling etc would also be a step in the right direction. Better forest management and
exploration of nuclear energy as a viable option would augment our effort to reduce carbon emissions. Holistically speaking,
we must move towards a sustainable development model if we hope to successfully tackle the problem of global warming.