User:Bbaxter2093/sandbox

CAUSE & EFFECT: GLOBAL WARMING

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Introduction

"In 1988, the leading climate scientist James Hansen, of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with three other senior researchers, testified to a U.S. Congressional committee that it was 99 percent certain that the warming trend in the Earth's temperature that was then observed was not natural variation, but was caused by the accumulation of carbon dioxide and other "greenhouse" gases". Global warming is a controversial scientific concern that has affected the Earth for decades. Scientists have thoroughly researched this topic throughout these years to pinpoint the exact causes as an attempt to educate the human race of our environmentally harmful habits. Not only is the goal to inform society of the harms we may bring to the home planet of many species (humans included), but to also transition human behavior to better sustain the environment around us. Though scientists may have their differences, and one may hear "global warming is a myth", one mustn't make a solid conclusion until thorough research, analysis, and intellectual positioning has taken form.

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Background

From melting glaciers, to rising sea levels, to the slow decline of Earth’s forests, it has become apparent that the idea of global warming might deserve a second glance. In the last few hundred years humans have been the largest contributor to the rise of greenhouse gases. With levels higher now than ever before, some can’t help but wonder where it all began .

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There really is no way to know when global warming truly started, but we can know about when humans began to have an immense impact on it. Global warming is caused by the vaporous emissions of CO2 amongst other various gases released into the atmosphere. Scientists are able to tell us that in the early 1800’s, at the rise of the first industrial revolution, that the mean global temperatures were measured at roughly 13.7℃. The first measurement of global warming from human emissions of CO2 was calculated by Swedish Scientist, Svante Arrhenius, in 1896. Since then, there has been an ongoing escalation of the industrial world with the second industrial revolution, World War I, cheap energy via oil fields, etc.… during this time around the year 1930, scientists noted a trend in global warming, and a proposal of orbital changes as the cause of the ice age was made. In the year 1956, it was foretold that CO2 would have an immense effect on the radiation balance of Earth’s atmosphere. By the year 1960, scientists detected an annual rise of CO2 greenhouse gases, with a mean global temperature of 13.9℃, calculated on a five-year average. In 1963, experts held their first meeting to address the concerns of rising sea levels due to the effects of global warming. Throughout the years there has been an ongoing cause and effect reaction to the obvious signs and causes of global warming.

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It is a fact that global warming is nothing more than the rising temperatures of the earth’s surface and its waters. It is also a fact, that human beings are a large contributor to greenhouse gases, that contribute to the warming of the Earth, that in turn contributes to the ever-changing-climate. NASA, has quoted the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stating that, “Scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal.” Scientists have collected various types of information through Earth-orbiting satellites and other technological advances that reveal a changing climate due to the heat-trapping nature of carbon dioxide and other gases. Earth’s average surface temperatures have risen by about 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit since the 19th century. The majority of the warming has taken place within the past 35 years, five of the warmest years have taken place since the year 2010; with the year 2016 being the warmest on record. Global warming will continue to affect the Earth through droughts, storms, deforestation, and the slow disappearance of the Earth’s ice shelves, unless humans can come together and agree on a solution. .

History

The history of global warming has been mixed in debate over the last several decades. Many people tend to pick and choose what is fact or not despite the scientific evidence that has been provided. There has even been debate on what to call the global warming process.

Even earlier signs of global warming have become evident in the last several decades that have given even more proof that the climate has been changing as long as humans have been around. Ancient evidence can be found in tree rings, ocean sediments, coral reefs, and layers of sedimentary rocks. This ancient, or paleoclimate, evidence reveals that current warming is occurring roughly ten times faster than the average rate of ice-age-recovery warming. It’s also shown that nearly everything we understand about global warming was understood in 1979. By that year, data collected since 1957 confirmed what had been known since before the turn of the 20th century.

The current warming trend is of particular significance because most of it is extremely likely (greater than 95 percent probability) to be the result of human activity since the mid-20th century and proceeding at a rate that is unprecedented over decades to millennia.

Current Research

Climate change has been a heated topic discussed on many forums. However, the evidence collected by sources such as NASA make a compelling case that the climate is changing. One of the most noticeable ways the climate is changing is by the earth getting warmer. NASA reported that the global temperature has risen almost two degrees Fahrenheit. However, this is an average of the temperatures since 1880. Also, NASA found that in the past 20 years 18 of the warmest days on record has occurred. Further leading toward the notion that the earth is getting warmer.

Another topic that goes along with climate change is the shrinking of the glaciers and sea ice. NASA reported that the glaciers are shrinking by almost 13% every ten years. Causing the sea level to rise and the ocean to become warmer. In fact, the ocean’s temperature has increased by half a degree in the past ten years. Many scholars claim that the earth is getting warmer because in increase of greenhouse gases used by humans. Other claim the land-use change and deforestation are to blame .

However, there are those who do not believe in climate change, though there is very little evidence to support that climate change is not happening. Most skeptics have theories as to why or why not climate is occurring. Some say that it is earth’s natural cycle, like the ice age and the past warm periods this will pass. Others are skeptical of science in general, those who believe in higher power might distrust the idea of climate change. Scientists have not been able to come forward as a group and state definitely that one or more causes absolutely contribute to climate change or global warming.

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Some say that the world will change but people will have to adapt just as they did before. They are implanting recycling, carpooling, metal straws, and greener options . Leaders around the world are implementing climate change polices. There are now 12,000 polices in 164 countries around the world. Since 1997 the polices on climate change have grown almost 20x over. The Global Legislators Organization has grown with over groups to make protecting this climate polices and laws easier and more effective . The research on climate change today is not so much if it is occurring, but more how to help and change what is already happening.

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