Because they reflect solar energy back into space they have a cooling effect on the world. The greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide is also produced however the CO2 produced is insignificant when compared to emissions created by humans. (see also featured article - Do Volcanoes cause climate change) Ocean current - The oceans are a major component of the climate system. Ocean currents move vast amounts of heat across the planet. Winds push horizontally against the sea surface and drive ocean current patterns.
“The increase in the mean temperature of the earth due to excessive emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen.” ( Green) These extra gases are making it hard for heat to escape the Earth’s atmosphere resulting in warmer temperatures. Here is a model of the Greenhouse Effect retrieved from http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/greenhouse.html. Ethical Issues on Global Warming There are many causes of Global Warming to include Carbon Dioxide from power plants, cars, airplanes, and from buildings. “In 2002 about 40% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions stem from the burning of fossil fuels for the purpose of electricity generation.”(Ayres) 93% of electricity generations is produced by coal. 33% of the carbon dioxide comes from vehicles.
Owing to the development of industry and the use of fossil fuels, the amount of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere has produced and the average global temperature seems to have risen. What’s more, deforestation can affect climate changes. The growing of trees and plants can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere because of photosynthesis, however, deforestation lead to carbon dioxide emissions. Both of these can lead to global warming of the atmosphere. The report (UNEPWMO, 2004, P10) also pointed out, the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation are altering the composition of the atmosphere and contributing to climate change.
Phytoplankton populations have also been affected by the warming temperatures in the ocean. Phytoplankton play a role in the conversion of carbon dioxide into organic carbon, and since the rising temperature of the ocean has caused a decrease in the phytoplankton population, higher carbon dioxide levels endanger other marine life, like the coral reefs mentioned earlier. Callum Roberts, a professor at the University of York, explains the importance of marine life by stating that, “They are essential to the health of the oceans and the well-being of
The dead zone is littered with the carcasses of dead sea animals. There are 405 dead zones reported world-wide. Natural and Human Impact Dead zones can be caused by both natural and human impact on the environment. High levels of chemical nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) cause algae blooms to flourish. After the algae accumulate, it dies, decomposes and depletes the oxygen in the ocean creating a dead zone.
The main GHGs within the atmosphere are Carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor (H2O). Others like methane (CH4) or nitrous oxide (N2O) also contribute to the natural greenhouse effect, although present only in very small amounts. Without these GHGs and their warming effect no life could exist on our planet, because the average temperature would be -0.4ºF. However, since the beginning of industrialization in the late 18th century the concentration of GHG in the atmosphere increased significantly causing more heat to be confined in the atmosphere, thus heating the earth
Over time layers of shells and sediment are cemented together and turn rock, storing the carbon in rock – limestone and its derivatives. Another way carbon is made in this process is from living things. This is where heat and pressure compress the mud and carbon, over millions of years forming sedimentary rock such as shale. And in some cases, when dead plant matter builds up faster than decay, layers of organic carbon become oil, coal and gas (fossil fuels). The cycle returns carbon to the atmosphere through volcanoes.
In Ohaake in New Zealand about 320 gm of C02 is produced for each KW hour of electricity produced against 950 to 960 gm. if coal was used. Limitations Geothermal energy is a proven economical resource with energy technology. It has some environmental problems: 1. The steam brings hydrogen sulphide gas to the surface and pollutes the air unless controls are instituted.
Unfortunately, the activity of burning or combusting fossil fuels releases various kinds of hazardous substances and pollutants which eventually leads to changes in the environment; such as climate change, global warming, and changes in environmental health. Let us start with the change in climate or climate change. For over the past 150 years, the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil have caused the concentrations of heat-trapping "greenhouse gases" to increase significantly in our atmosphere. These gases prevent heat from escaping to space, somewhat like the glass panels of a greenhouse. It would change our climate, but it would not bring us close to the level of uninhabitable Venus.
These two components are naturally occurring from sources like volcanoes but the industrial revolution has exponentially increased the amount of these chemicals in the air. The two components adjust the pH levels of water bring them down to sometimes sever acidic levels. pH levels are measured on a scale from 1-14. A pH level of 7 is a neutral water level; higher levels are alkaline and lower are acidic. Normal rainwater can sometimes be as low as a pH level of 5.0.