Global Warming

So, I get into a medium level of arguing with VanZiq today, and I dont really have mood to make any post. but lately this weather really turn bad, flood can be read almost all over the place. i guess mother earth is upset with us. this global warming thingy had been around for a while now, but i really cant see any changing that had been done to prevent it and well, it quite disappointing. so, i just want to share with you guys a bit about it. and oh, i do has learn this in class thou. International Forestry class, with my beloved Prof Dr Rusli Mohd who disappointingly give me 'B' for his paper. isk isk isk, very disappointing.


What is global warming?

Global warming is based on a very simple hypothesis. Anthropogenic (human caused) emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) contribute a layer of gasses around earth's atmoshpere. The accumulation of GHGs then blocks some of earth's emanating heat from escaping to space, causing a general heating or global warming pattern.

The global scientific and political community, under the direction of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) identifies six primary greenhouse gases.

* carbon dioxide (CO2)

* methane (CH4)

* nitrous oxide (N2O)

* hydroflurocarbons (HFCs)

* perflourocarbons (PFCs)

* sulphur hexaflouride (SF6)

Considerations about the degree to which GHGs influence climate change deal with two sets of issues. Aggregate emissions trends estimate the volume of each of the six GHGs released into the atmosphere per year. Of equal importance is the relative power of the various GHGs to act as atmospheric road blocks that keep heat in the atmosphere.

Scientists call this road blocking ability the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of a gas. The standard measurement unit is 1 for Carbon, and it turns out Carbon is the least effective of the GHGs in trapping earth's heat. For comparative purposes, over a twenty year time span, Methane's GWP=56, Nitrorus Oxide's GWP=310 and the GWP of the engineered chemicals varies from 460-16,000 (see UNFCCC Global Warming Potential).Each GHG also has a life span, or time it remains stable in the atmosphere. Whereas the numbers for carbon look somewhat benign in terms of its GWP, they start to look a bit more daunting when considered in terms of life span. Scientists estimate that CO2 remains stable in the atmosphere for anywhere from 50-200 years. Methane, on the other hand, remains stable only about 12 years. Nitrous Oxide's life span reaches the 120 year mark. Finally the engineered chemicals may remain stable for anywhere from 2 to 50,000 years for Perfluoromethane.

Causes of Global Warming

Scientists who work on climate change use General Circulation Models GCMs, statistical global weather forecasting models, in order to make long term weather or climate predictions.

Climate scientists often check on The Reliability of GCMs to improve on their long term climate predictions.

Global Warming Effects

Australia Moves Forward with Desalination Plans
Faced with freshwater shortfalls due to a changing climate, Australia is moving forward with the construction of large scale desalination plants.

Global Warming Effects
What types of global warming effects will people experience in their everday lives?

Questions like the relationship between Climate Change and Hurricanes are popular today because of concerns about changing weather patterns.

Antarctica and Climate Change
Climate changes in and around Antarctica have been comparatively less pronounced to date than climate induced changes around the Arctic region.

Arctic Sea Ice
A changing climate means it's now possible that the Artic Ocean could be ice free during the summer sometime in the immediate future.

Climate Change and Africa
A review of the African position on climate change policy leading to the negotiations in Copenhagen.

Climate Change and Western Glaciers
Changing climate patterns in the United States will place great stress on Western glaciers.

Climate Change in Russia: Permafrost
The article reviews changing permafrost patterns in Russia resulting from a warming climate in Siberia.
Global Warming and the Pacific Walrus
An environment group petitions to have the Pacific Walrus protected because of the potential for a loss of their sea ice habitat.

Hybrid Cars and Climate Change
A review of the most climate friendly 2010 models.

Methane, Permafrost and Climate Change
While Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions tend to receive the most attention with respect to their contributions to a changing climate, another greenhouse gas (GHG), methane (CH₄, more powerful but less long lived that CO₂, continues to receive attention.

Will Global Warming Help Honeybees Dance?
Changing weather patterns might cause honeybees to change their behavior.

so dear reader, let us save our mother earth for next generations. love. peace.

cheerioous~!! (◕‿◕✿)

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