Global warming refers to the continual increase of the average temperatures of the atmosphere over long periods of time. This warming of the earth has had a lot of effects. The main effect is the fact that it causes unfavorable climatic changes which cause draughts, hunger, migration of disease vectors, etc.
Global warming has also cost the world a lot of lives through earthquakes, eruption of volcanoes etc. The characteristic of global warming that makes people fail to understand its cause and dangers is the fact that, global warming takes decades before its effects can be seen or felt. This makes people associate it with other causes (Przyborsky, 2010, p. 3). There are many theories put forward to explain why the earth is warming up. Let us have a look at the controversy that surrounds the cause of global warming.
The real cause of global warming has been surrounded by a lot of controversy for a couple for years now. Some people believe that the reason why the atmospheric temperatures are increasing over time is because the sun is continually heating up (Przyborsky, 2010, p. 1).
Others believe that the reason behind the occurrence of global warming is the negligence of people in the release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere (Gustav, 2009, p. 1). The two beliefs of the cause of global warming have conflicted for long with people who believe in either of them shouting disapproval of the belied their counterparts hold.
Personally, I know for sure that global warming is caused by the uncontrolled release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Once released to the atmosphere, these gases act as a cushion preventing the temperature of the earth’s surface from leaving the atmosphere. This is what results to the warming effect of global warming.
The greenhouse gases mentioned here include carbon dioxide, which is the major cause of global warming, water vapor, nitrous oxide etc. (Braasch, 2010, p. 1). The most worrying part of the causes of global warming is the fact that these gases are pumped into the atmosphere by human beings yet humans are the ones who experience the worst effects of global warming.
This explanation of the cause of global warming is the most reasonable since it is based on scientific facts that can be proved empirically. It also explains the cause of global warming systematically leaving no loopholes. For instance, global warming is caused by greenhouse gases because they act as a blanket over the earth’s surface that insulates heat from escaping to the space (Gustav, 2009, p. 1). Considering the other argument, a person who believes in it may go dumb if you ask him/her why the sun is heating up.
My knowledge of science was very instrumental in taking this stand concerning global warming. This is because I know how the earth is and I have dealt with and learnt about the properties of greenhouse gases. With this knowledge I was equipped to know that with certain levels of greenhouse gases accumulated in the atmosphere, the earth will definitely warm up.
Only people who were not attentive in their science classes can believe the baseless idea that the sun is continually warming up. This is an assertion that is difficult or impossible to prove scientifically and thus by believing in it, people show a great deal of ignorance.
Reference List
Braasch, G. (2010). Causes of Global Warming. Web.
Gustav, J. (2009). Causes of Global Warming: What are the major ones? Web.
Przyborsky, P. (2010). Global Warming. Web.