Global warming can be described as the increase in the average temperature of earth’s near-surface air and oceans since the mid of 20th century and its continuous increase (Maslin 9). There has been observable increase in the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere since the 1950s.
This increase can be attributed to human activities such as the mining and combustion of fossil fuels as well as deforestation. Global warming has different effects to the ecosystem but, are there many possible solutions to eradicate this big upcoming problem.
Global warming is caused by the greenhouse effect. Green house effect is defined as the process through which the thermal radiation from the earth’s surface is absorbed by the greenhouse gases and then re radiated in different directions. (Trevena, Sijp and England 3310). Some of the main gases found in the atmosphere such as oxygen and nitrogen do not absorb or emit thermal radiation.
Maslin explains that there are two types of greenhouse effect namely; runaway and enhanced greenhouse effects (38). Runaway greenhouse effect is an example of the effect that occurs on Venus. For this to happen, Venus atmosphere would contain a lot of water vapor, a powerful greenhouse gas.
The temperature at the surface would rise due to the greenhouse effect of the water vapor. Increased temperature would then lead to more evaporation of water from the surface giving more atmospheric water vapor, a large green-house effect and therefore increased surface temperature.
Water vapor, carbon dioxide and other some minor gases found in the atmosphere in smaller amounts that absorb some of the thermal radiation leaving the surface to act like a partial blanket for this radiation. This causes the difference of 210 c or so between the actual average surface temperature on the earth which is about 150c and the difference of -60c which applies when the atmosphere contains nitrogen and oxygen only (Houghton 16).
Science of the greenhouse effect has been known for quite a long time where the similarity between the radioactive properties of the earth’s atmosphere and of the glass in a green-house has been pointed out and hence the name greenhouse effect.
The glass helps in keeping the greenhouse warm by acting as a radiation blanket. Transfer of radiation is only one of the ways heat is moved around the greenhouse. Convection is a more important means of heat transfer in which less dense warm air moves upwards and more dense cold air moves downwards (Houghton 16-17).
Maslin explains that there are two types of greenhouse effect namely; runaway and enhanced greenhouse effects (38). Runaway greenhouse effect is an example of the effect that occurs on Venus. For this to happen, Venus atmosphere would contain a lot of water vapor, a powerful greenhouse gas.
The temperature at the surface would rise due to the greenhouse effect of the water vapor. Increased temperature would then lead to more evaporation of water from the surface giving more atmospheric water vapor, a large green-house effect and therefore increased surface temperature.
There are several possible solutions to global warming based on technology. Since global warming is as a result of air pollution, several machines have been developed to control pollution. Oxidation and exothermic heat release occurs concurrently as a result of the de-bonding of the hydrocarbon hydrogen bond.
The oxidation process has the advantage that sustains itself to the extent that the heat used n this process is reused in case of low inlet concentration. VOC emission steam occurs in different types such as direct, recuperative, regenerative systems among others. (Houghton 78). The solvents are recovered through a process that involves the regeneration of carbon through a stem jet.
Houghton puts it that biological treatment systems can also be used for VOC abatement and odor control (92). Biological method is good for use since they do not add pollution to the environment. However; the problem with biological method is that the microbes grow under certain conditions process, the catalyst triggers the oxides of nitrogen to react with ammonia.
Houghton also adds that this catalytic process is useful in the treatment of emission from such sources as “combustible biomass facilities, refineries of natural oil, immobile diesel engines and incinerators that burn waste” (94).
Furthermore, a review of the transport modes to encourage the use of mass public transport has a considerable chance of reducing the accumulation of the said hazardous emissions (Review Boss para 1) the advantage of having short drives is that this will lead to less pollution. In areas where people walk to store, work, and offices instead of driving have less pollution thus reducing global warming.
According to Review Boss (para. 2), people should be encouraged to use renewable energy like wind and solar powers. This has been made possible by advancement in technology. The use of renewable energy should be encouraged because these sources do not [produce any meaningful amount of greenhouse emissions. The only renewable energy that is of concern as far as greenhouse emissions the use of bio fuels to make biomass.
There are some gases which are more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide. Such gases as methane should be taken through a combustion process to break them down into more harmless substances. Review Boss asserts that burning of methane is useful because it generates an equal amount of carbon dioxide (para 3). When done properly “burning of methane can have a benefits to the atmosphere as the gas that would have other is been released to the atmosphere is decomposed through burning.
Nuvvo (para 7) explains that some of the domestic activities can reduce the amount of carbon emissions in the atmosphere In this case most of the energy used at home is for the purposes of heating and cooling and if such equipment as the thermostat are checked regulatory then the amount of carbon from homes would reduce significantly.
Therefore such measures in the domestic front can have much benefit to the economy as it would realize up to 1800 pounds of CO2 managed and the economy would save up to US$ 100 of the energy efficiency management costs.
Tuning up and maintaining vehicles properly adopting scientific methods will play predominant role in controlling global warming (Nuvvo para. 8). Maintaining vehicles unscientifically, leads to pollution of the environment. Well maintained cars use less gas thus saving the money of the owner. If cars are kept efficient for the next ten years global warming pollution will be cut and still save several barrels of oil a day. The drawback in maintaining and keeping it in good condition requires lot money.
` National Geographic Society (para 11) asserts that the use of recyclable products will help in reducing waste. When buying a product one should ensure that the packing is quite reasonable one i.e. packing should not exceed the size of the product. Recycling should also be done by reusing household wastes.
Doing so would result to the reduction of about 2400 of carbon pounds every year. In this case both the entrepreneurs and the public should join hands together for a reason. Of importance, one should always try to educate others on preferring recycling projects. Global warming can also be actively reduce by engaging is such activities as reforestation as well as efficiency in utilizing the land that is available.
` Trees will take the carbon dioxide produced by different human activities thus reducing the chances of global warming to take place (Nuvvo para. 4).
There have been disagreements regarding the safety in the use of nuclear power. National Geographic Society (2011 para 7) asserts that the use of nuclear power reduces the amount of fossils fuels burned to release energy. However, the use of nuclear power to produce energy is an issue in contention due to the quantities of radioactive material used and the disposal of radioactive waste from nuclear plants.
Despite the dangers that it posses it still provides the most viable alternative for global energy sources. The nuclear fusion experiment shows that fusion of atoms has a potential to produce not only clean energy but also in massive quantities. This thus provides hope for the future energy needs saving on the economy of a country. Radioactive materials are hazardous and they are harmful to the health of human beings and other living organisms.
Ozone -depleting aerosols into the atmosphere should be sprayed away from the atmosphere. The binding of sulfur dioxide, along with other chemicals sprayed into the atmosphere results in the reflection of the sunlight away from the earth. This method of spraying the aerosols away has a problem since it might cause catastrophic weather changes in certain areas of the world. A number of scientists are even contemplating experimenting with this idea at the Arctic (Houghton 88).
The theory of scrubbing like wind might also be used as a way to get rid with global warming crisis. In order to achieve this, there arises the need to develop giant air filters. These resemble the normal air filters used at the offices and homes, and their role is to assist in the filtering of carbon dioxide from the environment.
The captured carbon dioxide by the air filters is later on bound by the different chemicals contained therein. Thereafter, it becomes necessary to ensure that the bound carbon dioxide is stripped off. Since the stripped off carbon dioxide is normally stored, this helps to overcome the challenge of having to transport it in a compressed form.
The theory has the weakness that to test it in large scale will is difficult. Also, no one knows the number of filters that can be used to make significant impact. Finally the other problem comes in when separating the carbon dioxide from the capturing chemicals since this would require a lot of energy which in turn will produce more carbon dioxide (Houghton 89).
Fake trees can also be planted so that their leaves attract carbon dioxide and trap it using smokestack filters. Once this carbon dioxide has been compressed, this acts as yet another way to help curb global warming. Fake trees have the advantage that they would not require direct making them to be installed anywhere. With proper designing, fake trees could be a lot more efficient in trapping carbon dioxide, in comparison with the real trees. They have the disadvantage on what to do with the captured carbon dioxide.
Proposals have been put forward to enhance jet fuel and the growing of vegetables using carbon dioxide. However, this is a very costly method (Maslin 109). The good thing or the advantage with this method is that the boats used to transport the salt into the space require very little energy since the boat are driven by wind (Maslin 109).
Air pollution is the main cause of the fast growing problem of global warming. Measures should be taken to reduce this problem or to control additional of global warming (National Geographic Society para. 10). This can only be achieved through protection of the environment we are living in by controlling the human activities that lead to global warming.
The most credible method of dealing with global warming is planting of trees. Therefore when people plant trees, this becomes a way of undoing the damage they have already created. The attainment of zero carbon emissions is impossible but the planting of tree is as sure way of achieving balance. Tree planting also has its advantages since natural resources like rivers are conserved. The problem with tree planting near our homes becomes hiding places of wild animals.
Works Cited
Houghton, John. Global Warming: The Complete Briefing. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 2009. Print.
Trevena, Jessica, Sijp, William and England, Matthew. Stability of Antarctic bottom
water formation to fresh water fluxes and implication for global climate. Journal of Climate, 21.13(2007).
Maslin, Mark. Global warming: causes, effects, and the future. Stilwater, MN: Voyageur` Press, 2006. Print.
National Geographic Society. Global warming solutions. 5 Jan. 2011. 30th March. 2011.` Web.
Nuvvo. Possible solutions to global warming. 2011.30th March 30, 2011.2011.web
Review Boss. Tips to control global warming. 15th May 2010. 30th March 2011. Web.