Global WarmingThe impact of mankind’s industrial and technological development may certainly be regarded as awe inspiring. The boundaries marking our capacity to flourish seem to be melting drastically, with novel inventions and ingenious capabilities, we have surmounted our own imaginations at times. And yet, as with every form of progress, the duality of our actions and its meanings are palpable and not to be ignored. It seems that any progress mankind makes, it brings forth the beneficial and the precarious consequences as an additive to its colossal glory of progress. One of the most poignantly debated issues in our contemporary scientific days is global warming; a debate, charged with tremendous political implications, that just might determine the future outcome of our planet earth, including the totality of it inhabitants. Prior to flaying the body of this issue, an epitome of global warming is essential.It is an incontestable fact that the energy emitted from the Sun aids in preserving the earth in splendid equilibrium. As a direct consequence the earth in turn radiates energy back out into the space. During this continuous process, the atmospheric greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, water vapor etc., insulate, or trap the energy emanating from the earth, thus preserving the natural equilibrium of our climate and weather. If earth was to be devoid of this “green house effect,” the temperature, which throughout the earth’s long history of existence has been relativelybalanced, would steadily descend, engendering a frigid climate (the earth’s average temperature is 60F) whose presence human beings and the entire world’s kingdom could not endure. In short, life would not be possible to preserve permanently. However, there is inevitably a double edged sword transfixing through this natural phenomena. Scientists concur that if “the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases increases,” problems of tremendous implications may emerge. What might be the result? Global warming. Scientists and other global warming adepts currently investigating the issue commonly accentuate a particular incident or event that just might be the perpetuating factor: the industrial revolution. The onset of industrial revolution has employed the human factor which in turn affected the hitherto atmospheric equilibrium. Scientific research directly indicates the atmospheric shift: “atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have increased nearly 30%, methane concentrations have more than doubled, and nitrous oxide concentrations have risen by about 15%.” The drastic increase of these gases are directly tied with the enhancement of earth’s atmospheric “heat-trapping” capabilities. Furthermore, a common air pollutant whose function is to lower or cool the atmosphere, sulfate aerosols, scientists point out, is unfortunately ephemeral and “vary regionally.”Notwithstanding the appearance of industrial revolution, other human activities apparentlyaggrandize the greenhouse gas concentrations as well. The proliferations of automobiles, trucks, heat homes, businesses and power factories all require fossil fuels, which are burned and result in “98% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions, 24% of methane emissions, and 18% of nitrous oxide emissions.” Moreover, mining, industrial productions, agriculture, deforestation, and landfills all contribute to the ever-increasing emissions. Scientists have recently ascertain the subtle, and yet conspicuous oscillation in the global surface temperature. Since the late 19th century temperatures have risen as far as 0.5-1.0F. It should hardly come as a surprise that in the Northern Hemisphere’s snow cover, together with thebuoyant ice in the Arctic Ocean have noticeably decreased. Further, sea levels have continuously risen as far as 4-8 inches over the past century. Experts are currently estimating the change global warming is precipitating:Scientists expect that the average global surface temperature could rise 1-4.5F in thenext fifty years, and 2.2-10F in the next century, with significant regional variation.Evaporation will increase as the climate warms, which will increase average global precipitation. Soil moisture is likely to decline in many regions, and intense rainstorms are likely to become more frequent. Sea level is likely to rise two feet along most of the U.S. coast. (EPA: Global Warming)The debate that is interwoven with the issue of global warming arises from the uncertainties that unfortunately are realities. The certitude of what the extent of human impact is on the greenhouse effect remains amorphous. Are we responsible for the global warming trend? Or are other, natural factors contributing? It is truly hard to pinpoint with any cogent accuracy. Asthe website EPA: Global warming concedes, “understanding of these other factors - most notably natural climatic variations, changes in the sun’s energy, and the cooling effects of pollutant aerosols - remains incomplete.” Also, opponents and skeptics of global warming point to the incapacity of current scientific technology to predict specific, regional climate change that might be engendered by global warming. Until now, science is only able to predict global change, that remains awfully nebulous and uncertain. The one reason might stem from the very nature of globalwarming, the fact that it is a slow, subtle progress. Critics, however, remain ostensibly firm.Leaving aside the critics, across the globe, countries, such as Japan, have initiated an undertaking with a goal of reducing the greenhouse-gas emissions. In 1997 a international global warming summit took place, with 160 countries officially signing a pact, what is now known as the Kyoto Protocol, stating that 38 industrialized nations are to accept regulatory limits whose direct purpose is to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. The countries are more than hopeful that bythe year 2012, reduced levels of greenhouse emissions shall be transparent. Both the United Statesand the European Union have pledged to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases below 1990 levels. Whether or not the promises will be held remains to be seen. While the increase necessity for industrial productions are rising, the chances remain
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