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Global Warming
Global Warming is the century-scale rise in the average temperature of the Earth's surface, oceans, and atmosphere due to an increase in the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels or from deforestation trap heat that would otherwise escape from Earth. This warming is causing climate patterns to change.
11,528 Questions
What is the effect o global trade?
it really affects the economy because almost of all people is engage in marketing. not necessary involve but the consumers or costumers buys products, goods and also services from the market area, so that means they are also the part of the marketing world.
The answer is unfortunately political in nature. There has been insufficient commitment to the development of alternative, renewable energy resources, in large part because the fossil fuel industry has financed huge disinformation campaigns and given enormous contributions to congressmen willing to oppose reasonable measures aimed at curbing exploitation of fossil fuels and other non renewable resources. There is less short term financial risk for vested interests in defending the status quo.
Much of our hydroelectric power depends upon a reliable winter snow pack. Prolonged droughts put us at risk of energy shortages. Although wind is intermittent, there are many places where air masses move in the same direction for extended periods of time. The trade winds depend upon earth's Coriolis Effect. Although clouds cut into solar power, the sun's output itself varies by only a tiny fraction from year to year. It is considered extremely reliable. The more we invest in ANY technology, the more solutions we find to potential problems.
Germany meets 10% of its national electrical needs via wind power, and is increasing wind generation by constructing more off shore wind farms. More wind and solar plants are being erected in various places around the US as well, as energy companies answer the demands of their customers and state mandates for shifting emphasis on renewable resources. It is surprising the US has taken a back seat in terms of developing clean, efficient alternatives, as opposed to many other nations.
Another Answer:
Actually we do get a great deal of our power fro the only currently workable alternative energy, hydro electric.
Yes, there is a great deal of politics in the debate. Solar and wind are the favored alternatives of politically motivated groups.
Wind is unable to ever replace more then a small portion of our needs due to the nature of wind. It blows on it's own schedule, not when we need power. As a result, fossil fuel pants must be running, at almost full power and not connected to the grid to be able to make up the losses in wind. This causes numbers to become very skewed to meet political goals. Wind turbines place huge loads variances across the grid. To manage these variances, fossil fuel plants run (but are not loaded) to make up for these variations. This power is not considered to be on the grid, so while a country may claim to have 6% of it's power from wind, it may be ignoring the fact that 8% more fossil fuel plants are placed on line or at idle to cover the issues caused by the wind systems. The bottom line is that wind is just not practical as of yet. New technologies are being developed to help wind turbines overcome a large portion of these issues. Unfortunately, because we have thousands of these systems up and not functioning well, we become limited in the answers we can bring to market. we would have far more available options if we did not have so many wind systems that will need to be modified. Waiting until the technology is established may well make the U.S.A. a leader in alternative technologies when the bugs are worked out.
Solar also has physical issues that make it's use currently unworkable. Solar panels only provide power for brief periods of time and not as well in warm weather (over 85 degrees F). It is hard to find cool places with lots of sun. Solar panels also have a seriously limited life span.
Until technology marches forward and overcomes these serious limiting issues, these are interesting and currently unworkable technologies.
Interestingly enough most electric providers would be more than open to a renewable technology that offered them more sell able power for less money.
No corporation around prefers to spend extra money. It is not the power companies that are unwilling to accept new technology and politicize the issue. If the technology were to actually become cost effective ad produce real power, energy companies would need to be held back from over developing the "free" power. It is interesting to note that there is a great deal of money being spent on alternative energy research. Most of that money is from oil companies such as BP, the world's largest producer of solar panels.
What choices do humans have for responding to global change?
We can ignore it, which is largely what we are doing now. We have been studying the issue in depth for at least 60 years.
A better course of action would be to take measures to limit greenhouse gas emissions. We have taken a few faltering steps to address this, such as focusing on the development of alternative, renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, and nuclear power. Nuclear power is not entirely renewable, but fast breeder reactors can produce a portion of their own fuel.
Other recommendations would be to encourage conservation and develop better mass transit systems like high speed rail.
Yes, scientists can tell the difference. Carbon dioxide (CO2) released from the burning of long-buried fossil fuels contains carbon of different isotopic ratios to those of living plants. So we can distinguish between natural and man-made CO2.
How is fluorescent light good for the environment?
While fluorescent lamps may lower your electricity bill, they're not really 'good for the environment', as they require more energy and resources to manufacture compared with incandescent lamps, and they contain mercury.
What directly adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?
- Breathing.
- Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) in industry, transport and the generation of electricity.
How can the Pongamia tree help slow global warming?
Oil made from the seeds of this tree, known as pongamia oil, can be used to produce bio-diesel. Bio-diesel is a renewable source of energy, a diesel oil made from vegetation, so its burning does not contribute to global warming.
Do international organizations help solve global problems?
Yes, international organizations play a vital role in addressing global issues by facilitating cooperation among countries, setting standards, and providing resources for collective action. They help coordinate efforts on problems such as climate change, poverty, and health crises that require a global response. However, their effectiveness can be limited by member states' interests and challenges in implementation.
The situation for carbon dioxide is different from the situation for water. If we add CO2 to our atmosphere it will make it harder to lose heat (infrared radiation) back to space so it would probably increase the equalibrium temperature of the Earth. This is because the Sun pumps energy onto the Earth in the form of visible light photons. These photons heat the objects which absorb the visible light. These objects in turn radiate infrared radiation. The more infrared light gets absorbed in the atmosphere, the less gets radiated back to space, causing the energy to be retained, hence the temperature rises.
Water is more complicated because it dependes on whether the water vapor is invisible or in a visible form like a cloud.
Water vapor in the atmosphere in a transpearent way is just like CO2, it absorbs infrared light. However, water in the form of pools on the ground, ice, snow, or clouds, reflect a large percentage of the sunlight shining on them directly back to space (something like 20% to 90%). So it is impossible to say, without more study, whether adding water to the atmosphere will make it hotter by blocking infrared light or cooler by reflecting more of the Sun's energy away.
An additional concern is that night time clouds can act as an insulating layer, not allowing daytime heat to be radiated into space. The balance between the increased albedo of daytime cloud cover and the increased insulation provided by nighttime clouds in not fully understood.
What gases in the atmosphere absorb infrared radiation and Which gases absorb ultraviolet?
Some of the gases found in our atmosphere which absorb infrared light are: carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor. Gases found in our atmosphere which absorb ultraviolet light are ozone (O3) and oxygen gas (O2).
What do you mean by melting of icebergs?
Melting of icebergs refers to the process of icebergs turning from solid ice into liquid water due to rising temperatures. As the temperatures warm, the icebergs lose mass and volume as they melt, contributing to rising sea levels. This phenomenon is a result of climate change and poses a threat to coastal communities and ecosystems.
What is the impact of global warming on the lake?
Global warming can result in rising water temperatures in lakes, leading to changes in the ecosystem and potentially disrupting the balance of aquatic life. It can also contribute to increased algal blooms, reduced oxygen levels, and altered water chemistry, impacting the overall health and biodiversity of the lake. Additionally, global warming can exacerbate water scarcity issues, affecting the availability and quality of water for human use.
Which part part water cycle is the biological process?
Transpiration is the biological process in the water cycle where plants absorb water from the soil through their roots and release water vapor through their leaves into the atmosphere. This process plays a crucial role in maintaining the water cycle's balance and regulating Earth's climate.
fire and air makes a fire tornado, also known as the fire devil or fire whirl.
How do generators contribute to global warming?
Generators contribute to global warming by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas to produce electricity. This process releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which trap heat and contribute to the warming of the planet.
When a warm air mass overtakes a cold air mass the result is an?
occlusion, where the cold air mass is forced aloft as the warm air rises over it, creating a mix of warm and cold air.
How many people get killed by shark each year because of global warming?
There is no direct link between global warming and shark attacks. On average, worldwide shark attacks result in about 10 fatalities each year, with fluctuations due to various factors such as human behavior and shark populations. Global warming may impact the distribution and behavior of sharks, but it is not a direct cause of shark attacks on humans.
Does hydraulic fracturing release green house gases?
If a well is capped improperly or the cement casing around a well cracks, then yes, small amounts of methane can escape into the Atmosphere.
Methane is harmless to people unless is it concentrated in a small space.
Methane is a far greater Green-house Gas than CO2.
The natural gas companies get from hydraulic fracturing is used in part to power Natural Gas Cars and other vehicles, which can have 90% fewer greenhouse emissions that cars that run on gasoline. Companies that use Hydrofracking have a responsibility to the people around the wells and the environment as a whole. If a well is drilled improperly then, in the long term, natural gas drilling [FRACKING] can actually help reduce our carbon footprint while at the same time increasing our 'Uranium in Nature' footprint.
Why will catalytic converters not help to solve the problem of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
Catalytic converters reduce emissions of harmful pollutants that contribute to air pollution and smog, but they do not address greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide that contribute to global warming. Greenhouse gases are mainly produced by burning fossil fuels for energy, transportation, and industrial processes, and require broader strategies such as transitioning to renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency to address.
How do you think particulates in the atmosphere might affect the earth temperature?
Particulates in the atmosphere reflect solar radiation and prevent it reaching the earth. This has the effect of lowering the temperature of the earth. This happened seriously in the mid-20th Century, but was stopped by Clean Air Acts round the world. It also happens for a few days after a volcanic eruption.
How does growing more crops affect level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Growing more crops can help reduce the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis, where plants absorb CO2 during their growth. However, this effect can be offset if crops are managed inefficiently, leading to increased carbon emissions through processes like deforestation, use of fossil fuels for farming machinery, and poor soil management. Overall, sustainable agricultural practices are crucial to harness the potential of crop growth in reducing atmospheric CO2 levels.
Could we install giant mirrors in space between earth and sun to divert sunlight?
This might be possible, but before we go to the enormous challenge and expense of doing that it would be much smarter to develop the ability to use the tremendous amount of solar energy that we already receive.
If the point is to overcome global warming, rest assured that we already have several effective and practical methods of dealing with it and reversing it that are far easier and cheaper. But even those are generally unpopular, and are widely resisted and maligned.
What does global phone penetration level mean?
Global phone penetration level refers to the percentage of the population in a specific region or globally that has access to and uses mobile phones. It is a measure of how widely mobile phones are adopted and used by people in a particular area.
How does using too much hot water affect global warming?
Most hot water is heated by burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas). The more hot water you use, the more fossil fuel is burnt and so the more carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas causing global warming.
Of course, if you have solar hot water, then the sun heats your water at no cost to you or the planet!
Carbon dioxide is not alive. It is a molecule composed of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. It is a product of natural processes like respiration and combustion, and is essential for life on Earth.
