Medina, Hector: Global Warming
- Page ID
- 96044
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Wensha Hsu
Chemistry 106
12/01/2017
Global Warming and Carbon Footprint
As the Industrial Revolution brought the manufacturing processes from hand production methods to machines processes, an unprecedented level of air pollution and global warming had occurred in a rapid rate. Global warming is a gradual increase in average global temperatures of the earth’s atmosphere which is generally attributed to the greenhouse effect primarily caused by
increased levels of greenhouse gases. And when energy from the sun heats the earth’s surface, some of the atmospheric gases trap some of the outgoing radiates energy, keeping heat to stay in the earth, and these gases are known as greenhouse gases. The five most important greenhouse gases are water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane(CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). Many of these greenhouse gases are emitted naturally, however, if the greenhouse effects become stronger and more heat energy are trapped than we actually needed, the temperature of the Earth would keep increasing. And that’s the main reason of the global warming.
Carbon dioxide, although it’s not the most abundant greenhouse gas, it has been focused on as the leading global warming concern because it stays in the atmosphere longer than any other greenhouse gases. After CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere, about 40% will stay in the atmosphere for a hundred years and about 20% will remain for a thousand years. According to Charles Keeling, NOAA scientists, decades of carefully observed measurements of CO2 and measurements of carbon isotopes have shown a great amount of unequivocal scientific evidence that the CO2 in the atmosphere is increasing rapidly. Since the industrial revolution, the atmospheric CO2 levels have increased about 40% and they are higher than any time in the past 800,000 years. We have been burning a great amount of fossil fuels and clearing forested resources for a more convenient life, but these activities convert organic carbon atom into CO2 which has fasten the speed of global warming.
People might not be aware of how much carbon they emit everyday, but if we actually calculate the carbon footprint for a household, you would realize that there are actually a lot of things we could improve on. For instance, there are some possible alternative energy resources that can replace fossil fuels, such as solar, wind, geothermal, water, and nuclear energy. And perhaps solar energy is the most crucial among them because it is becoming more convenient and efficient with technological advancements. People could’ve bought a hybrid vehicle instead of a gasoline fuel vehicle to reduce the emission of carbon. We can all contribute some work to mitigate global warming by reducing the emission of carbon dioxide.
Alonso lazaro
Chem 106
The greenhouse effect is the process where the earth atmosphere is warm by radiation. The gasses from the greenhouse effect allow solar radiation to reach earths surface. In addition, there are 4 important greenhouse gasses, the first one is Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) and Nitrous Oxide (N2O). How much CO2 is presently in the atmosphere? Currently in the atmosphere there is about 400 ppm by volume, with an annual 3-9 ppm per year. This means that if we don’t act fast the amount of CO2 will just keep growing. In fact according to scientist we have more carbon dioxide then any other time in at least 650,000 years ago. And it only took around 150 years for humans to have a full scale effect on the planet. There has been many evidence that link humans to the increase in CO2, if we look back the industrial revolution is one of the early pioneers of CO2. From there other factors such as de-forestation and fossil fuels have affected earth. The carbon cycle is the process where carbon goes back and forth between living things and the environment. Carbon exist in form as solids, gasses, and liquids. It’s the building block of life. Yet burning fossil fuels is still one on the leading causes of global warming this is because as humans we depend on it to power things like transportation, electricity production and most of industrial production. There are several alternative energies that can replace fossil fuels as energy. The first one is solar energy. This is perhaps the most important alternative energy because it can be installed in residential areas as well as large building, also because of cost efficient. The second alternative is wind, using wind turbines is another alternative to remote places and its cheap. Furthermore, in places where water is abundant, that could also be use as alternative energy. In fact, it’s still one of the cheapest way to generate energy. Yet how does CO2 relate to ocean acidity, well when Carbon dioxide dissolves the water becomes more acidic and the oceans pH tends to drop. If the buffering effect in the ocean were to stop then it would affect the habitat and marine life. If the overall equilibrium of the carbon cycle is not set to re-set. It will be unbalanced, and the lower concentration level will stay the same.
Furthermore, according to Berkeley’s CoolClimate Network the average household in united states is 48.5 tons CO2/year. On a more personal level my household produces 83.8 tons CO2/year. This number actually surprise me because the average is 48.5 nationwide. I think that to reduce my carbon foot print when it comes to travel its best to drive hybrid or electric vehicles even more if I move to a big city I could use public transportation or ride a bicycle to my destination. When it comes to housing I could install solar panels, switch out old light bulbs to energy efficient light and at the same time is actually more cost efficient. In the food department, my diet could consist of more produce and grains rather then meats. Not only will I be helping the environment but also my overall health. when it comes to shopping for goods, I should buy from places that help the environment and use product that are ecofriendly. In the end I believe that we should start educating people at home. Because they are more accessible and willing to hear then others. In addition the community is another great place to start.