Example research essay topic: Methane Nitrous Oxide Carbon Dioxide Methane - 1,647 words

NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote

Why are the Heads of State Increasingly Worried About Global Warming? In the last few decades the worlds sea levels have risen, the weather has become more unpredictable and countries are now facing hotter summers with colder winters. This is due to global warming, which is becoming an increasingly real problem. But why is global warming a problem?

If scientists theories are correct, then the results world over would be catastrophic. Global warming is the build up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which stops solar radiation from space escaping again. This causes an increase the earths temperature. There are several gases contributing to global warming, a few of them occurring naturally. Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapor are just some of them. Because of the gases, natural global warming already exists.

Natural warming increases the earths temperature about 30 % than it normally should be, and if it weren't the planet would be inhabitable. But humans are increasing the levels of these gases, and making the earth warmer than it should be. In 1750, the industrial revolution took place. Since then, the levels of carbon dioxide have risen by 31 %, and methane 149 %. These levels are higher than they have been for 420, 000 years, proved with data from ice cores. The ice at the polar's can tell scientists information about the earth from thousands of years ago, along with being home to species of animals that only live in the unique climate.

With the temperature rising, the ice caps are beginning to melt, destroying habitats and causing an increase in sea levels and disrupting ocean currents. In 1900, the sea level was rising by 0. 1 mm a year. In 1992, it is rising by 2 mm a year. The rising sea level will have a huge impact on coastal regions.

There would be increased coastal erosion, which can have devastating effects on the economy. In the early middle ages, Dunwich in Eastern England was one of the largest ports in the country, with a population of 3000 and was the center of Suffolk's wool trading industry. Due to erosion, a mile of the coast was lost over a 300 year period. Many coastal areas today are being eroded at an alarming rate, which could do the same in a hundred years. Another loss would be tourism.

Many countries depend on tourism to make their money, but if beaches are being eroded away, tourist numbers would decrease. Though tourism is being blamed for many problems, such as pollution and loss of landscape due to hotels being built, but without them some countries wouldn't have enough money coming in to stay stable. Another difference made would be the temperature of the different hemispheres. Ocean currents carry heat from the equator to the poles, carrying warm water near the surface since it is less dense and colder water deeper down. The best known is the Gulf stream, which takes warm water from the Caribbean to the North Atlantic, heating Europe.

Due to global warming, more water is evaporating, which not only cools the water but increases the level of salt, which increases the surface waters density. The dense water then sinks, and is carried in a southern direction. This would disrupt the heat supply to Europe, and it would become much colder. Also, glaciers in Greenland and the polar ice caps are melting due to being heated by global warming, adding more fresh water to the sea.

It is unknown whether this could affect the current, but there is a chance it could make problems worse. As the temperature and therefore evaporation increases, increased rainfall, and therefore more erosion will occur, and desertification in some areas such as Africa, where whole areas of land become desert, meaning the land is useless for people to live. Due to global warming, the Ozone layer is being reduced. Global warming is increasing the number of clouds in the stratosphere during the winter, 15 miles above the earths crust and in the middle of the Ozone layer. They create a 'platform' for chemical reactions that destroy Ozone to take place faster. The Ozone layer protects the earth from gamma rays from the sun, which causes skin cancers and eye problems in humans.

Not only that, but it reduces photosynthesis in plants and damages the DNA in plankton which live in the sea and play a crucial part in the worlds carbon cycle. Humans are increasing the amount of emitted gases that contribute to global warming. As more countries develop, and developed countries increase their need for power, more fuel is needed. Fossil fuels are used, which when used emit greenhouse gases.

Coal is widely used in Britain. There is plenty of it available, but it isn't as clean as coal from other places. However, since it is cheaper not to have to transport coal from over seas, Britain uses its own. Britain's current energy sources are; 70 % fossil fuels 27 % Nuclear 3 % Renewable There is currently enough coal to last 200 years, just 30 years worth of oil and gas however, which is cleaner than coal. The Kyoto Accord is an international treaty where countries sign up, promising to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide along with five other greenhouse gases. It was opened for signature on March 16 1998 and closed on March 15 1999.

A total of 156 countries signed up. The agreement was as followed: "The Kyoto Protocol is a legal agreement under which industrialized countries will reduce their collective emissions of greenhouse gases by 5. 2 % compared to the year 1990 (but note that, compared to the emissions levels that would be expected by 2010 without the Protocol, this target represents a 29 % cut). The goal is to lower overall emissions from six greenhouse gases carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, HFCs, and Pfc's - calculated as an average over the five-year period of 2008 - 12. National targets range from 8 % reductions for the European Union and some others to 7 % for the US, 6 % for Japan, 0 % for Russia, and permitted increases of 8 % for Australia and 10 % for Iceland. " (Press release from United Nations Environment Program) It is also stated that countries must supply money and technology to other countries for climate-related projects. Each country has agreed to keep to a certain level of emissions.

However, countries that are struggling not to go over the limit can buy amounts of countries that are easily meeting their limits. Many poorer countries are selling their emission allowances to richer countries, and are going over the amount anyway. Some countries rejected the agreement, the USA for example. The US is one of the richest countries in the world, and produces the largest amounts of gas emissions. Its wealth depends on its industry, so choosing to cut down emissions would have cost them greatly.

Because of this, they chose not to sign up. Which means the US can continue putting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere as much as it likes. However, global warming is only a theory. Whilst the vast majority of scientists agree that it exists, and that the worlds population is making the situation worse, there are other theories to explain the worlds changing climate. It may just be the world warming up naturally, with no input from humans. Another that it is the warming period after the Little Ice Age, which happened from the mid 14 th to 19 th centuries, when warm summers stopped being dependable, pack ice began to grow and caused rains and famine.

The last theory is that global warming doesn't even exist, and therefore requires no explanation. However, these are only believed by a small minority of scientists. Since global warming is increasing unpredictable weather patterns, it will also cost governments more financially than expected. Disaster relief will need to be provided, which would be payed with tax from the countries population. Insurance on homes and property destroyed in storms would need to be payed, costing millions were an unexpected hurricane to destroy a city.

But there are advantages to global warming. Plants form the bases of the biosphere, and growth can be limited by lack of CO and temperature. With an increase in the air temperature and CO levels, more plants can grow in areas where these currently presents a problem, therefore creating more usable biomass. However, though this would help the limiting factor is usually lack of water or nutrients, rather than carbon dioxide or warmth.

Another factor is trade. The melting Arctic ice might open Northwest Passage in the summer months, cutting 5000 nautical miles off the shipping route from Asia to Europe. Supertankers too large to pass through the Panama Canal could use it, instead of traveling around the tip of South America. This would make trading quicker and more efficient to countries, earning more money.

Since global warming is going to cost countries all over the world money, this would be particularly useful. So why exactly are the heads of state becoming increasingly worried about the earth becoming warmer? If the worst-case scenarios come true, then it will be a global catastrophe. Increased erosion rates would produce millions of refugees needing to move away from the coast, unpredictable weather and storms will kill thousands, the climate will plunge producing colder winters, the ice caps will melt, forcing animals to migrate, perhaps drive them to extinction.

This is a problem on a global scale, and the whole world will suffer. The world needs to act fast, the changes are all ready becoming clear. Britain is expected to have the coldest winter recorded for years. The sea levels are rising, causing some countries to lose land. If the heads of state are to do something, they have to do it now.

Research essay sample on Methane Nitrous Oxide Carbon Dioxide Methane