Global Warming
What is global warming?
Global warming as stated by Al Gore and NOAA starts when the sun’s energy enters the earth’s atmosphere. This energy heats the earth and then some of it is reflected back towards the atmosphere (Gore, 2006; Effect of Global Warming, 2007). Normally this energy is partially blocked by the greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere. Today greenhouse gases are increasing from human activity, which makes them in excess (Effect of Global Warming, 2007; Gore, 2006; NOAA, 2008). The increase of greenhouse gases keeps more and more of the outbound energy. This is the cause of global warming says Gore and Effect of Global Warming.
The greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect is caused by greenhouse gases rising to the atmosphere where they stay (NOAA, 2008; Nave, 2000). Also according to NOAA and Nave the greenhouse gases can also absorb some of the energy producing heat. Greenhouse gases are gases that allow energy through the atmosphere but block some outbound rays as says Gore and Nave. Gore also says that carbon dioxide (CO2)is 80% of the greenhouse gases. This gas says Gore and Nave is primarily caused by the burning of fossil fuels. In the winter of the northern hemisphere, greenhouse gases go up due to the tilt of the earth (Gore, 2006). Looking at a map you would see that the majority of the land on earth is above of the equator meaning that most of the vegetation is above of the equator. In the northern hemisphere’s winter when they are pointed away, the earth has less vegetation to remove the greenhouse gases. In their summer there are more plants to remove the levels of greenhouse gases.
The ozone layer
The ozone layer is made up of ozone (O3) which is in other words three oxygen atoms. The ozone layer today protects us from UV radiation (NOAA, 2008; The APEC Virtual Center for Environmental Technology Exchange, 1998). CFC’s which are also called chlorofluorocarbons are a greenhouse gas says NOAA. The CFC’s, states NOAA and The APEC Virtual Center for Environmental Technology Exchange, destroy the ozone layer. The atoms of the CFC’s approach the ozone layer where the UV radiation is strongest. This UV radiation release chlorine atoms that are inside of the CFC’s. The reaction between the rays and the atoms destroys the ozone layer (The APEC Virtual Center for Environment Technology Exchange, 1998).
