SHALEEN CHHABRA

120020045

AIR QUALITY- HOMEWORK 1

Based on the two films:
An Inconvenient Truth
The Great Global Warming Swindle

Assumption: The data is updated to 2006 and all the arguments are discussed
only up to that moment of time. Assuming that the movies showed what was
available in scientific community by then, my arguments will be based on the facts
shown in the movies only.
1. An inconvenient truth:
The former US president, Al Gore, discusses the scientific opinion on global warming
and its present and future impacts throughout the movie.
MOTO: climate change is not political issue but more so a moral one.
Scientific evidences shown:
Keeling curve which plots ongoing change in concentration of CO2 in earths
atmosphere.
Temperature record since 1880 showing that the 10 hottest years ever measured
in this atmospheric record had all occurred in last 14 years.
Data from Antarctic ice cores indicates that the level of CO2 have fluctuated
between 170 ppmv to 300 ppmv for last 800,000 years. But the levels have
increased to 370 ppmv in 2010 and increasing by 2 ppmv per year.
Kyoto protocol not ratified by nations like USA and Australia by 2006.
Factual Flaws in An inconvenient truth:
Film showed only one side of the argument and thus a lawsuit has been filed in
the US court.
CO2 data gathered from ice cores is lagging with the temperature by around 800
years.
Drying of Lake Chad, melting of Mt. Kilimanjaro are not due to greenhouse gases
as per the govt. experts.
The sea levels according to govt. evidence will rise only 40 cm in next 100 years
and not 7 meters as claimed in the movie.
2. The Great Global Warming Swindle
MOTO: climate change has always been without help from humans and due to solar
activity.
Scientific evidences shown:

From 1905 to 1940, earths temp rose, when industrial activity was still relatively
small. But from 1940 to 1970, during post WW2 boom, earths temp actually fell.
95% of greenhouse gas is water vapor.
If temp rises due to greenhouse gases, the troposphere should heat faster than
the surface of earth.
Ice core drills all show that increase in the CO2 emissions has lagged behind
earths warming by 800 years. That is, earths warming produced CO2 and not
vice versa
Main cause of climate change is solar activity which regulates from cloud
formation.

Factual Flaws in Global Warming Swindle:

Only the second IPCC (Inter governmental Panel for Climate Change) reports are
considered and not the third and fourth.
Data after 1980 is not shown and clearly explained because it shows more
prominent CO2 behavior.
If warming is due to solar activity, we would expect more warming in days than
nights, in summer than winter, but the opposite is being observed.
Facts shown are mostly oral and not evidential.
OBSERVATIONS WHICH ARE NOT GENERALLY OPPOSED:
The temperature records since 1880 show that the 10 hottest years ever had all
occurred in last 14 years.
Rising slope of Keeling curve (increase in CO2 emissions) with rise in
temperature for last few years.
Greenhouse gas emissions on a hike.
Ice core drills show increase in the CO2 emissions has lagged behind earths
warming by 800 years.
More than 80% of greenhouse gas is water vapor.
Air pollution due to industries on a rise and causes health problems.
MY OWN STAND:
According to me, global warming being caused by the greenhouse gases is not a
hoax. The increase in average temp in subsequent years points out to something
more significant than the solar activities and sunspots. But, the alarming situation is
far ahead and I dont think anything worrisome is waiting at the doors of human
civilization.
I personally dont think that anything harmful or everlasting is going to happen to
the almighty Earth in next 100-200 years. Although, as humans we have the
responsibility to serve the mother planet, reduce pollution and greenhouse gas
emissions to acceptable or sustainable levels.

Efficient and renewable technology can be employed as it is significantly in our

reach.

The developed nations such as USA and Europe should shift their energy
resources to renewables and sustainable ones.
Developing nations like India and China must sense their responsibility and
control carbon emissions to the level which does not impact their growth pace.
The underdeveloped countries in sub Saharan Africa be helped by the
industrialized nations and no treaty/ convention be imposed on them which
restricts their growth. But, awareness against global warming should definitely
be enhanced in those regions.
The onus lies with the developed world as USA and China are the largest carbon
emitters contributing around 40% of total worlds CO2 emissions.
The developing and underdeveloped world should not be pressurized and must
be given help in devising the methods to control pollution and emissions.