Table of Contents

Abstract: ................................................................................................................................................ 2
Introduction:.......................................................................................................................................... 3
Earths Atmosphere: ........................................................................................................................... 4
Green House Effect: ........................................................................................................................... 5
Sources of major greenhouse gases: .............................................................................................. 7
Cause for global warming: ..................................................................................................................... 7
Kyoto Protocol: .................................................................................................................................... 9
Effects of Global Warming: ................................................................................................................ 9
Control Measures: ............................................................................................................................. 11
1) Role of Government ............................................................................................................... 11
2) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle ...................................................................................................... 11
3) Use Less Heat and Air Conditioning ................................................................................... 11
4) Change a Light Bulb .............................................................................................................. 12
5) Drive Less and Drive Smart.................................................................................................. 12
6) Buy Energy-Efficient Products ............................................................................................. 12
7) Use Less Hot Water ............................................................................................................... 12
Conclusion:......................................................................................................................................... 13
References: ........................................................................................................................................ 14

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Abstract:
Global warming is primarily a problem of too much carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere
which acts as a blanket, trapping heat and warming the planet. As we burn fossil fuels like
coal, oil and natural gas for energy or cut down and burn forests to create pastures and
plantations, carbon accumulates and overloads our atmosphere. Besides carbon dioxide,
other gases such as methane, chlorofluorocarbons, and nitrous oxides also contribute to
the greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide emissions are increasing yearly. The severity of
storms such as hurricanes and cyclones is increasing and there is increase in the sea level
worldwide. Heat waves are also the result of global warming. Kyoto protocol treaty was
negotiated in 1997 to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. Different control measure
can be done to control this problem of global warming.

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Introduction:
Global Warming is defined as;
An average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earths surface
& in the troposphere, which can contribute to changes in global climate patterns.

Temperature is rising because we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon

dioxide in the Earths atmosphere, by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas, and oil, and by
clearing forests.
CO2 survives in the atmosphere for a long timeup to many centuriesso its heattrapping effects are compounded over time. Of the many heat-trapping gases, CO2 puts us
at the greatest risk of irreversible changes if it continues to accumulate unabated in the
atmosphereas it is likely to do if the global economy remains dependent on fossil fuels for
its energy needs. To put this in perspective, the carbon we put in the atmosphere today will
literally determine not only our climate future but that of future generations as well.
Human activities, mainly burning of fossil fuel, has raised the atmospheric concentration of
green house gases, which may intensify the green house effect and result in an increase in
the average global temperature. Since global climate including rainfall, storms, wind
patterns, ocean currents and sea level is intimately related to global heat flows and
temperature patterns, there is a general expectation that the earths climate may be
significantly modified in the next 50 years. This would, in turn, alter the earths delicate
ecological balance.

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 Between the years 1878-1990, the temperature has increased from 0.45C to
0.15C.
During 1990-2025, it may be further rise by 1C and between 2025- 2100 there may
be rise of 3C.
Besides, the rise in temperature will melt all the glaciers (snow-mountains), flooding the
low-lying areas of the earth. An increase in global temperature is also likely to increase the
incidence of infectious diseases such as malaria, dengue, sleeping sickness and yellow
fever.
Causes:
The general causes of global warming are;
Green house gases emission
Burning of fossil fuels

Earths Atmosphere:
The earth is bathed in a sea of air whose pressure is over a ton per square foot at the
earths surface. This pressure reduces to half at 3 miles and only 1% at 18 miles attitude.
The air consists of 79% nitrogen and 20% oxygen with trace amounts of hydrogen, neon,
helium, xenon, ozone and radon.
The atmosphere is layered in four parts;
1) Troposphere- 7 to 10 miles closest to earth

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2) Stratosphere- upt0 30 miles.

3) Mesosphere- upto 50 miles.
4) Thermosphere- beyond 50 miles.

Green House Effect:

It is the phenomenon in which the earths atmosphere traps the heat from the sun and
prevents it from escaping into outer space. Without this effect, the average surface
temperature of the earth would be about 33 C lower than it is today. The green house
effect received its name because the earths atmosphere acts much like the glass or plastic
roof and walls of a greenhouse.
Sunlight enters a greenhouse through the transparent glass or plastic and heat the plants
but the heat emitted by the plants in the form of infrared radiation cannot pass through the
glass or plastic roof and walls. As a result of this the temperature of inside increases.
In the atmosphere, there is a protective layer of O 3 gas at a height between 15-60 km (the
thickest layer of ozone exists at a height of 23 km from the surface of the earth and a
blanket of CO2 gas exists in the lower part of the atmosphere (i.e. below 15 km). When
sunlight consisting of ultra-violet rays, visible light and infra-red, fall on the top of the
atmosphere, the harmful ultra-violet rays are absorbed by the O 3 layer and so these do not
reach the earths surface.
However, the visible light and infra-red rays pass though the CO2 layer and fall on the earth.
The result is that the earth gets heated due to heating effect of the infra-red radiations. As
the earth becomes hot, it starts emitting heat (infra-red rays) back to the atmosphere.

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The emitted infrared rays are absorbed by the CO 2 layer in the atmosphere. In this way,
CO2 in the atmosphere does not allow the infra-red radiation reflected by the earths surface
to go out of the atmosphere. We can say that the layer of CO2 gas in the atmosphere traps
all the infra-red radiations (heat rays) coming from the earths surface. These trapped infrared rays heat the earths atmosphere. The heating up of the earth due to the trapping of
infra-red radiations (reflected from the earths surface) by CO2 layer in the atmosphere is
called green-house effect. Thus, the temperature of the earth is raised. The rise in the
temperature produced by the green-house effect in the earths atmosphere depends on
the amount (proportion) of CO2 gas in the atmosphere.
Besides CO2, which is known as the green-house gas, there are some other green-houses
gases like methane (CH4), chlorofluorocarbons and nitrous oxide which have the same
effect.

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Sources of major greenhouse gases:

Gas
Carbon dioxide,CO2

Sources
1. Fossil fuel combustion (coal, oil, natural gas)
2. Deforestation and land use changes

Methane, CH4

1. Enteric fermentation in cattle and insects

2. Biomass burning and garbage land fills
3. Coal mines and natural gas leaks
4. Swamps

Chlorofluorocarbons

1. Aerosols (spray propellants) CFCs

2. Refrigeration and air-conditioning
3. Plastic foams
4. Industrial solvents

Nitrous Oxide, N2O

1. Fertilizer use
2. Fossil fuel combustion
3. Biomass burning
4. Changing land use

Cause for global warming:

The lower part of the picture shows the sources individually for the gases carbon dioxide,
methane and nitrous oxide, respectively;

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 From 1971 to 2005 CO2 vehicle emissions rose from 1.8 billion tons per year to 4.6
billion tons per year.
The average global air temperature rose between 0.5 and 0.74 degrees C during the
past century.
An average 2 degrees C warming is predicted by 2100.
Sea level has risen between 10 to 25 cm in the last 100 years.
Between 1970 and 2004 global greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 70%.

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Kyoto Protocol:
The Kyoto Protocol treaty was negotiated in December 1997 at the city of Kyoto, Japan
and came into force February 16th, 2005.
"The Kyoto Protocol is a legally binding 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 PFCs - 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.

The United States and Australia have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol.

The U.S. is responsible for about a quarter of the emissions that have been blamed
for global warming.

Effects of Global Warming:

1) Rise in Sea Levels Worldwide
This happens due to the melting of two massive ice sheets in Antartica and
Greenland. Browns (2008) study indicates that if the Greenland ice sheet were to
melt, it would raise the sea level up to 7 meters while the melting of West Antartic ice
sheet would raise the sea level 5 meters. Even just a partial melting would have
dramatic changes on the sea level.

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2) More Killer Storms

The severity of storms such as hurricanes and cyclones is increasing, and research
published in Nature found that (quoting):
Scientists have come up with the firmest evidence so far that global warming will
significantly increase the intensity of the most extreme storms worldwide. The
maximum wind speeds of the strongest tropical cyclones have increased significantly
since 1981, according to research published by Nature this week. And the upward
trend, thought to be driven by rising ocean temperatures, is unlikely to stop at any
time soon.

3) Heat waves, droughts, and wildfires will be more frequent.

4) Up to 300,000 people a year will die partly from the spread of tropical diseases.
5) More than a million species worldwide could be extinct by 2050.
6) Melting polar icecaps will raise ocean levels; the Arctic Ocean could be ice free in
summer by 2050.

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Control Measures:
1) Role of Government
Government should set some laws to limit the amount of pollutants produced by
factories.
Develop the skills of using renewable fuels, e.g. solar energy, wind energy.
encourage the factories to replace fossil fuels by renewable fuels, which would not
cause environmental pollution
Carry out energy saving scheme to reduce the pollution produced by burning fossil
fuels
Build more plants to reduce the pollutants e.g. CO2

2) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Do your part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables - get
a reusable water bottle, for example. Buying products with minimal packaging (including the
economy size when that makes sense for you) will help to reduce waste. And whenever you
can, recycle paper, plastic, newspaper, glass and aluminum cans. If there isn't a recycling
program at your workplace, school, or in your community, ask about starting one. By
recycling half of your household waste, you can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide
annually.

3) Use Less Heat and Air Conditioning

Adding insulation to your walls and attic, and installing weather stripping or caulking around
doors and windows can lower your heating costs more than 25 percent, by reducing the
amount of energy you need to heat and cool your home.
Turn down the heat while you're sleeping at night or away during the day, and keep
temperatures moderate at all times. Setting your thermostat just 2 degrees lower in winter
and higher in summer could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.

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4) Change a Light Bulb

Wherever practical, replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) or LED
bulbs. Replacing just one 60-watt incandescent light bulb with a LED used 4 hrs a day can
yield $14 in savings annually. CFLs and LEDs will also last many times longer than
incandescent bulbs.

5) Drive Less and Drive Smart

Less driving means fewer emissions. Besides saving gasoline, walking and biking are great
forms of exercise. Explore your community mass transit system, and check out options for
carpooling to work or school. Even vacations can provide opportunities to reduce your
carbon footprints.
When you do drive, make sure your car is running efficiently. For example, keeping your
tires properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent. Every gallon
of gas you save not only helps your budget, it also keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out
of the atmosphere.

6) Buy Energy-Efficient Products

When it's time to buy a new car, choose one that offers good gas mileage. Home
appliances now come in a range of energy-efficient models, and LED bulbs are designed to
provide more natural-looking light while using far less energy than standard light bulbs.
Avoid products that come with excess packaging, especially molded plastic and other
packaging that can't be recycled. If you reduce your household garbage by 10 percent, you
can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

7) Use Less Hot Water

Set your water heater at 120 degrees to save energy, and wrap it in an insulating blanket if
it is more than 5 years old. Buy low-flow showerheads to save hot water and about 350
pounds of carbon dioxide yearly. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water to reduce your
use of hot water and the energy required to produce it. That change alone can save at least
500 pounds of carbon dioxide annually in most households. Use the energy-saving settings
on your dishwasher and let the dishes air-dry.

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Conclusion:
Greenhouse gases emissions should be controlled by setting some laws to limit the amount
of pollutants produced by factories. The skills of using renewable fuels, such as; solar
energy, wind energy should be developed. Encourage the factories to replace fossil fuels
by renewable fuels, which would not cause environmental pollution Carry out energy saving
scheme to reduce the pollution produced by burning fossil fuels. More plantation should be
done to reduce the pollutants e.g. CO2.

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References:
Global Warming- A Natural Phenomenon by William W. Wood
http://epa.gov/climatechange/effects/index.html
http://www.kyotoprotocol.com/
http://www.climatehotmap.org/about/global-warming-causes.html
http://resources.emb.gov.hk/envir-ed/text/globalissue/e_m2_2_6.htm

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