Greenhouse Effects Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Greenhouse Effects - Essay Example However, an imbalance leads to varying degrees of abnormality leading to a change in climate. When solar rays hit a dark surface, heat is absorbed while the polar ice caps tend to reflect heat off. Every part of the earth absorbs and reflects heat differently resulting in differential heating and cooling of the earth. Elevated level of any the above mentioned green house gases can disrupt the balance which leads to increased temperature of the earth resulting in ‘Global Warming’ (UCAR, n.d.). What are Green House Gases? Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (MH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), cholofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride (SH6) are collectively called as GHGs because they trap the solar radiation within the earth’s surface (Ramseur et al, 2008) What is the present level of atmospheric carbon dioxide? Why has Carbon dioxide increased since 1860? The level of carbon dioxide is increasing at an accelerating pace with each passing decade. The safety limit of atmospheric Carbon dioxide is 350 ppm (parts per million). However, since 1988, the level of CO2 has continued to rise. The current level of CO2 in the atmosphere is 396.78 ppm (CO2NOW, 2012). The International Energy Agency (IEA) reveals in its report that CO2 emission from fossil fuels hit 31.6 Gigatonnes (Gt) in 2011, just 1Gt below the threshold limit as predicted by researchers (Woodwell et al 1984). According to the energy Information Administration, there has been an increase of 25% of GHG emission since industrialization. What are some predicted environmental damages if carbon dioxide emissions are not reduced? The predicted environmental damages include rise in sea level. This may further lead to degradation of mangroves leading to environmental damages caused by cyclonic storms. Mangroves act as a barrier to wave off cyclonic effects into mainland. Depletion of the Ozone layer is yet another serious threat. Depleting layer of ozone leads to the penetration of ultr a-violet rays of the sun to reach the earth’s surface causing damage of soil properties, bio-degradation and causing skin cancer. Mitigating the effects of climate change can be accomplished by providing possible incentives and through CSR programs aimed at controlling the carbon footprint. Various Multinationals and powerful business houses are motivated to control this aggravating problem and thus taking steps to mitigate carbon emissions. Technological progress has ensured research in this particular field leading to a better understanding of the current scenario. Various software tools have been developed to mark the carbon footprint so that the carbon emission could be reduced by participatory management system. All these technological progress have been possible because complete data have been formulated into respective models of development (Green House Gas Emissions, 2012; Smith, Schellnhuber, & Qader Mirza, n.d.) In your analysis, how certain do we need to be about f uture predictions before acting on this problem? There is enough discourse on reliability of models related to climate change, since climate is a dynamic system. Climate change models are mathematical codes that are run on powerful computers after a series of observations. The confidence in predicted