Global Warming in the 21st Century (Essay Sample)

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SCIN100
Global Warming in the 21st Century
The mention of global warming is not new. Global warming has been with us since the 1800s when the first measure of the level of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere was recorded at 290 ppm (parts per million). Following this, in the years between 1850 and 1870, the average global temperature was about 13.6°C (Weart 2). This was relatively low but by the turn of the century, the level of CO2 emissions from the Industrial revolution during the century had exponentially increased and global warming became a concern for environmentalists. It was just beginning to be understood that human emissions of carbon gases blocked infrared radiation from exiting the earth and that increased concentration would lead to drastic climate change. The rate of global warming has therefore increased over the years from human influences such as the second industrial revolution, and wars in humanity such as the World Wars I and II, and the Cold War. Climate change has therefore grown to be a concern for governments and corporations that are responsible for the emission of greenhouse gases. It is however worrying that little progress is made and a solution is unlikely to be reached considering the long time that global warming has been made a global concern.
There are many publications and literature intended on spelling out the dynamics behind global warming and its impact on the earth and the living organisms. Such efforts have made clear the impact of global warming on climate, and by extension, weather patterns, and animal migration. Common knowledge has it that global warming caused by emissions of greenhouse gases make the Earth hotter thus contributing to climate change. The discovery made in 2013 is quite worrying following the unfaltering effort that governments and scientists try to put in averting the already damaged climatic system of the Earth. In the publication by the Royal Society and the US National Academy of Sciences on climate change titled, Climate Change: Evidence & Causes, the year 2013 is recorded to be the warmest in thousands of years due to the effects of global warming. The publication notes that the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases (Carbon IV Oxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) have increased since the onset of the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s. However, the level as recorded at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii had risen from the 316 ppm in 1959 to 396 ppm in 2013 (Royal Society & National Academy of Science 26).
Up to now, global warming has been in existence for almost 200 years, with 1982 being the warmest year on record from strong global warming, but superseded with 2014 as the warmest year in the history of climate change due to global warming (Weart 5). To account for the high concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the publication asserts that the concentration CO2 since the period before the Industrial Revolution had increased by 40% while methane soared upward by about 150% and roughly 20% for nitrous oxide (Royal Society & National Academy of Science 26). CO2 is however the most potent of the three in contributing to global warming. Additionally, the revelation by scientists is that more than half of the increase in CO2 in the atmosphere can be traced back to the period after 1970. The other finding by scientists is that through an examination of greenhouse gases with a reference point in the past, a study of the air trapped in ice in the Antarctica accumulating over the years show that the concentration of CO2 began increasing exponentially in the 19th century. Recent concentrations therefore show a shift from the longstanding initial range of 260-280ppm maintained for over 10,000 years to a breach of the 300-ppm mark most notably in the 20th through 21st centuries, specifically in 2013. The significance of the scientific revelation in 2013 is that over 800,000 years, concentrations of CO2 have remained between 170 and 300 ppm. It is only until recent years that concentrations above 300 ppm have been recorded (Royal Society & National Academy of Science 27).
The conclusion of this publication is therefore that continued climate change is unavoidable following the unprecedented increase in carbon emissions by human activities. The changes in future can only be estimated while extremities in climate significantly affect the ecosystem of the Earth. In critically analyzing this publication, the vehicle for the specific issues addressed therein is the simplicity in the language used to convey these issues. It is particularly significant that this publication standardizes its terminologies to cater for a wider audience. As scientific literature are often prone to employing scientific and technical terms describable as lingo, the publication on climate change tries address a diverse audience. Another strength of the publication is its detail. The use of figures and graphs are quite instrumental in supporting the points purported by the publication, thus improving its professional touch and readability. Perhaps the only weakness of the work is its failure to quote its sources. It is however thoughtful that the authors acknowledges the use of other documents for further reading to compensate for this shortcoming.
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the Royal Society are both credible authors with expertise and authority in writing about global warming. The NAS is a body established under the Congressional Charter of 1863 to play an advisory role to the United States on scientific and technical research. Within the NAS is the National Research Council, which has issued many reports over the years on the causes of climate change and the possible responses that could be applied to revert these conditions. The NAS is therefore qualified to make addresses or comments on global warming and climate change. The Royal Society of the other hand is an establishment that consists of excellent scientists and members drawn from various fields of study such as medicine and engineering. Added to its portfolio is that it is the national academy of science in the United Kingdom. The Royal Society was founded under the Charters of 1660s to recognize, promote, and support excellence in science. These authors are therefore credible to make inquir...