Chandra Washington

Geog 1700
Timmins
11/19/14

The topic I chose to discuss is Global Warming and Climate Change. The root cause of
my environmental issue reflects on how human activities contribute to the increase of global
temperatures; mostly caused by greenhouse gases like CO2. The term Greenhouse is used in
conjunction with the phenomenon known as the greenhouse effect. Energy from the sun drives
the earths weather and climate, and heats the earths surface; in turn, the earth radiates energy
back into space. Some atmospheric gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases,
trap a great amount of the outgoing energy; retaining heat somewhat like the glass panels of a
greenhouse therefore known as greenhouse gases.

"The Greenhouse Effect" in: "Introduction," in: US EPA (December 2012), Climate Change Indicators in the United
States, 2nd edition, Washington, DC, USA: US EPA,

There are six main greenhouse gases which include:

Carbon Dioxide CO2; although it is not the most potent it is the most used

Image credit: NASA/JPL/Leonid Yurganov, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Methane CH4 (Which is 20 times as potent as CO2)

Nitrous Oxide N2O

Hydroflourocarbons HFCs

Perfluorocarbons PFCs

Sulphur Hexaflouride SF6

The last three are fluorinated industrial gases. Water vapor is considered to be classified as a
greenhouse gas as well. It seems that these gases are a natural part of our climates, but
unfortunately these gases are self-enabling; without them heat would escape back into space and
the Earths temperature would be a lot cooler. Below is a table of just how the human fingerprint
has had an impact on our climate change:

Skeptical Science Graphics by Skeptical Science is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.skepticalscience.com.

Many places have seen changes in rainfall, resulting in more floods, droughts, or intense
rain, as well as more frequent and severe heat waves. The planet's oceans and glaciers have also
experienced some big changes. Oceans are warming and becoming more acidic, ice caps are
melting, and sea levels are rising. As these and other changes become more pronounced in the
coming decades, they will most likely present challenges to our society and our environment. It
isn't in just one certain area in the planet. It is being caused in foreign countries as well as here
but the risks are still caused by everyone. Industrialized nations are doing most of the damage
now, but eventually they will be outmoded by China and India. Global warming is happening all
over the world, hence the name global warming; although some areas (like the north and south
poles) are affected more severely and more noticeably. Also, an increase in average temperatures
worldwide implies more frequent and intense extreme heat events, or heat waves. The number of
days with high temperatures above 90F is expected to increase throughout the United States,

especially in areas that already experience heat waves; for example, areas the Southeast, and
Southwest, currently experience an average of 60 days per year with a high temperature about 90
degrees F. These areas are projected to experience 150 or more days a year above 90F by the
end of the century, under a higher emissions scenario. In addition to occurring more frequently,
these very hot days are projected to be about 10F hotter at the end of this century than they are
today, under a higher emissions scenario; that is insane!

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I have noticed that over the past few years or so that there are a lot of people who are
trying to make a change in protecting the environment. That is where the term going green is
coming from. Not only is it crucial that we get together and master exercises like recycling.
Instead of utilizing items such as plastic bags, people are starting to use their own re-usable
baggage to take groceries home in. Also, I have seen mothers use cloth diapers instead of the
disposable ones. Now we are slowly seeing changes to vehicles; instead of them using gasoline
they are required to use electricity to run which will cause less potent gases in the air. However,
not enough is being done to make enough change for Global Warming and over the years we a
facing a very hot tragedy. It is time that more people go green and make necessary changes for a
better climate.

My Reflection:
After writing this assignment I have grown to learn how much humans impact the earths climate
change. I never paid too much attention on going green until I took this class. It never
occurred to me that my global footprint was an issue until I took this class. I definitely want to
make better choices to impact my climates change; it will be a small percentage but at least I
am doing my part. Not only are these changes beneficial for my habitat, but they are also
beneficial for mine and my familys health.

Sources:
http://www.earthend-newbeginning.com/global-warming/1776-rising-health-care-costs-comingfrom-global-warming/

http://www.greenchoices.org/articles/climate-change/what-is-being-done
http://www.globalissues.org/issue/178/climate-change-and-global-warming
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/basics/
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/environmental-change/what-is-climate-change/kyoto/
https://www2.ucar.edu/climate/faq/how-much-has-global-temperature-risen-last-100-years