The Issue of Global Warming

Paper Summary:

The paper explains the issue of global warming and the "greenhouse effect" as well as the problem of ozone depletion. The paper then shows how global warming has turned into a political subject and discusses how people in developing countries stand to suffer disproportionately greater problems than those living in wealthier countries. The paper asserts that we need to understand that global warming has to be treated as a problem for all in order to properly solve it.

From the Paper:

"Global warming and ozone layer depletion are often discussed together because they are both causing warming however we must make it clear that these two are different problems. Global warming is caused by the "greenhouse effect," which is otherwise essential to human life. Electromagnetic energy coming from the sun is absorbed by the Earth, but as this energy is absorbed, some of it is radiated back in the form of infrared energy (heat). Interestingly, the system is such that as some of this infrared energy goes back into space, it is absorbed by "greenhouse gases" in the lower atmosphere (the troposphere) and is radiated back to the Earth as heat energy."

Sample of Sources Used:

• K. Taylor, "Rapid Climate Change," American Scientist 87 (1999): 320-327.
• "Scientists' Statement on Global Climatic Disruption, 1997" (Washington, DC: Ozone Action, 1997). http://www.whrc.org/resources/online_publications/warming_earth/climate.htm
• K. McDonald, "Debate Over How to Gauge Global Warming Heats up Meeting of Climatologists," The Chronicle of Higher Education (February 5, 1999); D. Bender and B. Leone, eds., Global Warming (San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1997).
• "It's Too Darn Hot," UCAR Quarterly 27 (1998): 12; National Climate Data Center, Climate of 1999 Annual Review (Washington, DC: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2000). http://www.ucar.edu/communications/quarterly/fall98/hot.html
• R. Kerr, "Deep Chill Tiggers Record Ozone Hole," Science 282 (1998): 391; M. Dameris, V. Grewe, R. Hein, C. Schnadt, C. Bruhl, and B. Steil, "Assessment of the Future Development of the Ozone Layer," Geophysical Research Letters 25 (1998): 3579-3582.

More papers on The Issue of Global Warming:

• Analytical Essay # 142177 : "The Reality Of Global Warming"
• Analytical Essay # 132750 : "The Impact of Global Warming"
• Analytical Essay # 74281 : "Impact of Global Warming on Phytoplankton"

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