History
A brief history of
Global warming
Global Warming is the
increase in the average temperature of the
Earth's atmosphere and oceans which has been
measured in recent decades and is projected to
continue into the future. The near surface
average atmospheric temperature rose by about 0.6
degrees Celsius during the 20th century, and most
scientific opinion attributes this to human
activities. The main effect of these activities
is the increased atmospheric concentration of
`greenhouse gases', chiefly carbon dioxide,
caused mainly by the burning of fossil fuels,
land clearance (such as the rain forests) and
agriculture.
Various scientific
models predict that unless action is taken,
global temperatures may increase between 1.4 and
5.8 degrees Celsius between 1990 and 2100. The
change is very difficult to predict as there are
so many variables, but there is little doubt it
will continue to rise. The main predicted effects
are a rising sea level globally due to glacier
retreat and melting polar ice-caps, and a change
in the patterns of precipitation resulting in a
greater frequency of extreme events such as
floods, droughts, heat waves, hurricanes and
tornadoes.
Deforestation of
the Tropical Rain Forests
The problem of
climate change is not solely one of increased
carbon dioxide emissions. It is compounded by the
removal of the trees of the tropical rain forests
at an alarming rate. The rain forests have been
described as `the lungs of the earth' because of
the large amounts of oxygen they produce, but
have been subjected to systematic and largely
unregulated clearance for many years, principally
to obtain the high quality hardwood, such as
mahogany, from the trees. One fifth of the
world's tropical rainforest was destroyed between
1960 and 1990. Estimates of deforestation of
tropical forest for the 1990s range from 55,630
square kilometers to 120,000 square kilometers
each year. At this rate, all tropical forests may
be gone by the year 2090.
Carbon Dioxide
from Aircraft - Your Flights
Calculating carbon
dioxide emissions from aircraft is not an exact
science because of the number of perameters
involved. However it is fair to say that the
emissions are proportional to the fuel burned.
Therefore the length of the flight, acceleration,
height, speed, weather conditions, and number of
passengers and luggage (load) are all
contributary factors.
Aircraft produce
about 3% of EU carbon dioxide emissions, more
than refineries or steel plants, and scientists
believe aviation will account for 5% of total
global warming by 2050. In addition aircraft also
produce nitrogen oxides (NOx), leading to the
formation of another greenhouse gas, ozone. It is
also believed that condensation trails from jet
engines can develop into cirrus clouds which may
also have a warming effect.
What can
I do? Unfortunately, the
only solution is to take fewer flights!
You and your Life
at Home
Basically speaking,
everything you do contributes to your personal `carbon
footprint' and at
home that involves the use of fossil fuel either
directly (for example oil fired central heating)
or indirectly (using electricity provided by a
power station that burns fossil fuel).
What can
I do? You can
minimise this by reducing your home's energy
consumption. Every little helps whether it be
switching off lights in unoccupied rooms,
installing better insulation, using energy
efficient lighting, or turning down your room
thermostat by one degree. If you wish to make a
capital investment you could consider the
installation of solar panels or a wind powered
generator.
Your Vehicles and
Your Driving
Motor vehicles of all
descriptions which are powered by internal
combustion engines produce vast amounts of carbon
dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Although modern
engines are more fuel efficient, they are also
more powerful, and coupled with the change in
driving conditions on overcrowded roads in recent
years (stop-start motoring in congested urban
areas and traffic jams) actually get a lower
miles-per-gallon figure overall than in the
1980s! Also there is a tendency for manufacturers
to produce larger vehicles such as the
gas-guzzling Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV's). All
of these factors add to pollution.
What can
I do? You can help
by considering your driving habits. When changing
your car consider what size of vehicle you
actually need. Avoid unnecessary
journeys and congested areas where possible, and
drive with fuel economy in mind. All of these
measures will help to reduce fuel consumption and
hence pollution, and you will feel the benefits
in your pocket as well!
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