Global Warming

Global Warming, caused by atmospheric pollution and natural sources, produces higher temperature changes..
Al Gore's documentary about climate change - An Inconvenient Truth - is discussed.
When Will it Occur? A big difference between the global warming crisis and the present energy crisis is the time element. The energy crisis is upon us now while the global warming effects may take decades before the effects take a big bite out of us. (That last sentence may soon require revision in view of recent increase in strong hurricanes such as Katrina, rapidly melting arctic ice caps, and record high temperatures.)
Definition
The Wikipedia definition is one of the best:
"Global Warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation."
Note: Due to the reluctance of some U.S. officials to deny that global warming even exists, they have chosen to use the term "climate change" instead. Since I am not politically correct, I will continue to use the term, "global warming." Climate change is a legitimate term but it is not identical. Don't let Rush Limbaugh confuse you. Stick with the Al Gore definition. After all, wasn't Gore smart enough to invent the Internet?
Global Warming Crisis and Energy Crisis Compared
A major similarity between the two crises is that many citizens don't really believe that either global warming or the energy crisis are actual problems. Another similarity between the two crises is that the US political leaders have been slow to get the message about either crisis, or if they do, they apparently want to hide it from the citizens.
Of course, the major scientific relationship between the two crises is that one of the major causes of global warming is attributed to excessive fossil fuel consumption and the resulting rapid accumulation in the atmosphere of the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2), as well as accumulation of other greenhouse gases such as methane in the atmosphere. The accumulated air pollution gases produce climate change.
So, an easing of the energy crisis by using less energy or developing clean alternative energy sources would reduce air pollution and would help with the global warming problem.
Causes of Global Warming
As discussed above, global warming is largely attributable to the accumulation of water vapor, CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere. The relationship to the greenhouse effect is apt. A greenhouse roof lets in the sun's rays effectively but then the energy trapped in the greenhouse causes the temperature of the greenhouse to rise.
A greenhouse effect is also produced in the earth's atmosphere when water vapor, CO2 and other greenhouse gases, e.g., methane, accumulate in the earth's atmosphere and act as a greenhouse roof causing a temperature rise. Some of this warming effect is good because, if the greenhouse effect were not present, the earth would be very cold, e.g., the oceans would freeze. On the other hand, too much warming is bad. It is a fine balance that must be in place to keep things on earth close to what we consider normal.
The "fine balance" has begun to shift to the warm side.
It should be noted, of course, that a large part of the greenhouse gas accumulations in the atmosphere, as discussed above, have natural causes. But a significant part of the greenhouse gases accumulating in the atmosphere are the result man's activities, e.g., air pollution from fossil fuel burning, land use change, and deforestation.
And, unfortunately, the United States is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases.
Al Gore discusses global warming causes in detail in his documentary: An Inconvenient Truth. Al Gore recently won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work. He shared the prize with the IPCC, a UN-sponsored organization responsible for fighting Global Warming.
Greenhouse Gases in the Atmosphere
Surprisingly (to me, at least!), the most common greenhouse gas in the atmosphere is water vapor. Water vapor causes 50% or thereabout of the greenhouse effect. You don't see much about water vapor as a greenhouse gas in the literature........ most attention is directed toward carbon dioxide, (CO2 ) and, to a lesser but growing extent, methane and ozone..
[Note: The above paragraph has just been written by me because of an email from a sharp-eyed reader who pointed out the importance of water vapor in atmospheric warming. (I had left water vapor out entirely in my original version.) But since the concentration of water vapor is relatively constant in the atmosphere and since there is not much we can do to control water vapor concentrations, I still think the general consensus that CO2 is the main culprit in global warming is a legitimate consensus. But, the role of water vapor merits some attention!]
Effect of Increased Carbon Dioxide on Global Warming.
Carbon Dioxide ( CO2 ) concentration in the atmosphere is the most closely watched greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Until about 50 to 75 years ago, the CO2 level in the atmosphere was about 290 parts per million. The present CO2 level is about 380 parts per million and rising at an increasing rate. During this same period, the earth's atmospheric temperature has increased about 1o F.
Not much of a carbon dioxide increase or temperature increase, but some early warning signs of global warming have already been noted:
In the summers of 2006 and 2007, temperature records were broken all across the U.S. This follows the non-winters of 2005-06 & 2006-2007. Something screwy was definitely happening even though the Bush administration played ignorant in the matter.
A rapid shrinking of the world's glaciers and polar ice caps is occurring. Shrinking ice caps and glaciers spell trouble.
A rise in sea levels is occurring as the ice and snow melt. You may not see this effect of sea level rise where you live, but down here in Louisiana, it is very apparent if you go into the marsh. In Louisiana's marshy areas, there is essentially 0 elevation above sea level (a piece of land 6 inches high is a "mountain" in the marsh. So a few inches rise in sea level covers everything but the "mountains." Partly as a result of the above, Louisiana has been losing an average of 25 square miles of marsh per year for several decades now. (Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused a loss of over 100 square miles of marsh). Coastal erosion is rampant in Louisiana. (Please note. This description is an oversimplification of the problem since many other man-made actions (and also nature-caused effects) have contributed to the coastal erosion problem. But one thing is obvious: Louisiana will suffer greatly from sea level rise!
Due to glacier and ice cap melting in the northern hemispheres, the water of the North Atlantic has become much fresher in terms of salinity. "So what," you say. The "what" is the Gulf Stream, which keeps our upper eastern seaboard and the British Isles warm. The Gulf Stream requires very salty water in the Arctic ocean sinking and flowing south for the system to work properly. The system may not work if Arctic water loses too much of its salinity. (The Gulf Stream actually shut down for awhile about 8,000 years ago.) While such an event would not destroy civilization as we know it, it would put a few kinks in it for those living on the affected coasts.
Agriculture crop yields have decreased in some instances. Some think a significant decrease in corn crop yields has already occurred. Just when we were counting on surplus corn crops to produce ethanol fuel.
Violent weather is more frequent and unpredictable. The number of hurricanes occurring each year is forecast to increase and the storms will be more violent. Some experts say this happened in 2005 as New Orleans (where I live) and the Gulf Coast were devastated. (Of course, many religious fundamentalists say the Tribulation is upon us and sin-city New Orleans is just being punished by God!)
Present Goals for Controlling Global Warming.
If no action is taken to contain carbon dioxide levels, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere could reach 900 - 1000 parts per million by the end of this century. If that happens, look out for the warming effects!
Although the Bush Administration has put forth little leadership in this area, the rest of the world, including a surprising number of other countries, U.S. states, private companies, etc, have not sat still. Some of the progress in the area:
Kyoto Protocol. A total of 160 countries have agreed to the Kyoto Protocol which is intended to halt or slow global warming. The protocol requires CO2 emission reduction by those signing the accord. Unfortunately, the world's biggest atmospheric polluter, the US, has not signed the protocol.
US and the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol is a welcome start. Maybe the US and some of the other holdouts will be shamed into cooperating. The U.S. convened its own forum on the matter late in September 2007.
U.S. States Take Action. An increasing number of U.S. states are taking action. California, for example, under Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is mandating lower gaseous emission caps for both individuals and industry. California also is getting tough on automobile gas mileage standards. What a pleasant surprise Schwarzenegger has been! An environmentalist! (We need to get the law changed so Schwarzenegger can run for president.)
Lawsuits to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. State Attorney Generals have begun suing large utilities to require the utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Mandatory Limits on CO2 Emissions. The European Union is in the process of imposing mandatory limits on CO2 emissions. England is setting some particularly stringent goals for CO2 reduction.
Upper Limits of CO2. A rough consensus appears to be developing as to what upper limit of CO2 is acceptable. An upper limit of about 500 to 550 parts per million CO2 is being discussed. Some experts say we must limit the temperature increase this century to be no more than 2o C. (After Hurricane Katrina, the 2005-2006-2007 "non-winters" and the 2006 & 2007 summer heat waves, the figures noted above for the upper CO2 limit may need to be revised downward.)
In regards to the upper limits of CO2 that is allowable, an increasing figure being mentioned among many scientists is 350 parts per million CO2.
Market Trading System for Carbon Dioxide Emissions. A market-based trading system for trading carbon emissions is being discussed According to experts, such a trading system worked well to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions a decade or so ago. Maybe it will work for CO2 emissions also. Several states already have a greenhouse gas emissions trading system, involving carbon credits, in place
Of course, a major problem with efforts to reduce global warming is that the effort is going to run head on into the Peak Oil problem. As the world's supplies of good fuel - light oil, natural gas, etc. - are used up, "dirty" sources of fuel - coal, oil sands, shale rock, etc, will have to be used. Undesirable CO2 emissions from the less clean fuels will increase accordingly.
Of course, the development of alternative energy sources is finally ramping up and will replace a small portion of the dirty fossil fuels in the short run and, hopefully, much more of the fossil fuels in the long run.
Both the energy crisis and the global warming crisis cry out for leadership and a well-defined energy plan by the United States. Some say that instead of fighting warming, we should just adjust to it! I don't agree....adjusting is not really a plan.
Where is our leadership? Where is our strategy? Where is our courage?
Instead of leadership and strategy, we get the ranting of Rush Limbaugh who, of course, gets a big laugh out of the very idea of global warming. (Rush Limbaugh is paid very well to spew his nonsense onto the American people.)
Al Gore: An Inconvenient Truth
Former Vice President and recent Nobel Prize winner, Al Gore, has been speaking up about global warming and has been presenting a DVD documentary on the matter. The name of the Al Gore Documentary is "An Inconvenient Truth." I have reviewed the Al Gore documentary and it is a classic.
Yes, living in New Orleans and watching the catastrophic results of an alleged global warming event has made me cynical about the U.S. Government's ability to react to any crisis!
Al Gore is right! But is anyone listening?
Political Implications
While many politicians, particularly the Democrats, applaud Mr. Gore winning the Nobel Peace Prize (Gore shared the prize with the IPCC) for this work, others remain in denial. Former President Bush, for one, said, essentially, that "more testing and data collection is needed." I have heard that and similar phrases often in my engineering career as decision makers seek to avoid making decisions on tough issues.
Many critics of Al Gore just don't give Gore credit for anything. They remember the statements attributed to Gore about "inventing the Internet" and about the movie, Love Story, being based on Gore's courtship and marriage. While these statements were likely misconstrued by his political opponents, they have stuck to Gore like glue!
Rush Limbaugh, the unofficial propaganda minister for the Republican Party and the spiritual leader of the conservative movement, openly mocks the very idea that there is any such thing as global warming. And Limbaugh is also great at mocking Al Gore!
Down here in Louisiana, both former President Bush and Limbaugh are heroes to the multitude of uneducated folks that live here so there is little serious discussion of global warming because the two heroes are in denial. Even as our great city, New Orleans, still lies largely devastated as a result of an alleged warming-related event.
But, in regards to the national attitude, Bush and Limbaugh are rapidly becoming the exceptions among politicians rather than the rule. Most national politicians - even those ultraconservatives who have had to be dragged, kicking and screaming, into this century - now accept the idea that global warming is, at least, beginning.
A political problem that I see occurring is that politicians often are gravitating to the wrong solutions for the problem. Use more "clean coal" and "produce more ethanol", they say. But technologies for making coal clean are still not worked out and many experts question whether production of corn-based ethanol is worth the trouble....it takes about as much energy to produce a gallon of ethanol as the energy you get out of the ethanol product. (Of course, the corn farmers will argue otherwise!)
No doubt, clean coal and ethanol will play roles in the mix of alternative sources of energy to replace oil, but we are going to need much more than those two alternative fuels.
It gives the politicians a warm and fuzzy feeling to cater to the millions of American farmers and to the coal lobby, but, if we really want to solve the climate change and energy crises, we need to really get busy with an expanded alternative energy program.
Recent Developments - Methane, the Doomsday Threat!
In the past few years, the threat of global warming from increasing levels of methane in the atmosphere has become recognized and is receiving publicity. Although CO2 is the main man-made cause, some scary scenarios have been put forward for methane gas to play a much bigger role in future warming episodes.
Essentially, the methane scenarios involve large amounts of methane gas being released into the atmosphere because of heating of the massive amounts of methane hydrates contained below the frozen North and South polar areas and also at the bottom of the ocean. According to the scenarios, a temperature rise of only ten degrees in the atmospheric temperature could set off a non-stoppable methane liberation process.
For details on the methane hydrates problem, refer to The Methane Burp . Warning - it is scary reading!
Web Sites for Global Warming - Climate Change - Al Gore
1. Alternative Energy Sources. A solution to the energy crisis and to global warming is to find alternative energy sources to replace oil and the other fossil fuels. How are we doing? -- Not too good but some progress made.
2. Global Warming & Peak Oil: Double-Headed Threat. Peak Oil is here and global warming is beginning. A double-headed threat for mankind to face! Which threat must we face first? The fate of the U.S. and of the civilized world may be at stake!
3. Germany in World War 2. World War 2 was probably the greatest tragedy to ever strike the human race but global warming could be worse!
http://www.conservatismvsliberalism.com/energycrisis/largeoilcompanystocks.htm
Summary: Global Warming & Climate Change - Al Gore
As Al Gore has shown, Global warming is beginning now and is here to stay. It is a global climate change that is closely related to the energy crisis and, if we could resolve the energy crisis with alternative energy sources, the severe global warming effects might be largely forestalled. In the meantime, expect stronger storms, coastal flooding as the polar ice caps begin to melt, and record high temperatures