This sample research paper by a professional Ultius writer is about global warming and its negative effects on the global climate. By the end of this paper, the reader will understand how human beings catastrophically damaged our environment. How humans have contributed to the continuing climate change epidemic is also discussed.
Global warming and the human element
Global warming has been a “hot topic” for politicians, scientists, and academics alike for decades, but particularly during the past few years. Naturally, it has also become a popular subject for research paper assignments. With global warming being such a broad term, it is best to define it first, and then discuss whether or not it is caused by human error, or simply the life cycle of our planet.
Most scientists agree that the term “global warming” is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere, especially a sustained increase great enough to cause changes in the global climate. During the course of our planet’s history, there have been multiple episodes of global warming, and based on statistical evidence, it seems as though we are currently going through a “warming” period. Global warming, in my opinion, is caused by both human error and the natural life cycle of the Earth. However, I do believe that human errors, pollution being the primary culprit, have contributed greatly to the pace at which this “warming period” is occurring.
Man-made vs. natural causes of global warming
For example, the causes of global warming can be split into two groups: the “man-made” causes, and the “natural” causes. Man-made causes are primarily those occurring through pollution, particularly through the air in this case. Fossil fuel such as coal or oil are released into the air via factories, car engine emissions, etc. When these fuels are burned off, they give off a greenhouse gas called CO2. When this toxin enters the atmosphere, it produces holes in it; puncturing the ozone layer, which essential keeps us safe from the powerful rays of the sun. Consequently, extended CO2 exposure can cause the polar ice caps to melt, resulting in mass flooding and even temperature fluctuations.
Natural causes are, as the name suggests, created by nature. Methane gas from wetlands, the arctic tundra, and other climates are given off naturally, with little to no explanation. Because methane is considered a greenhouse gas, which is a gas that traps heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, it is considered to be a natural toxin that is negatively impacting the Earth’s atmosphere. As another example of the potential implications of such behavior, we are seeing more and more examples of wildfires. While wildfires are common (and natural), they have been more recently attributed to the temperature fluctuations as a result of global warming.
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We are killing future generations of children with our views on climate change
Although it has been stated that both human error and the natural course of the Earth’s environment are both responsible for the concept of global warming, it is obvious that humans are speeding up the process at which global warming is occurring. This has also been argued extensively in dissertation writing. The rising population of the Earth is allowing for more people to consume technology such as cars, trains, and buses, whose engines all burn off these fossil fuels. Even the production of items such as smartphones, computers, tablets, televisions, etc. all contribute to the deterioration of the ozone layer, for the factories that produce these goods also produce fossil fuels, which drift upwards into our atmosphere. The higher the population rises, the more people there will be to consume these products, which ultimately leads to a higher rate of pollution.
Pollution also transcends class or economic level. Poverty-stricken communities use substances such as coal to heat their homes, or to cook their meals. If these communities have automobiles available for use, they are often not very environmentally friendly. Besides air pollution, lower-income areas may not have advanced sewage systems, which can lead to a contaminated water supply, which in turn effects the entire ecology of these areas. Likewise, comparatively wealthier communities (the United States being a prime example) live a lifestyle of consumerism and capitalism, which means the more money we earn as individuals, the more we demand, consume, and ultimately, pollute.
Overall, global warming is caused by multiple factors, the main two being human error and natural course of the Earth’s will. However, humanity has sped up the process of this concept, and if we do not offer clean energy solutions, reconsider our manufacturing methods, and focus more on purifying our carbon foot print, then ultimately, we are still to blame. Despite various international climate talks among nations (such as the now-famous Paris climate talks), there is still lots of work to do.
Works Cited
"Global Warming Science Definition." Global Warming. Your Science, n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2013<http://www.yourdictionary.com/global-warming#americanheritage>.
"Global Warming." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation, n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2013<http://library.thinkquest.org/J003411/causes.htm>.