GLOBAL WARMING versus CLIMATE CHANGE Theiran Moore Grade 10 Applied Science 2012

GLOBAL WARMING THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT Light rays from the Sun travel to Earth, and some rays penetrate the atmosphere. Some of these rays bounce back off Earth and travel back toward space. Some rays pass through Earth’s atmosphere, but some rays are absorbed by the Greenhouse Gases in the atmosphere. The heat in these trapped rays is directed back to Earth. This trapped heat energy keeps the Earth warm and allows for life. This is called the Greenhouse Effect…and it is vital for our survival.

CLIMATE CHANGE Climate is the long term variation in weather patterns in an area. Climate Change can happen over many years – hundreds, thousands and millions of years. The change is constant. Some years, it can be warm and dry, while in other periods, it can be cold in wet in the same place. The climate in an area can go from tropical forest over time to a winter wonderland. The change is natural. Humans do not cause climate change.

GLOBAL CLIMATE WARMING In recent years, CO 2 levels in the atmosphere exceed normal levels. Moreover, the CO 2 levels are going up and up (…normally, CO 2 levels would decrease after a while). The higher CO 2 levels are changing the world’s climate. Countries are experiencing weather that has never occurred in that region before. The CO 2 inputs are coming from our increased use of fossil fuels. We burn gasoline, coal and oil for energy, industrial operations, home heating, transportation, etc. When these fossil fuels are burned, CO 2 is given off. Too much CO 2 in the atmosphere is bad.

WHAT ARE THE AFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING Global Warming is destroying our planet. The Earth is heating up at a pace that cannot be sustained. Too much heat is… …Melting the polar ice caps and causing the ocean levels to rise…causing flooding …Destroying or changing the habitats of many animals (e.g., ice melting is taking away polar bear habitats) …Causing strange weather (e.g., Ice Storm, 2012 winter was very mild) …Causing droughts which, in turn, reduce the amount of crops grown on farms. Without food, many people are hungry

Carbon Trading I think that carbon trading is a very ineffective way to solve global warming. If there was no carbon trading, we would have companies staying within their own limit. Moreover if companies don’t trade, the amount of carbon input the atmosphere would be under the maximum desired level instead of being at the maximum. For example, if the maximum amount of carbon that can be added safely to the atmosphere is 10 units AND if we have companies under their maximum input, it would be good for the environment (i.e., the overall input would be less than 10 units). If trading the spare (or unused) carbon was allowed, we would be at the maximum at all times. It is better to solve your own problem and be less than maximum.

How can we stop or slowdown Global Warming We can recycle We can do things in a more ECO-friendly way We can plant trees We can turn down the heat in our houses and use energy efficient products (e.g., low energy refrigerators) We can ride a bicycle, walk, take buses or carpool with friends We can drive smaller and more energy efficient cars We can install solar panels on our roofs to provide energy for our homes We can build locally grown or built produces to avoid wasting energy in shipping goods We can erect more windmills We can exchange ideas on Facebook and Twitter We can turn off our computers when not in use We can install solar panels on the roof of the school, turn off bathroom lights and turn down the heat (…wear sweaters)