Greenhouse Gases
-Carbon Dioxide and vapor are the most significant greenhouse gases
-Carbon Dioxide is released into the atmosphere by cell respiration in living organisms, combustion of fossil fuels, and the diffusion of the dissolved carbon in the ocean
-Water vapour is released into the atmosphere by the evaporation of oceans and plant transpiration
-When these gases are released into the atmosphere, they trap the heat coming in from the sun and increase global temperatures (without it, Earth's average temperature would be -18c0
Threats to coral reefs from increasing concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide
In addition to emitting CO2 to the atmosphere, we are increasing the amount of dissolved CO2 in the oceans. This increase of C02 decreases the amount of calcium carbonate vital for the growth of coral reefs. The carbonic acid created by the reaction of CO2 and the ocean dissolves into Hydrogen and Hydrogen ions. These Hydrogen ions react with dissolved carbonate, reducing it's concentration
TOK
The precautionary principle is meant to guide decision-making in conditions where a lack of certainty exist. Is it certainly ever possible in the natural sciences?
No, it is not ever possible. Even though we have some pieces of evidence that might add up to our argument (such as the increase of temperatures from the start of the industrial revolution), we are still never certain of our argument. Unless scientists create extreme high-tech glasses that show the exact UV rays being emitted back by the Earth and trapped in the atmosphere because of the (ALSO VISIBLE) greenhouse gases, then no, we can never be certain. These type of theories are extremely hard to prove because they are so beyond the capabilities of human beings.
Other Greenhouse Gases
-Other gases including methane and nitrogen oxides have less impact
-Methane is emitted by waterlogged are as. It is also released by the extraction of fossil field and the melting of ice
-Nitrous oxide is released by bacteria, agriculture, and vehicle exhaust
-These greenhouse gases make up less than 1% of the atmospheric gases
-Carbon Dioxide and vapor are the most significant greenhouse gases
-Carbon Dioxide is released into the atmosphere by cell respiration in living organisms, combustion of fossil fuels, and the diffusion of the dissolved carbon in the ocean
-Water vapour is released into the atmosphere by the evaporation of oceans and plant transpiration
-When these gases are released into the atmosphere, they trap the heat coming in from the sun and increase global temperatures (without it, Earth's average temperature would be -18c0
Threats to coral reefs from increasing concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide
In addition to emitting CO2 to the atmosphere, we are increasing the amount of dissolved CO2 in the oceans. This increase of C02 decreases the amount of calcium carbonate vital for the growth of coral reefs. The carbonic acid created by the reaction of CO2 and the ocean dissolves into Hydrogen and Hydrogen ions. These Hydrogen ions react with dissolved carbonate, reducing it's concentration
TOK
The precautionary principle is meant to guide decision-making in conditions where a lack of certainty exist. Is it certainly ever possible in the natural sciences?
No, it is not ever possible. Even though we have some pieces of evidence that might add up to our argument (such as the increase of temperatures from the start of the industrial revolution), we are still never certain of our argument. Unless scientists create extreme high-tech glasses that show the exact UV rays being emitted back by the Earth and trapped in the atmosphere because of the (ALSO VISIBLE) greenhouse gases, then no, we can never be certain. These type of theories are extremely hard to prove because they are so beyond the capabilities of human beings.
Other Greenhouse Gases
-Other gases including methane and nitrogen oxides have less impact
-Methane is emitted by waterlogged are as. It is also released by the extraction of fossil field and the melting of ice
-Nitrous oxide is released by bacteria, agriculture, and vehicle exhaust
-These greenhouse gases make up less than 1% of the atmospheric gases
Assessing the Impact of Greenhouse Gases
-The impact of a gas depends on it's ability to absorb long-wave radiation as well on it's concentration in the atmosphere
-The concentration of the gas in the atmosphere is determined by the usual amount of time that it will remain there
-Although methane causes much more warming per molecule, carbon dioxide is more concentrated and lasts much longer in the atmosphere
-The impact of a gas depends on it's ability to absorb long-wave radiation as well on it's concentration in the atmosphere
-The concentration of the gas in the atmosphere is determined by the usual amount of time that it will remain there
-Although methane causes much more warming per molecule, carbon dioxide is more concentrated and lasts much longer in the atmosphere
Long-Wavelength Emissions from Earth
-The warmed Earth emits longer wave radiation
-The Earth absorbs short-wave length radiation from the sun and re-emits it back at long-wave radiation
-The warmed Earth emits longer wave radiation
-The Earth absorbs short-wave length radiation from the sun and re-emits it back at long-wave radiation
Greenhouse Gases
-Longer wave-length radiation is reabsorbed by greenhouse gases which retains the heat in the atmosphere
-When the sun radiation bounces off the Earth as heat in long-wave radiation, 70% to 85% of it is captured by the greenhouse gases
-The captured energy is bounces back again at the Earth and cause global warming
-Longer wave-length radiation is reabsorbed by greenhouse gases which retains the heat in the atmosphere
-When the sun radiation bounces off the Earth as heat in long-wave radiation, 70% to 85% of it is captured by the greenhouse gases
-The captured energy is bounces back again at the Earth and cause global warming
Global Temperatures and Carbon Dioxide Concentration
-Global temperatures and climate patterns are influenced by concentrations of greenhouse gases
-Ice cores have shown a period of 800,000 years in which the higher temperatures are contemporaneous with high concentrations of carbon dioxide
-However, the increase of temperature can also be due to other factors, such as the Milankovitch Cycle of Earth's shifts of positions and changing the sunspot activity, making the sun radiation more or less concentrates. Therefor, higher or colder temperatures depending on Earth's position
-The high temperatures due to the excess of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can lead to an increase of precipitation, therefor an increase of topical storms and hurricanes
-Global temperatures and climate patterns are influenced by concentrations of greenhouse gases
-Ice cores have shown a period of 800,000 years in which the higher temperatures are contemporaneous with high concentrations of carbon dioxide
-However, the increase of temperature can also be due to other factors, such as the Milankovitch Cycle of Earth's shifts of positions and changing the sunspot activity, making the sun radiation more or less concentrates. Therefor, higher or colder temperatures depending on Earth's position
-The high temperatures due to the excess of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can lead to an increase of precipitation, therefor an increase of topical storms and hurricanes
Opposition to climate change in science: Evaluating claims that human activities are not causing climate change
-The claim that "the increase of carbon dioxide is not causing global waning because global warming stopped in 1998 and the CO2 levels are still increasing" is false because it is not based in strong evidence
-The global temperatures are still rising, and this claims was due to the fact that compared to some years followed to it, 1998 was unusually warm
-The claim that "the increase of carbon dioxide is not causing global waning because global warming stopped in 1998 and the CO2 levels are still increasing" is false because it is not based in strong evidence
-The global temperatures are still rising, and this claims was due to the fact that compared to some years followed to it, 1998 was unusually warm
Industrialization and Climate Change
-There is a correlation between rising atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide since the start of the industrial revolution 200 years ago and average global temperatures
-Before the Industrial revolution, the highest CO2 glacial concentrations reached 300 ppm, recent concentrations have gone up to 400 ppm
-The combustion of coal, oil, and other natural gases had drastically increased the amount of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere
-Even though the high increase of temperatures can also be due to other factors, the increase of CO2 levels in the atmosphere thanks to the Industrial Revolution correlates a lot with the high increase of temperature
-There is a correlation between rising atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide since the start of the industrial revolution 200 years ago and average global temperatures
-Before the Industrial revolution, the highest CO2 glacial concentrations reached 300 ppm, recent concentrations have gone up to 400 ppm
-The combustion of coal, oil, and other natural gases had drastically increased the amount of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere
-Even though the high increase of temperatures can also be due to other factors, the increase of CO2 levels in the atmosphere thanks to the Industrial Revolution correlates a lot with the high increase of temperature
Burning Fossil Fuels
-Recent increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide are largely due to increases in the combustion of fossilised organic matter
-The theory of human activity causing climate change is proved by the fact that temperatures started increasing rapidly with the combustion of coal in the 18th century and the addition of oil combustion in the 19 the century. The steepest increases of temperatures were seen in the 1950's, when the combustion of oil started to become more rapid
-Recent increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide are largely due to increases in the combustion of fossilised organic matter
-The theory of human activity causing climate change is proved by the fact that temperatures started increasing rapidly with the combustion of coal in the 18th century and the addition of oil combustion in the 19 the century. The steepest increases of temperatures were seen in the 1950's, when the combustion of oil started to become more rapid