What Are Greenhouse Gases?
Some greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, while others result from human activities. Naturally occurring greenhouse gases include water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. Certain human activities, however, add to the levels of most of these naturally occurring gases:
Carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere when solid waste, fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), and wood and wood products are burned.
Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions also result from the decomposition of organic wastes in municipal solid waste landfills, and the raising of livestock.
Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels.
Very powerful greenhouse gases that are not naturally occurring include hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs), per fluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hex fluoride (SF6), which are generated in a variety of industrial processes.
Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels make up 80% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions
The UK economy is highly dependant on fossil fuels for energy supplies. Dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning make up 80% of UK greenhouse gas emissions. After carbon dioxide, the next most significant greenhouse gas is Methane.
How does global warming affect us?
Global warming affects us by increase in climate change. Most critical of these risks are an increase in frequency and intensity of extreme weather such as hot spells, drought and storms. By the year 2050 the projected rise in average surface temperature is expected to be between 0.9 and 2.4°c. This will lead to hot, dry summers, particularly in the south east of the UK. Mild wet winters are expected to occur more often by the middle of the 21st century, especially in the northwest, but the chance of extreme winter should diminish.
Climate changes in the UK are likely to have a substantial affect on agriculture in the UK. In general higher temperatures would decrease the yield of cereal crops (such as wheat) although the yield of crops such as potatoes and sugar would increase.
Global warming is not acting in isolation. It comes in addition to existing environmental stresses such as acid rain and air pollution, and largely from the same sources: burning fossil fuels, especially coal and oil. The aggregate impact of air pollution and climate change can increase respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis
How can we stop global warming?
There's really no way to keep global warming from getting worse without cutting back on the burning of fossil fuels, and it doesn't look like that's going to happen for a while. To have the increase be as little as possible, people can make choices that reduce their use of fossil fuels, for example, by driving a fuel efficient car or by walking or taking public transportation whenever possible. As a nation, we can pressure our leaders to make a pact with other nations to reduce greenhouse emissions. Improved automobile mileage, reforestation projects, energy efficiency in construction, and national support for mass transit are among relatively simpler adjustments that could significantly lower production of greenhouse gases. More aggressive adjustments include a gradual worldwide shift away from the use of fossil fuels, the elimination of chlorofluorocarbons, and the slowing of deforestation by restructuring the economies of developing nations. We can support research into alternative fuels.
No one knows for certain what the consequences of this predicted climate change will be on the quality of human life, ecosystems, and loss of arable land. Some scientists disagree with the conclusions drawn from global climate models because the effects of clouds have not been factored into the current models.
Drought could become a major problem.