Diagram (1)
However, the levels of greenhouse gases are slowly increasing and this is of great concern as this causes the overall temperature of earth to rise (global warming). Just a few degrees celcius rise in the temperature can lead to: significant climate changes and a rise in the sea level. The levels of greenhouse gases are rising because of the immense growth in human activity that increases concentrations. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, which has the largest impact on global warming. It is stored in fossil fuels, the sea, living matter and the atmosphere. Without the influence of humans the transfers between the stores would balance each other. But with the increase in factories, cars, new technology that use fossil fuels and the increase in population hence more energy in use, this increases the effect. In addition the cutting down of vast amounts of trees (deforestation) once again increases the carbon levels as there are less plants to remove the carbon through photosynthesis.
Diagram (2)
Some solutions many would suggest are renewable energy sources, planting more trees and preventing them being chopped down. But the discovery of global dimming could have implications for everything from how effective solar power is to the growth of plants and trees.
"Over the past couple of years it's become clear that the solar irradiance at the Earth's surface has decreased," said Jim Hansen, a climate scientist with Nasa's Goddard Institute for Space Science in New York. (3)
A report written by Dr. Thomas Gale Moore from the Heartland Institution writes of the benefits of global warming such as: warmer winters which will produce less ice and snow to torment drivers; less money spent on clothes that protect you from the cold; heating bills reduced and less weather related problems and delays. (4)
I assessed this research and I found the report very biased. There was no other point of view and I realised that he was very passionate about this issue from his use of emotive language this explained why the report was so biased. The benefits he writes of are only applicable to western countries with moderate overall temperatures. I also researched the Heartland Institution where the author is from.
