Global Warming. Due to too much information, there are many conflicting views on whether human activity is leading to climate change and further to global warming. Warburton (2001) explains: The consequences of global warming are unclear and have cau

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Storms, hurricanes, tornados and volcanic eruption, are some of the stories on which the media thrive on, eager to be the first one to bring breaking news story to share with the rest of the world. Almost every day, there will be a new story related to natural disasters somewhere in the world. According to some scientists, humans are the main contributes; these disasters are somehow linked to climate change and global warming.  Global warming is the overall warming of the planet, which is based on average temperature over the entire surface. Whereas, climate change is the regional climate characteristics, including temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind and severe weather events (Warburton 2001, p.5). Warburton on p.47 goes on to explain, the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation have both resulted in a steady rise in CO2 levels in the atmosphere. Along with the emission of other gases, known collectively as ‘greenhouse gases’ these have resulted in an overall warming effect to the atmosphere.

 Thanks to the media, millions of viewer became aware of the impact which climate change can have upon the world’s population. But can the media be trusted because most of the times the media does not tell the whole story, it only informs the public about what the government wants them to hear. It is dedicated to making our society feel guilty about its wealth and materialism, and to using the powerful levers of government to for us to adopt lifestyles it thinks are best(Suttell 2007). Due to too much information, there are many conflicting views on whether human activity is leading to climate change and further to global warming.  Warburton (2001) explains:

“The consequences of global warming are unclear and have caused much controversy (p.57)

Whereas, Ian Stewart (2007) warns us of the dangers of global warming and climate change. He explains that humans operate on a different timescale to the planet. In changing this world we are altering every environment that allowed our species and civilization to flourish. Just like the dinosaurs, we can’t cope with sudden change. This time it is us, not dinosaurs who are top of the food chain. So all this stuff about ‘saving Planet Earth’ is nonsense that’s not the problem. Planet Earth does not need saving. For four and a half billion years the Earth has been a survivor. It’s not the planet we should be worried about. It’s us. In order to agree or disagree with Stewart, this assignment will look at the contributing factors that have resulted in climate change from the scientific, meteorological, and geographical and the media views of climate change and the impact it has and will have upon humans and other species in the world.

it wasn’t until 1980’s that Global warming, was seen as a serious threat to the world, this belief was sensationalised  by the politician Margaret Thatcher(lecture notes).This decade became known as the era of anthraposcene-  era of human intervention.

Along with the threat of global warming also arrived new technologies and new gadgets which allowed meteorologists to record data and predict the weather pattern for the next few days, years or even centuries. Our knowledge of Earth’s climate history is being supplemented with the help of such new scientific tools as solar- monitoring satellites and mass spectrometer measurements of oxygen and isotopes. These are allowing the Earth itself to tell us about its climate history for the first time. This new technology has also allowed meteorologist to see what is happening to planet earth via satellites. Meteorologists discovered changes in the ozone layer, which they believe are connected with the green house effect, which again they believe may lead to global warming (Law and Smith 1993, p.44). Other statistical information has also been collected; both from recent historical records and contemporary sources, changes in the levels of CO2 and temperature have become apparent (Jones 2003, p.98).  Warburton (2001) adds, in 1990, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) used mathematical models to predict a 3 C increase in temperatures by 2100. but (Jones and wigley 1990) cited in Graves and Reavey(1996,p.16) noticed that since the 19th century there have been temperature data avaliable from weather stations throughout the world, yet it is surprisingly difficult to compile an accurate  picture of changes in world temperature over the last century. In 1990, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) used mathematical models to predict a 3 C increase in temperatures by 2100.

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Whilst satellites can record data and predict what is likely to happen the next day, week, year or even a century, they are unable to tell how earth has managed to survive in previous decade. The real evidence can be found in earth itself, in ice cores and seabed sediment because they’re the most important long record proxies and among the most accurate, if treated properly (lecture notes). But if the public were suddenly convinced of the natural, moderate 1,500 year cycle, there would be a crushing impact on donations and grants to environmental advocacy groups and on the reputations ...

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