The cause of global warming
[edit] The greenhouse effect
Any source of energy contained in the Earth comes from the sun. Most of the energy in the form of short-wave radiation, including visible light. When it reached the surface energy of the Earth, he changed from light into heat that warms the Earth. Earth's surface, will absorb some heat and reflecting back the rest. Some of this heat radiation form of long wave infrared to space. However, some heat remains trapped in the Earth's atmosphere due to accumulated amount of greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane which trap the waves of this radiation. These gases absorb and reflect radiation waves emitted heat the Earth and consequently will be stored in the Earth's surface. This occurs continuously resulting in an average temperature of the earth continues to increase yearly.
These gases working in greenhouse gases. With the increasing concentration of these gases in the atmosphere, the more heat is trapped below.
This greenhouse effect is needed by all living things on earth, because without it, this planet will become very cold. With an average temperature of 15 ° C (59 ° F), the earth actually has more hot 33 ° C (59 ° F) from the original temperature, if there is no greenhouse effect the earth temperature is only -18 ° C and ice would cover the entire Earth's surface. On the other hand, if these gases in the atmosphere has been excessive, will cause global warming.
Showing posts with label The cause of global warming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The cause of global warming. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Effects of feedback
[edit] Effects of feedback
Elements of the cause of global warming is also influenced by various feedback processes that result. An example is the evaporation of water. In the case of gas heating due to increasing greenhouse-gases such as CO2, warming will initially lead to more number of water evaporating into the atmosphere. Because water vapor is itself a greenhouse gas, warming will continue and increase the amount of water vapor in the air until the achievement of an equilibrium concentration of water vapor. Greenhouse effect produced greater than the effect of CO2 alone. (Although this feedback increases the absolute water content in the air, the air relative humidity is almost constant or even slightly decreased because the air becomes warmer). [3] This feedback effect is only slowly because CO2 has a long age in the atmosphere.
Feedback effect due to the influence of clouds is the object of current research. When viewed from below, clouds will reflect infrared radiation back to the surface, thereby increasing the heating effect. In contrast when viewed from above, these clouds will reflect sunlight and infrared radiation into space, thereby increasing the cooling effect. Is it the net effect of producing heating or cooling depending on some specific details such as the type and height of the cloud. The details are difficult to be represented in climate models, partly because the cloud is very small compared with the distance between computational limits of climate models (about 125 to 500 km for the model used in the IPCC report to view Four). Nevertheless, cloud feedback ranked second when compared with the water vapor feedback and is considered a positive (warming increase) in all models used in the IPCC report into the Four Views. [3]
Another important feedback is the loss of ability to reflect light (Albedo) by the ice. [4] As global temperatures increase, ice near the poles to melt with increasing speed. Along with the melting of the ice, land or water below it will open. Both land and water have the ability to reflect light much less when compared with the ice, and consequently will absorb more sun radiation. This will increase the warming and cause more ice to melt, into a continuous cycle.
Positive feedback due to release of CO2 and CH4 from the softening of frozen soil (permafrost) are other mechanisms that contribute to warming. In addition, the melting ice will also release CH4 is also causing a positive feedback.
Ocean's ability to absorb carbon will also be reduced if it warms, it menurunya caused by nutrient levels in the mesopelagic zone of limiting the growth of diatoms than the phytoplankton, which is a low carbon sinks. [5]
[edit] Solar variation
Solar variation over 30 years terakhir.Artikel Main is: Variations Sun
There is a hypothesis which states that the variation of the Sun, with a possibility reinforced by feedback from clouds, can contribute in the current warming. [6] The difference between this mechanism with the warming due to greenhouse effect is the increased activity of the Sun would heat the stratosphere instead of greenhouse effect will cool the stratosphere. Cooling of the lower stratosphere has been observed at least since 1960, [7] are not going to happen when the activity of the Sun to be the main contributor to this warming. (Thinning of the ozone layer can also provide the cooling effect but the depletion occurred from the late 1970s.) Phenomenon, combined with variations in the Sun volcanic activity may have provided the heating effect of pre-industrial times until 1950, and the cooling effect since 1950 . [8] [9]
There are several studies stating that the contribution of the Sun may have been overlooked in global warming. Two scientists from Duke University estimated that the Sun may have contributed to 45-50% increase in average temperatures globally during the period 1900-2000, and approximately 25-35% between 1980 and 2000. [10] Stott and his colleagues argue that climate models guiding the current estimate of the effect of excessive gas-greenhouse gases compared with the effects of the sun, they also noted that the cooling effects of volcanic ash and sulfate aerosols have also been considered trivial. [11] Nevertheless, they concluded that even with increased sensitivity The sun influences the climate though, most of the warming that occurred in the last decades is caused by the gas-greenhouse gases.
In 2006, a team of scientists from the United States, Germany and Switzerland stated that they found no increase in the level of "information" from the Sun in the last thousand years. Solar cycle gives only a small increase of about 0.07% in the level of "statement" during the last 30 years. This effect is too small to contribute to global pemansan. [12] [13] A study by Lockwood and Fröhlich found no relation between the variations of global warming since 1985, the Sun, either through a variation of the output of the Sun and the variations in cosmic rays. [ 14]
Elements of the cause of global warming is also influenced by various feedback processes that result. An example is the evaporation of water. In the case of gas heating due to increasing greenhouse-gases such as CO2, warming will initially lead to more number of water evaporating into the atmosphere. Because water vapor is itself a greenhouse gas, warming will continue and increase the amount of water vapor in the air until the achievement of an equilibrium concentration of water vapor. Greenhouse effect produced greater than the effect of CO2 alone. (Although this feedback increases the absolute water content in the air, the air relative humidity is almost constant or even slightly decreased because the air becomes warmer). [3] This feedback effect is only slowly because CO2 has a long age in the atmosphere.
Feedback effect due to the influence of clouds is the object of current research. When viewed from below, clouds will reflect infrared radiation back to the surface, thereby increasing the heating effect. In contrast when viewed from above, these clouds will reflect sunlight and infrared radiation into space, thereby increasing the cooling effect. Is it the net effect of producing heating or cooling depending on some specific details such as the type and height of the cloud. The details are difficult to be represented in climate models, partly because the cloud is very small compared with the distance between computational limits of climate models (about 125 to 500 km for the model used in the IPCC report to view Four). Nevertheless, cloud feedback ranked second when compared with the water vapor feedback and is considered a positive (warming increase) in all models used in the IPCC report into the Four Views. [3]
Another important feedback is the loss of ability to reflect light (Albedo) by the ice. [4] As global temperatures increase, ice near the poles to melt with increasing speed. Along with the melting of the ice, land or water below it will open. Both land and water have the ability to reflect light much less when compared with the ice, and consequently will absorb more sun radiation. This will increase the warming and cause more ice to melt, into a continuous cycle.
Positive feedback due to release of CO2 and CH4 from the softening of frozen soil (permafrost) are other mechanisms that contribute to warming. In addition, the melting ice will also release CH4 is also causing a positive feedback.
Ocean's ability to absorb carbon will also be reduced if it warms, it menurunya caused by nutrient levels in the mesopelagic zone of limiting the growth of diatoms than the phytoplankton, which is a low carbon sinks. [5]
[edit] Solar variation
Solar variation over 30 years terakhir.Artikel Main is: Variations Sun
There is a hypothesis which states that the variation of the Sun, with a possibility reinforced by feedback from clouds, can contribute in the current warming. [6] The difference between this mechanism with the warming due to greenhouse effect is the increased activity of the Sun would heat the stratosphere instead of greenhouse effect will cool the stratosphere. Cooling of the lower stratosphere has been observed at least since 1960, [7] are not going to happen when the activity of the Sun to be the main contributor to this warming. (Thinning of the ozone layer can also provide the cooling effect but the depletion occurred from the late 1970s.) Phenomenon, combined with variations in the Sun volcanic activity may have provided the heating effect of pre-industrial times until 1950, and the cooling effect since 1950 . [8] [9]
There are several studies stating that the contribution of the Sun may have been overlooked in global warming. Two scientists from Duke University estimated that the Sun may have contributed to 45-50% increase in average temperatures globally during the period 1900-2000, and approximately 25-35% between 1980 and 2000. [10] Stott and his colleagues argue that climate models guiding the current estimate of the effect of excessive gas-greenhouse gases compared with the effects of the sun, they also noted that the cooling effects of volcanic ash and sulfate aerosols have also been considered trivial. [11] Nevertheless, they concluded that even with increased sensitivity The sun influences the climate though, most of the warming that occurred in the last decades is caused by the gas-greenhouse gases.
In 2006, a team of scientists from the United States, Germany and Switzerland stated that they found no increase in the level of "information" from the Sun in the last thousand years. Solar cycle gives only a small increase of about 0.07% in the level of "statement" during the last 30 years. This effect is too small to contribute to global pemansan. [12] [13] A study by Lockwood and Fröhlich found no relation between the variations of global warming since 1985, the Sun, either through a variation of the output of the Sun and the variations in cosmic rays. [ 14]
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Livestock (meat consumption)
Livestock (meat consumption)
Part of this article needs some work. Please help us to do so.
This article does not have a reference source so that it can not be verified.
Please help improve this article by adding a proper reference.
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In a recent report, Fourth Assessment Report, issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a UN body made up of 1300 scientists from around the world, revealed that 90% of human activity during the last 250 years is what makes the planet hotter. Since the Industrial Revolution, carbon dioxide levels rising from 280 ppm to 379 ppm in the last 150 years. No kidding, increased concentration of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere was the highest since 650,000 years!
The IPCC also concluded that 90% of greenhouse gases produced by humans, such as carbon dioxide, methane and Nitrous oxide, especially during these 50 years, has dramatically raised the temperature of the Earth. Before the industrial period, human activities are not a lot of greenhouse gases, but population growth, deforestation, farming industry, and the use of fossil fuels causes greenhouse gases in the atmosphere grew more and contribute to global warming. [15]
Research that has been done by the experts during the last few decades shows that the heat was more of the planet and changing the earth's climate system is directly related to gas-greenhouse gases generated by human activity.
Specifically to monitor the causes and effects produced by global warming, United Nations (UN) formed a research group called the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change called the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Every few years, thousands of experts and the best researchers in the world who joined the IPCC held a meeting to discuss the latest findings related to global warming, and make conclusions from the report and new discoveries are collected, then make a deal for a solution of the problem.
One of the first things they found was that some types of greenhouse gases directly responsible for the warming we experience, and the largest contributor is people from the creation of gases such greenhouse. Most of these greenhouse gases produced by livestock, the burning of fossil fuels in motor vehicles, modern factories, power plants, and deforestation.
However, according to United Nations reports about livestock and the environment published in 2006 revealed that, "farming is a producer of industrial greenhouse gas emissions are the largest (18%), this amount more than the combined emissions of all greenhouse gases worldwide transportation (13%). "Almost a fifth (20 percent) of carbon emissions come from livestock. This amount exceeds the combined emissions from all vehicles in the world! [16] [17] [18]
Farm sector has contributed 9 percent of carbon dioxide, 37 percent of methane gas (a warming effect 72 times stronger than CO2 within 20 years, and 23 times in 100 years), and 65 percent of Nitrous oxide (a warming effect over 296 times more stronger than CO2). Livestock also generates 64 percent of the ammonia produced by human intervention, which causes acid rain. [19]
Livestock has also been a major cause of damage to soil and water pollution. Currently the farm using 30 percent of the land surface on Earth, and even more land and water used to grow animal feed.
According to reports Mr. Steinfeld, senior author of the Food and Agriculture Organization, Impact of the Old Poor Farm - Environmental Issues and Options (Livestock's Long Shadow-Environmental Issues and Options), the ranch is the "main drivers of deforestation approximately .... 70 percent of former forests in the Amazon has been converted into field-enable livestock. [20]
In addition, the field of cattle feed has reduced the quality of the soil. Approximately 20 percent of the meadow go off due to excessive animal husbandry, compaction, and erosion. Livestock are also responsible for the consumption and pollution of water very much. In the United States alone, trillions of gallons of irrigation water used to grow livestock feed annually. Approximately 85 percent of water sources in the United States used to it. Livestock also cause excessive biological waste for the ecosystem.
Consumption of water to produce one pound of food in farm animal feed in the United States
1 kg of meat Water (liters)
Beef 1000000
3260 Pig
12,665 chickens
Soybean 2000
Rice 1912
Potatoes 500
Wheat 200
Slada 180
Besides damage to the environment and ecosystems, is not difficult to calculate that the livestock industry is not energy efficient. Livestock industry requires an abundance of energy to convert livestock into meat on the dinner table. To produce one kilogram of meat, has produced carbon dioxide emissions as much as 36.4 pounds. Whereas to produce one calorie of protein, we only require two calories of fossil fuel to produce soybeans, three calories for corn and wheat; but requires 54 calories of oil energy to the ground beef protein!
That means we have been squandering fossil fuel 27 times more just to make a hamburger rather than the consumption required to make a hamburger from soya beans!
By combining the cost of energy, water consumption, land use, environmental pollution, damage to ecosystems, it is not surprising if one person on a diet of meat can feed 15 people on a diet of plants or more.
Let us now discuss what is the source of greenhouse gases that cause global warming.
You may be wondering what part of the farm sector, which contributes greenhouse gas emissions. The following outline according to the FAO: [21]
1. Carbon emissions from the manufacture of cattle feed
a. The use of fossil fuels in the manufacture of fertilizer contributed 41 million tonnes of CO2 each year
b. The use of fossil fuels in the farm contributes 90 million tonnes of CO2 per year (eg, diesel or LPG)
c. Over the function of land used for livestock contributed 2.4 billion tons of CO2 per year, including the land here is modified for grazing livestock, which changed the land to plant soybeans as livestock feed, or clearing forests for farm land
d. Carbon is released from the processing of agricultural land for livestock feed (eg maize, wheat, or soybeans) can reach 28 million of CO2 per year. You need to know, at least 80% of soybean harvest and 50% of the world's corn crops used as food ternak.7
e. Carbon released from grasslands into deserts because of eroded contributed 100 million tons of CO2 per year
2. Carbon emissions from animal digestive systems
a. Methane is released in the digestive process of animals can reach 86 million tons per year.
b. Methane released from manure fertilizer can reach 18 million tons per year.
3. Carbon emissions from processing and transportation of cattle meat to the consumer
a. CO2 emissions from the processing of meat may reach tens of millions of tons per year.
b. CO2 emissions from transport of livestock products can reach more than 0.8 million tons per year.
From the above description, you can see the amount of the contribution of greenhouse gas emissions generated from each component of the farm sector. In Australia, greenhouse gas emissions from livestock sector is greater than power plant coal. Within 20 years, the Australian farm sector contributed 3 million tonnes of methane per year (equivalent to 216 million tonnes of CO2), while the power sector for coal contributes 180 million tons of CO2 per year.
Last year, investigators from the Department of Geophysical Sciences (Department of Geophysical Sciences) University of Chicago, Gidon Eshel and Pamela Martin, also reveals the relationship between food production and environmental problems. They measured the amount of greenhouse gases caused by red meat, fish, poultry, milk, and eggs, and compare that number with a vegan diet.
They found that if the standard American diet switched to a diet of plants, it will be able to prevent one and a half ton of greenhouse gas emissions per person extra per year. By contrast, switching from a standard sedan like the Toyota Camry to a hybrid Toyota Prius saves about one ton of CO2 emissions.
Part of this article needs some work. Please help us to do so.
This article does not have a reference source so that it can not be verified.
Please help improve this article by adding a proper reference.
This article can not be verified can be removed at any time by the Board.
In a recent report, Fourth Assessment Report, issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a UN body made up of 1300 scientists from around the world, revealed that 90% of human activity during the last 250 years is what makes the planet hotter. Since the Industrial Revolution, carbon dioxide levels rising from 280 ppm to 379 ppm in the last 150 years. No kidding, increased concentration of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere was the highest since 650,000 years!
The IPCC also concluded that 90% of greenhouse gases produced by humans, such as carbon dioxide, methane and Nitrous oxide, especially during these 50 years, has dramatically raised the temperature of the Earth. Before the industrial period, human activities are not a lot of greenhouse gases, but population growth, deforestation, farming industry, and the use of fossil fuels causes greenhouse gases in the atmosphere grew more and contribute to global warming. [15]
Research that has been done by the experts during the last few decades shows that the heat was more of the planet and changing the earth's climate system is directly related to gas-greenhouse gases generated by human activity.
Specifically to monitor the causes and effects produced by global warming, United Nations (UN) formed a research group called the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change called the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Every few years, thousands of experts and the best researchers in the world who joined the IPCC held a meeting to discuss the latest findings related to global warming, and make conclusions from the report and new discoveries are collected, then make a deal for a solution of the problem.
One of the first things they found was that some types of greenhouse gases directly responsible for the warming we experience, and the largest contributor is people from the creation of gases such greenhouse. Most of these greenhouse gases produced by livestock, the burning of fossil fuels in motor vehicles, modern factories, power plants, and deforestation.
However, according to United Nations reports about livestock and the environment published in 2006 revealed that, "farming is a producer of industrial greenhouse gas emissions are the largest (18%), this amount more than the combined emissions of all greenhouse gases worldwide transportation (13%). "Almost a fifth (20 percent) of carbon emissions come from livestock. This amount exceeds the combined emissions from all vehicles in the world! [16] [17] [18]
Farm sector has contributed 9 percent of carbon dioxide, 37 percent of methane gas (a warming effect 72 times stronger than CO2 within 20 years, and 23 times in 100 years), and 65 percent of Nitrous oxide (a warming effect over 296 times more stronger than CO2). Livestock also generates 64 percent of the ammonia produced by human intervention, which causes acid rain. [19]
Livestock has also been a major cause of damage to soil and water pollution. Currently the farm using 30 percent of the land surface on Earth, and even more land and water used to grow animal feed.
According to reports Mr. Steinfeld, senior author of the Food and Agriculture Organization, Impact of the Old Poor Farm - Environmental Issues and Options (Livestock's Long Shadow-Environmental Issues and Options), the ranch is the "main drivers of deforestation approximately .... 70 percent of former forests in the Amazon has been converted into field-enable livestock. [20]
In addition, the field of cattle feed has reduced the quality of the soil. Approximately 20 percent of the meadow go off due to excessive animal husbandry, compaction, and erosion. Livestock are also responsible for the consumption and pollution of water very much. In the United States alone, trillions of gallons of irrigation water used to grow livestock feed annually. Approximately 85 percent of water sources in the United States used to it. Livestock also cause excessive biological waste for the ecosystem.
Consumption of water to produce one pound of food in farm animal feed in the United States
1 kg of meat Water (liters)
Beef 1000000
3260 Pig
12,665 chickens
Soybean 2000
Rice 1912
Potatoes 500
Wheat 200
Slada 180
Besides damage to the environment and ecosystems, is not difficult to calculate that the livestock industry is not energy efficient. Livestock industry requires an abundance of energy to convert livestock into meat on the dinner table. To produce one kilogram of meat, has produced carbon dioxide emissions as much as 36.4 pounds. Whereas to produce one calorie of protein, we only require two calories of fossil fuel to produce soybeans, three calories for corn and wheat; but requires 54 calories of oil energy to the ground beef protein!
That means we have been squandering fossil fuel 27 times more just to make a hamburger rather than the consumption required to make a hamburger from soya beans!
By combining the cost of energy, water consumption, land use, environmental pollution, damage to ecosystems, it is not surprising if one person on a diet of meat can feed 15 people on a diet of plants or more.
Let us now discuss what is the source of greenhouse gases that cause global warming.
You may be wondering what part of the farm sector, which contributes greenhouse gas emissions. The following outline according to the FAO: [21]
1. Carbon emissions from the manufacture of cattle feed
a. The use of fossil fuels in the manufacture of fertilizer contributed 41 million tonnes of CO2 each year
b. The use of fossil fuels in the farm contributes 90 million tonnes of CO2 per year (eg, diesel or LPG)
c. Over the function of land used for livestock contributed 2.4 billion tons of CO2 per year, including the land here is modified for grazing livestock, which changed the land to plant soybeans as livestock feed, or clearing forests for farm land
d. Carbon is released from the processing of agricultural land for livestock feed (eg maize, wheat, or soybeans) can reach 28 million of CO2 per year. You need to know, at least 80% of soybean harvest and 50% of the world's corn crops used as food ternak.7
e. Carbon released from grasslands into deserts because of eroded contributed 100 million tons of CO2 per year
2. Carbon emissions from animal digestive systems
a. Methane is released in the digestive process of animals can reach 86 million tons per year.
b. Methane released from manure fertilizer can reach 18 million tons per year.
3. Carbon emissions from processing and transportation of cattle meat to the consumer
a. CO2 emissions from the processing of meat may reach tens of millions of tons per year.
b. CO2 emissions from transport of livestock products can reach more than 0.8 million tons per year.
From the above description, you can see the amount of the contribution of greenhouse gas emissions generated from each component of the farm sector. In Australia, greenhouse gas emissions from livestock sector is greater than power plant coal. Within 20 years, the Australian farm sector contributed 3 million tonnes of methane per year (equivalent to 216 million tonnes of CO2), while the power sector for coal contributes 180 million tons of CO2 per year.
Last year, investigators from the Department of Geophysical Sciences (Department of Geophysical Sciences) University of Chicago, Gidon Eshel and Pamela Martin, also reveals the relationship between food production and environmental problems. They measured the amount of greenhouse gases caused by red meat, fish, poultry, milk, and eggs, and compare that number with a vegan diet.
They found that if the standard American diet switched to a diet of plants, it will be able to prevent one and a half ton of greenhouse gas emissions per person extra per year. By contrast, switching from a standard sedan like the Toyota Camry to a hybrid Toyota Prius saves about one ton of CO2 emissions.
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