7 Jul 2022

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Assignment 2: Global Warming: Cause and Mitigation

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Some people speculate that there is nothing to worry about the current global warming trend because it is a natural cycle. However, scientific data does not support this hypothesis. The impacts of global warming on both the socioeconomic and natural systems and their capabilities to adapt are dependent on the rate of climate change ( Wang et al., 1987) . The past natural cycles and the current global warming trend are different. While the past global warming evolved over thousands of years, the current rate of global warming within decades. Another significant difference between the previous and current global warming trends is that in the earlier natural cycles, humans were not contributing cycles. 

The natural climate cycle occurs as a result of orbital changes and greenhouse gases ( Helama, Fauria, Mielikäinen, Timonen, & Eronen, 2010) . In light of this, sun's natural cycle orbital variations initiate global warming by triggering the release of carbon dioxide, methane, and greenhouse gases, which, in turn, amplifies orbital warming. In brief, natural cycles have been occurring for thousands of years before humans started overwhelming it Helama, Fauria, Mielikäinen, Timonen, & Eronen, 2010) . Scientific data indicates that humans are responsible for the current rate climate change; humans have contributed to the increased global temperature over the last century. The use of fossil fuel has resulted in carbon overload in the atmosphere. 

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Apparently, global warming is still taking place. There are various indicators that global warming is still happening that range from air temperatures over land and sea to the sea temperatures themselves, snow cover, and ice melt. The recent weather events, namely drought, breaking rain, and a big snowfall, are all moving in the direction expected of a warming globe ( Trenberth & Guillemot, 1996) . For instance, while Europe, North and South America, and northern and central Asia are becoming wetter, the Mediterranean and southern Asia, southern Africa, and the Sahel region of central Africa are becoming drier. Heavy rainfalls accompanied by major flooding are becoming frequent. As such, global warming is still happening because it is entirely compatible with weather events like drought, breaking rain, and big snowfall ( Trenberth & Guillemot, 1996) . Another major reason attributed to the assertion that global warming is still happening is that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are now at their highest concentration for more than eight hundred thousand years. 

Solar radiation creates the temperature difference between the equator and the poles. The temperature difference drives the global circulation of the coupled atmosphere/ocean systems. The atmosphere and the ocean are responsible for removing heat from the equatorial regions and transporting it polewards ( Trenberth & Guillemot, 1996) . The transport of heat in the atmosphere within hours or days is designated as weather while the transport within months and years is referred to as climate. A weather event such as heavy rainfall and snowfall represents an anomaly (departure from the normal conditions). Human activities like farming and planning of fuel oil are responsible for the departures from the normal conditions ( Trenberth & Guillemot, 1996) . As such, since in the contemporary world humans are engaging in the aforementioned activities that result in departures from the normal conditions, it follows then that global warming is still happening. 

The strategies for mitigating global warming focus on reducing the rate or magnitude of climate change. The two common mitigation strategies are high fuel efficiency standards and the use of renewable energy ( Lau, Lee, & Mohamed, 2012) . The applicable measures for high fuel efficiency include but are not limited to using daylight as part of lighting systems in buildings, installing energy efficient heating and cooling systems, installing light emitting diodes (LEDs) for outdoor lighting, and educating members of the public on energy efficiency. Regarding the use of renewable energy, the generally applicable measures include installing solar and wind power system and using heat and power in appropriate applications ( Lau, Lee, & Mohamed, 2012) . Between the two aforementioned global warming mitigation strategies, high energy efficiency is the most effective. The reason attributed to this assertion is that the high-energy efficiency general applicable measures are cheaper than applicable measures of renewable energy. In addition, unlike renewable energy, high-energy efficiency does not have policy implications. 

To help stabilize the global climate, I would propose policy changes transportation and motor vehicles sector. Particularly, I would propose an increase in the cost of driving and parking private vehicles. In other words, I would propose the imposition of tolls and parking fees for the private vehicles so that people can use public means of transport and subsequently reduce fuel consumption. I would propose the incorporation of bicycle lanes and routes in street systems and bicycle-friendly intersections into street designs to encourage people to use bicycles instead of cars since this would reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emission into the atmosphere. Moreover, I would propose the construction of adequate bicycle parking near building entrances to promote cyclist safety, security, and convenience. Therefore, it is apparent that if I were to implement the proposed policy changes, the transportation business would be held to more strict standards. 

References 

Helama, S., Fauria, M. M., Mielikäinen, K., Timonen, M., & Eronen, M. (2010). Sub-Milankovitch solar forcing of past climates: mid and late Holocene perspectives.    Bulletin , 122 (11-12), 1981-1988. 

Lau, L. C., Lee, K. T., & Mohamed, A. R. (2012). Global warming mitigation and renewable energy policy development from the Kyoto Protocol to the Copenhagen Accord—A comment.    Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews ,    16 (7), 5280-5284. 

Trenberth, K. E., & Guillemot, C. J. (1996). Physical processes involved in the 1988 drought and 1993 floods in North America.    Journal of Climate ,    9 (6), 1288-1298. 

Wang, W. C., Ronberg, B., Gutowski, W., Gutzler, D., Portman, D., Li, K., & Wang, S. (1987).    Natural and anthropogenic climate changes   (No. DOE/ER/60422-T1). Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc., Cambridge, MA (United States); Academia Sinica, Beijing, BJ (China). Inst. of Geography. 

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