My Side to the Story: Global Warming

Global warming, fact or fiction? Scientists have been trying to find a credible explanation to the changing of our climate since the 70’s. Global Warming, or Climate Change, is the increase of the average temperature of the air and oceans, and the melting of the icecaps. There are many theories to why the Earth is warming up, but this article will outline two of the most discussed ideas.

Greenhouse Effect

This is the most discussed theory: whether the warming of the oceans and the melting of the polar icecaps is due to the Carbon Dioxide, or other gases released into upper atmosphere. Scientists believe that the cause Global Warming is gases like Carbon Dioxide building up in the Atmosphere. These gases act like a greenhouse; letting the sun radiation and warmth in but stopping it from getting out.

Author Credit

As you can see from the picture above, the excess gases have built up and stop the heat from getting out. This heat is absorbed and released by the excess gases and slowly begins to heat up the earth. As a consequence of this re-radiated heat the icecaps are slowly melting, and the sea level rising by an estimated 0.04-0.08 inches per year. This rise in water in seas and oceans may cause an increase in freak storms such as Cyclones (Hurricanes), and other strange and dangerous weather. ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ is movie that was made to show what might happen if Global Warming continues. It has scenes that show freak storms ripping through America and a huge wall of water destroying Manhattan. If Global Warming continues the freak weather in
‘The Day After Tomorrow’ may be a daily occurrence.

The Planetary Orbit

Here’s an idea of mine explaining Climate Change. At the end of the Cretaceous Period, 144 million years ago, the Earth’s climate was warm and wet. The amount of sun on a particular place didn’t change. The theory is that a huge asteroid/comet hit the Earth which killed the dinosaurs. This also tilted the Earth on a slight angle that today manipulates the seasons. This may have also sent the earth on a slight oval orbit. This could explain the ice ages and warm spells that have been happening on and off for the last millions of years. If this idea is true then The Earth will slowly by slowly be pulled closer to the Sun and the Climate changes will get worse. But remember, this is speculation and has never been proven.