Video on Global Warming

by Chia Chia Yee

This video serves as a recap for the write-ups on global warming written by my other team members. This video was done with the aid of Windows Movie Maker and is uploaded on YouTube. The images in the video can be found on Google.

Ways to Overcome Global Warming

by Chew Pek Kuan

To overcome the global warming, efforts are needed to reduce the temperature in the EARTH. One of the solutions is to encourage people to practise 3R. 3R stands for “reduce”, “reuse”, and “recycle”. The easiest way is to switch ordinary rubbish bins into 3 colored recycle bins. Students should be educated with awareness programs on this because they are the ones who are quick to absorb new learning and they generally have a more welcoming mentality. The students’ family members, be it parents or relatives, should then learn from them in practicing the 3Rs.

“Reduce” is to reduce the usage of appliances or things that might cause or increase global warming. Technology wise, we should stop using all the old, energy-consuming technologies to newer ones which can help reduce and save energy. Appliances using the old technology such as kettle, refrigerator, and iron can produce heat above average. Another means of reducing mean for the reduction in the usage of water – in washing and cooking. Instead of washing cars with a new flow of water, use collected rain water. Reduce the usage of energy by making it a habit to turn off the electricity when it is not being used.

“Reuse” means to repeatedly use older and reusable goods in other functions to reduce waste (Think Quest, n.d.). This includes reusing the water that is used to wash vegetables to wash the floors or to wash the drain. Paper bags can be used to make attractive notebook covers. Clothing that is no longer appropriate for wearing purposes can be used as rags to clean household appliances and furniture.

“Recycling” is probably the most well-known 3R practice among the three. Newspapers which are no longer of need for reading should be recycled; glass bottles which are empty should also be recycled.

Aside from 3R, planting is another good deed to help the earth. Trees and plants are natural creatures to help take in carbon dioxide and change it into oxygen. Global warming is spreading fast because of the enormous amount of carbon dioxide. Illegal deforestation is also on the rise, and carbon dioxide just keeps going up. Carbon dioxide must be reduced, fast! Hence, plant more trees!

References:

Think Quest. (n.d.). The Three Rs. Retrieved June 20, 2011, from Think Quest: http://library.thinkquest.org/C0111401/3R.htm

Effects of Global Warming

by Chee Lee Onn

No environment, no people. An unhealthy environment means unhealthy people too. The effects of global warming are many and are interrelated. Global warming affects the environment and indirectly affects human health also. The effects could be enormous. Relative to the hectic pace of our daily life, global warming is a slow-moving problem. There are several major effects of global warming which are actually happening right now such as the melting of ice worldwide, deadly heat wave and the increase in storm intensity.

The melting of ice worldwide – especially at the Earth’s poles which also include mountain glaciers, ice sheets covering West Antarctica and Greenland, and the Arctic sea ice – is a threat (National Geographic, 2007). Due to that, sea level rise is becoming faster today as compared to the last century. The melting of ice also causes certain species of animals (such as polar bears and penguins) to lose their habitats. A research conducted by Bill Fraser found that there is a decline of the Adélie penguins on Antarctica. Their numbers have fallen from 32,000 breeding pairs to 11,000 in just 30 years time.

Not only are the animals affected from global warming but we humans are affected as well. Human health will suffer as a result of climate change. For example, the 2003 European heat wave killed 35,000 people (Bhattacharya, 2003). In France alone, 14,802 people died from the searing temperatures (USA Today, 2003). Besides, diseases will also spread. Some infectious, vector-borne diseases such as malaria have already started to spread. There are many other health effects too, and this includes food shortages. When the temperature is too high, certain crops will not survive and thus, food shortages.

Increased storm activity and intensity is caused by global warming too. Extreme weathers are already occurring. It is said that cyclones have gained strength since 1970. Heavily populated, low-lying coastal areas in cyclone-prone areas are particularly vulnerable (Alternate Energy Sources, 2010). For example, Hurricane Katrina (which hit New Orleans) and Cyclone Nargis (in Burma) are among the demonstrations of the effects of global warming. Hurricane Katrina was categorized as a category 5 hurricane in August 2005. It was the costliest hurricane in the United States history which cost up to $81.2 billion. Katrina is also known as one of the five deadliest hurricanes in the history of United States (Hurricane Katrina, 2011).

References:

Alternate Energy Sources. (2010). Effects Of Global Warming - Affecting Everyone. Retrieved June 19, 2011, from Alternate Energy Sources: http://www.alternate-energy-sources.com/effects-of-global-warming.html

Bhattacharya, S. (2003, October 10). European heatwave caused 35,000 deaths. Retrieved June 19, 2011, from NewScientist: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn4259-european-heatwave-caused-35000-deaths.html

Hurricane Katrina. (2011). Hurricane Katrina. Retrieved June 19, 2011, from Hurricane Katrina: http://www.katrina.com/

National Geographic. (2007). Effects of Global Warming: Signs are Everywhere. Retrieved June 19, 2011, from National Geographic: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-effects/

USA Today. (2003, September 25). France heat wave death toll set at 14,802. Retrieved June 19, 2011, from USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2003-09-25-france-heat_x.htm

Causes of Global Warming

by Tan Siew Mei

One of the first things scientists learned is that there are several greenhouse gases responsible for warming, and humans emit them in a variety of ways. Production of energy in the form of carbon dioxide, CO₂ is the main contribution to global warming. Whenever we burn something, carbon dioxide will released and the continuous buildup of carbon dioxide will cause global warming. Nearly 40% of carbon dioxide emissions came directly from the process of burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity and some form the burning of coal. The burning of gasoline in internal-combustion engines of vehicles such as automobiles, buses, motorcycles, and trucks causes approximately one-third of the carbon dioxide released into our environment. In the United States alone, the burning of gasoline for transportation and manufacturing accounted for 33 percent emissions of CO₂ as the demand for cars and consumer goods increases.

Other than CO₂, methane is another potent greenhouse gas. A molecule of methane produces more than 20 times the warming of a molecule of CO2! The production of methane undergoes a process called anaerobic decomposition (the breaking down of organic matter by bacteria under oxygen-starved conditions) in rice paddies. In the last 100 years, the emission of methane released into our environment had increases up to 145 percent! As methane escape into the environment, the rate of global warming increases. 

Another example is the increase of deforestation. The conversion of forests and grassland into farmland and cities would encourage the emission of carbon dioxide too. Deforestation is responsible for nearly one-fourth of all carbon emissions entering the atmosphere. According to a statistics shown by NAZA, the planet cuts and burns nearly 34 million acres of trees each year, including millions of acres of rainforest which sums up to the total size of Italy!

References:

A Coller Climate.com. ((n.d.)). What Causes Global Warming? Learn The Major Human Causes Of Climate Change. Retrieved June 20, 2011, from http://www.acoolerclimate.com/causes-of-global-warming/

Caroline, D. M. (1999). Causes of Global Warming. Retrieved June 20, 2011, from The Environment: The Global Challenge: http://library.thinkquest.org/26026/Statistics/causes_of_global_warming.html

Markham, D. (2009, June 7). Global Warming Effects and Causes: A Top 10 List. Retrieved June 20, 2011, from PlanetSave: http://planetsave.com/2009/06/07/global-warming-effects-and-causes-a-top-10-list/

National Geographic. (1996-2011). Global Warming Causes, Climate Change Causes. Retrieved June 20, 2011, from http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-causes/

Oil Price. com. (2009, July 24). Wht are the causes of Global Warming. Retrieved June 20, 2011, from http://oilprice.com/Environment/Global-Warming/What-are-the-Causes-of-Global-warming.html

What is Global Warming?

by Ng Jue Lyn

I’m certain you have heard of this term “global warming”.

What’s the fuss around it? What’s the hype behind it? Why is everyone talking about it? Are we getting paranoid? This is getting overrated!

Well, before we jump into any conclusions on whether it’s really overrated or not, this blog will attempt to explain to you – what global warming is all about, why it happens, how it affects the Earth (and that includes you and me), and if necessary, what can be done to stop it.

After that, I suppose it would be fair enough for you to make your own conclusions.

So, what is global warming, you ask? In the most commonly used sense, the term global warming refers to the gradual warming of temperatures across the world, due to the increasing concentrations of man-made atmospheric greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, or you may know it as CO2 (Weather Questions, 2010). What I can tell you is this, global warming is not something that is waiting to happen or appear at your front door, greeting you with a lovely smile. Global warming has already come.

Statistics are showing that the earth is indeed becoming hotter by the day. Global warming may not just be some fact that lies unproven. Our environment is witnessing these things happening.

As you continue to read through the other parts concerning the topic of global warming written by my friends, I hope that you would soon come to understanding on the big picture that global warming truly represents and is.

That way, you will understand what global warming really is.

References:

Weather Questions. (2010, November 26). What is Global Warming. Retrieved June 16, 2011, from Weather Questions: http://www.weatherquestions.com/What_is_global_warming.htm