Global warming is an increase in the earth's temperature due to fossil fuels, industry, and agricultural processes caused by human, natural, and other gas emissions (definition). Global warming has become a major issue of concern and it is causing lots of controversy everywhere. The rise of temperature caused by global warming leads to things such as melting of polar ice and glaciers, increase sea level and it causes extreme weather events. It also causes natural disasters like the very deadly earthquake in Haiti and Hurricane Katrina. Research by scientist indicates that the major causes of global warming are caused by human activities. Every year, almost 7 billion tons of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere because of human activity. Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere when wood products, wood, solid waste, and fossil fuel are burned. The gases trap heat causing the greenhouse effect, which rise global temperatures because humans are increasing the greenhouse gases; carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Although these gases do occur naturally and the earth uses them to warm its surface, humans add to the level of the gases causing problems. If natural gases did not occur, the earth’s temperature would be 91.4 degrees cooler than the current temperature today (Roach 1-2).
There are many human activities that are contributing to the dangerous levels of global warming. Some activities can be prevented like pollution while others like population are a way of life. Pollution from automobiles including airplanes, buses, and trains, heat from homes and businesses, and factories are responsible for about 80% of today's carbon dioxide emissions, 25% of methane, and 20% of the nitrous oxide emissions. The increase in agriculture, deforestation, industrial production, and mining also contribute a significant share of emissions ("U.S Global Change Research Information Office" 1).
Pollution, deforestation, and population from human activity are the top causes of global warming. Pollution is one of the main causes of the climate change; it comes in many shapes and sizes. Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms (definition). Most of the products consumers buy or the activities we complete have a small contribution to pollution, because they use some form of electricity or fossil fuel. Electricity produces greenhouse gases into the atmosphere every time you watch TV, turn on a light, use a computer or charge your cell phone. Driving your car requires the combustion of large amounts of fossil fuels. The fossil fuel stores carbon and when your car runs it burns fuel, causing carbon to be released instantly as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. For example when someone is stuck in traffic think about how long the car is idle on the road burning fossil fuel. The car is emitting millions of pollutants into the air. The pollutants are causing smog and ozone problems along with health problems. There are have been 1,500 cases of cancer caused from pollution (cite). Jobs like construction and mining also plays a part in polluting the atmosphere. When workers are mining coal and/or oil they are allowing methane to escape into the air, because when the coal and oil are mined little bits of the earth are being dug up. When the workers dig up fossil fuels methane is released as well, because it is naturally in the ground.
Population is another contributor to global warming. The more people there are means the more methods of transportation and greater amounts of food being consumed. There will be more methane and other greenhouse gases released into the air because of the burning of fossil fuel. Population will also increase domestic, agricultural, and industrial activities ("Oracle Think Quest"). Domestic activities will include the building of more homes, stores, and
