Man Made Causes of Global Warming
The history of the globe has shown scientists and researchers that small geographic changes can result in drastic climate shifts. The ice age was a result of a long-term reduced Earth temperature. As of 2011, the opposite effect is occurring as the Earth is steadily getting hotter. Global warming has been shown to be harmful to animals, humans, and the environment. Unfortunately, many of the causes of global warming are man made.
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What is Global Warming?
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The Earth's climate is warming, which is causing glaciers to melt, sea levels to rise, and wildlife to die from lack of food and water. The warming is caused by certain gases becoming trapped in the Earth's atmosphere. The gases let in light but do not let out heat, much like a greenhouse. This is called the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases have caused much of the global warming issues affecting the planet for the last few thousands years.
Waste Disposal
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The creation of many products from toiletries to diapers have contributed to the world's pollution problems. With the creation of nonsustaining products, the world has had to make do with diapers that sit in landfills for years and products that emit harmful gases both in use and when sitting in a landfill (i.e. aerosol containers, batteries, etc.).
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Population
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As the population increases, the planet's natural resources have started to dwindle. With more people comes an increased need for more homes, cars and uses of electricity and gas. The increased use of electricity and gasoline will emit harmful gases into the air, increasing the global temperature.
Transportation
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According to the Biological Diversity Organization, around the world approximately 15 percent of man-made carbon dioxide comes from the emissions of cars, trucks, airplanes, ships and other vehicles. Vehicles emit chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other greenhouse gases that cause smog and air pollution. Chlorofluorocarbons are compounds made of chloride, fluoride and carbon and are colorless, odorless and nontoxic. When released into the atmosphere they can destroy the ozone layer. These CFCs are emitted by cars and buses, and create smog in heavily populated cities.
Greenhouse Gases
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Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane gas and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Carbon dioxide is produced by decaying organic substances and by animals and humans breathing. Carbon dioxide is also associated with cars, planes and power plants that burn fossil fuels like gasoline and natural gas, which increase the level of carbon dioxide in the air. Methane gas is emitted from livestock, animal husbandry practices and waste management centers. In 1990 the government created restrictions of the use of CFCs in many everyday products, but as of 2011 some companies still use CFCs regularly.
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