A video about climate change

Here you can find a very useful video about the causes and the consequenses of climate change:

The seriousness of climate change

Startling evidence has recently come to light indicating that global warming has a knock-on effect and the climate will extremely change. Many citizens will force a risk of flooding due to ice melting. Not only will there be lack of water, but there will also be longer periods of drought. The climate change can be attributed to the greenhouse effect and to avert disaster we must take action now.

To begin with, what is responsible for this phenomenon? The decisive factor according to scientists who studied the problem, seems to be the carbon dioxide (CO2) which is released by the combustion of fossil fuels. The gas levels have increased over the last few years and it pours out from chimneys and car exhausts. It gets higher into the atmosphere and traps solar radiation. If the ice melts, the ocean will absorb solar radiation and augment global warming. Moreover, this perilous heating effect will cause higher sea levels which means that cities like London, which is low-lying area, will be covered by sea water. To make matters worse, there will also be fiercer storms, but also hotter summers and drought which would spell disaster in agriculture. Another crucial consequence of global warming would be possibly war because of water shortages.

However, there are some steps that can be taken to improve our prospects. We could use alternative energy such as building nuclear reactors to replace power plants that use fossil fuels. The society must force manufacturers of cars, motorbikes etc to make them more efficient to alleviate the problem  and not wasting to much energy. Also, give people financial incentives. For example, help them install solar panels and solar heaters or make the latter tax-free. Furthermore, it would be effective to launch a campaign to encourage people to insulate their homes, not leaving electrical devices on standby, to name but a few. Moreover, tell them to apply the three R's: reduce, reuse, recycle. Using the car less is also advantageous, because were the public transport to be improved global warming will be alleviated.

To sum up, we should apply all these methods to harness climate change. Individuals, industries and governments must be concerned about it. Sacrifices will have to be made, but in the end saving the planet will make them worthwhile.

Global Warming

There has been a great deal of heated debate about global warming, which refers to the observed century-scale rise in the average temperature on the Earth's climate system. Startling evidence has come to light indicating that the greenhouse effect (that is, the natural process by which the atmosphere traps some of the Sun's energy) aggravates the climate change insofar as it has a knock-on effect on the environment. For instance, not only do global temperature and sea level rise, but extreme weather conditions, such as floods and droughts, also become more common, leading to the degeneration of ecosystems. However, the question that arises is: What are the primary causes of global warming and are there any steps to alleviate such an intensifying phenomenon?

As regards the causes of the rise in temperature over the last 150 years, they can be attributed to the greenhouse gases, which are: carbon dioxide (CO2), vapor and methane. The most catalytic one is CO2 emitted, especially by human activity during the consumption of fossil fuels (: oil, natural gas and coal), in cars (exhaust fumes) and factories. This greenhouse gas, the levels of which are twice what they were in 1850, pours into the atmosphere, where infrared solar radiation is trapped. Furthermore, the warmer the ocean is, the more water evaporates, and vapor is more effective than CO2. In addition, methane captured in the seabed and in frozen soil places like Alaska, exacerbates global warming, on the grounds that it absorbs 20 times more energy than carbon dioxide. Lastly, deforestation plays a vital role, since forests would otherwise store CO2 and release oxygen. 

Yet, it is claimed that temperatures may spiral out of control. To avert disaster, we could firstly fit carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to every power plant utilizing fossil fuels. This, would remove carbon from the fumes so that it can be stored underground. Additionally, the government could offer city dwellers financial incentives, for instance, either provide them with grants to install solar panels and heaters, or make them tax-free. Apart from that, a campaign could be launched to persuade people to alter their behavior, encouraging them to curb their carbon footprint (ie the amount of CO2 emitted due to the consumption of fossil fuels per capita) by insulating their homes and making use of public transport, or bike. Last but not least, were the "three Rs" to be applied, that is, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, global warming would be under control. 

On balance, it is an undisputed fact that global warming poses and is going to pose one of the most pressing issues. So, sacrifices will have to be made in order to harness this mammoth problem, but this constitutes the only means of global salvation. 

Global warming: Links to explore before writing the essay

Videos: http://markaki-literature.blogspot.gr/2013/08/2-interesting-videos-on-global-warming.html

Reading: http://markaki-literature.blogspot.gr/2013/08/reading-global-warming.html

Global warming effects

The consequences of global warming are difficult to predict, but certain effects seem likely: 

• On average, Earth will become warmer. Some regions may welcome warmer temperatures, but others may not.

• Warmer conditions will probably lead to more evaporation and precipitation overall, but individual regions will vary, some becoming wetter and others dryer. 

• A stronger greenhouse effect will warm the oceans and partially melt glaciers and other ice, increasing sea level. Ocean water also will expand if it warms, contributing further to sea level rise.

• Meanwhile, some crops and other plants may respond favorably to increased atmospheric CO2, growing more vigorously and using water more efficiently. At the same time, higher temperatures and shifting climate patterns may change the areas where crops grow best and affect the makeup of natural plant communities.

Should goverments interfere in issues like global warming or not?

It is said that some people believe that global warming will be tackled if goverments take strong measures to control the situation , while others insist that goverments should not interfere  in the everyday lives of people no mattter what the reason is.
  As I see it , global warming is caused by human interaction as more and more people leave their electrical appliances on standy, consume more energy than is needed and use means of transport such as buses or taxis which release carbon dioxide (CO2) in their exhasust fumes which later goes into the atmosphere.It has to be mentioned that carbon dioxide is more commonly produced in industries and factories where tons of carbon dioxide is released every year.
   In my point of view,goverments should interfere in a matter like this . They should offer financial incentives, for instance, force factories and industries to pay a hefty tax for every tone of CO2 they produce, raise the taxes of electricity in order to motivate consumers to consume lessand persuade manufacturers of electrical appliances , cars etc to make them more energy efficient. Furthermore ,apart from goverments , people should also take action. For example; Start a campaign which will motivate people to alter their behavior, turn the thermostat down and wear warmer clothes indoors in the winter  and will also show them the importance of global warming.
  Taking all things into consideration, the obvious conclusion tha can be drawn is that global warming is an issue that concerns all of us and we have to do whatever we can in orded to alleviate the situation. Adopting a green conscience will not only be benefitial  for the envirotment , it will also amelliorate our lifestyle.

Climate Change:An issue that conerns all of us .

It is said that nowdays, the climate of our planet will change in the future..Thanks to a lot of researches, startling evidence has recently come to light which indicates  that the climate of our planet changes gradually .However, the overwhelming majority of scientists , insist that natural factors, such as the cycle in solar activity cannot be responsible for the change of our climate . If no natural factors were responsible , the temperature ought to be falling.

 The main factor that causes the temperatures to rise is the carbon dioxide (CO2) which is released by the combustion of fossil fuels. Means of transport such as buses taxis which are more commonly used release the carbon dioxide from their exhaust fumes. After the carbon dioxide is released from exhaust fumes, it goes into the atmosphere where infared solar radiation is trapped.

 To alleviate the situation , the first step should be to launch a campaign in order to motivate people to alther their their behavior , encouraging them , for istance to insulate their homes , turn the thermostat down in the winterand wear warmmer clothes indoors , and noot leave electrical appliances on standby. Another measure that could tackle the climate change is a financial incentive . For instance, the goverment should make electricity much more expensive in order to motivate consumers to reduce their consumption or impose a hefty tax on industries for every ton of Co2 they produce .Furthermore , manufacturers of electrical appliances, cars etc should make them more energy efficient.

 Taking all things into consideration, the obvious conclusion that has to be drawn is that the climate change is an issue that concerns all of us an we have to do whatever we can to tackle it .If we adopt a green conscience not only the enviroment will be benefited, but our lifestyle will also be ameliorated  

2 interesting videos on global warming

http://youtu.be/OqsRD4HPtH0

http://youtu.be/2stHuRMMxog

Reading: Global warming

The greenhouse effect

Global warming causes

Effects

Solutions