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Greenhouse Effect 

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Global Warming Consequences

Scientists predict that by warming the earth we will not only cause destruction to our environment, but the earth itself will exacerbate carbon dioxide emissions.  Global warming will increase the temperature of our oceans, resulting in a decrease in the solubility of carbon dioxide, which will increase the amounts of it in the atmosphere. Warmer oceans will not circulate as well, which may inhibit the growth of photoplankton, a major absorber of carbon dioxide.  A decrease in snow and ice cover would lower the amount of sunlight reflected from the earth's surface causing an increase in amount of absorbed radiation in the atmosphere, thus, increasing the temperature as well. A warmer earth would bring reductions in rainfall, which might turn areas that are covered in vegetation into deserts, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide absorption.  Global warming would cause more water to evaporate, increasing humidity, adding to the Greenhouse Effect.  All of these potential problems would be derived from the damage that we initially started. 

The rate of Greenhouse Gas emission of approximately 2% per year is a direct consequence of a growing global population, agricultural production, and industrialization.  The population of the planet has tripled, and is expected to double this century.  Industrial production is 50 times what it was 100 years ago.  In the next 50 years, it will probably grow to 5-10 times what it is today.  Every year 2-3% more energy is generated from the burning of fossil fuels.  If these rates continue, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide will double, which will contribute significantly to the global temperature, though the exact increase is not known it will occur.

It has been predicted that melting one third of the ice caps would raise the oceans by 150 feet.  The scary thing is that even if the oceans only raised 6-37 inches they would potentially cover New York, Miami, Venice, Bangkok and other sea side cities. There is even more uncertainty about the weather.  Some predict that the amount of days over 90°F would triple in northeastern America, while others believe that we would experience whether extremes, from floods to droughts.  An increase in the temperature would also increase the geographical range of mosquitos and other insects, thus increasing the spread of disease.

What Can We Do?

If the scientists are accurate we will begin seeing significant climatic changes within a decade, but can we wait that long, or is prompt action essential.  This is where there is extreme controversy.  We are divided between acting, waiting, and not acting at all.  Those who advocate delaying, believe that further studying is needed; They argue that there are too many uncertainties, and by acting now, we run the risk of making mistakes.  Those who argue to not act at all believe that there is simply nothing we can do and that global warming is inevitable.  And, those who argue that we should act now have came up with a number of emergency responses, most however, how been discredited.  The examples include:

• Releasing sulfur compounds into the atmosphere that would potentially generate cooling sulfate aerosols into the atmosphere.  The negative effects would include: increased air pollution, acid rain and ozone loss.
• Fertilizing oceans with iron to increase photoplankton growth.  This would also increase zooplankton, the animals that eat photoplankton, thus, counteracting the effect.
• Capturing carbon dioxide and inserting it into ocean depths.  This could potentially damage coral reefs.

The Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol is an attempt to limit the pollution rights of each nation.  In December of 1997, the goals were to "stabilize atmospheric Greenhouse Gas concentrations at environmentally more responsible levels."  To meet these goals, emission targets based on five year averages, were set for 38 developing countries to reduce their emissions of six Greenhouse Gases from 1990 levels as well as developed nations.  Accomplishing these goals between 2008 to 2012, would potentially reduce emissions by 5%.  Recently, the treaty was not ratified by the United States, because President Bush refused to until developing countries agreed to limit their Greenhouse Gas emissions.  The prospect is minimal because it will limit their economic growth.

Nuclear Power

This may be the only answer.  Though it has other consequences, it does not contribute to the Greenhouse Effect.