Question

"Global Climate Change" refers to shifting trends in the long-term weather patterns ("climate") across the globe, and includes phenomena such as global warming. At its root is a steady increase in the atmospheric concentration of several gases called "greenhouse gases", some of which are released through burning fossil fuels such as gasoline, coal, and natural gas. One greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide, an input for photosynthesis and an output of cellular respiration. Your assignment for this Discussion Board to is investigate the following questions:

1.What is a greenhouse gas?
2.When and why is carbon dioxide considered a pollutant?
3.How do scientists know that humans are responsible for the increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that lead to climate change?
4.What are the consequences of increases in the concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases?
5.What are some options suggested to help combat this issue?
In your Individual Post, label your answers #1-5 so it is clear which question you are answering. Be sure to cite and reference your sources in APA format so others can check them out when responding to you.

Answer 1

1. Greenhouse gases are those gases that has the property of absorbing infrared radiation emitted from Earth's surface and reradiating it back to Earth's surface, thus contributing to greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapour are the most important greenhouse gases.

2. In 2009 when the environment protection agency declared that carbon dioxide, also know as CO2, is a pollutant and poses a danger to human health and welfare and therefore it must be regulated. Carbon dioxide is a pollutant because we release excess of it into the air, rising the background levels. It has a negative impact by dissolving in oceans and increasing their acidity as well as increasing the global temperature which impacts numerous environmental factors.

3. Humans have incresed atmospheric CO2 concentration by more than a third since indutrial revolution. Human's burning of coal, deforestation, natural gas, and oil for transportation and electricity has led to release of carbon dioxide. Industrial processes and agriculture also emit CO2.

4. Greenhouse gases have far ranging environmental and health issues. They cause climate change by trapping heat, and they also contribute to respiratory disease from smog and air pollution. Extreme weather, food supply distruptions and incresed wildfires are other effects of climate change caused by green house gases.

5. Conserving energy- turnig off lights when not in room.

Public transportation- since transportation accounts for 30% of greenhouse gases instead of driving use public transportation, buses ,trains etc to reduce air pollutants.

Plant a tree- Deforestation releases stored carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.

The 3 R's - Reduse, Reuse and Recycle.

Buy energy efficient products.

Encourage others to conserve.

  References

Greenhouse gases / definition/ Britannica www.britannica.com

How carbon dioxide became a pollutant - WSJ www.wsj.com

Causes/facts - climate change

Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is at a record high