Global Warming
Description:
Global warming is the trend of increasing temperatures on a global scale. The source of this heating is believed to be the greenhouse effect, which is the culmination of CO2 in the atmosphere acting as a warm blanket keeping the heat in.
Dynamics: The sun heats the earth's surface using its solar radiation. The heat coming from the surface can be seen as infrared radiation which under normal conditions can easily escape back again. However, large amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere prohibit the infrared heat-rays to escape quickly, causing global warming.
Enablers:
- Emission of greenhouse gases such as CO2
- Growth of the worlds population
- Economic growth, especially in emerging markets such as China, India and Brazil
- Slow implementation of renewable energy such as wind, water solar and biomass
- Lack of long term vision from governments and corporations
Inhibitors:
- Global Dimming
- Application of renewable energy sources
- Application of nuclear energy
- Reducing the use of fossil fuels through energy saving measures
- Preventing greenhouse gases from being emitted to the atmosphere (for example by storing it in empty oil- or natural gas fields, which is called CCS Carbon Capture and Storage).
Paradigms:
Solar radiation X passes through our atmosphere and heats the earths surface. The surface absorbes the energy and warmth (radiation Y) flows through the atmoshpere, while heating it. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere adsorb radiation Y, thereby raising the temperature of the atmosphere.
Experts:
Climatologists.
Timing:
1997 Kyoto Protocol, an amendment to the UNFCCC 2005 warmest year since instrumental measurements were made (1800s)