Wilson1 Lexi Wilson Professor H English 114A 27 November 2013 Word Count: 1394 The Heat is On The recent

increase of the worlds temperature is due to pollution in the Earths atmosphere, and has become more commonly known as global warming. The main cause of pollution is the increase of harmful gases present, for example, carbon dioxide. Global warming is a major issue that is being caused by human activity from air pollution and different emissions. Few scientists claim that global warming is not real, therefore implying it is not caused by human activity. In an article it claims that, Over the most recent 100-150 year period examined, humans are responsible for at least 50% of the observed warming (Skeptical science). The number is growing till this day due to the advances in the modern world. There are many factors that contribute to global warming. The most common is air pollution. Air pollution seems to be the most damaging pollution caused by human activity. Pollution is most prominent because there has been industrial advancements that uses toxic chemicals, which are then emitted into our environment. For example, companies that deal with wood, coal mining, oil and gas, cement and concrete, and aluminum production all contribute to unclean air. Not only are there industrialized companies but also common places like the dry cleaners, automotive shops, and painting businesses that all use harmful toxins. Our modern society has standards that need to be

Wilson2 fulfilled, which require machines that emit toxins to our planet. Some of the different types of toxins released into the air are, sulphur oxides (SOx), along with the smogforming chemicals: nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (Bcairquality). These all are very harmful to our environment and our own health but the most common type of air pollutant is the burning of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons, primarily coal, fuel oil or natural gas, formed from the remains of dead plants and animals (Science daily). When fossil fuels are heated up and pressure is applied the decomposing remains of the dead plants and animals turn into fuels which then releases energy into the atmosphere. Dependence and overuse of fossil fuels is creating a negative impact on the planet. Fossil fuels contribute more than 90% of gross domestic greenhouse gas emissions (Epa). These greenhouse gas emissions are causing the climate change in the ozone layer. Although, fossil fuels create energy they are a nonrenewable resource, which means they wont last forever because they take several years to form. All these facts show that air pollution is at its highest rate with fossil fuel. It proves that it is over used and is causing a strain on our planet. Not only do fossil fuels affect our planet but other emissions do as well. Global warming has many more components that affect our planet. Another main contributor to global warming is emissions. An emission is when a substance is discharged and released into the air. Emissions can be negative and positive, however in relation to global warming it is negative. The main emission that is affecting our ozone layer is the release of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is mostly released from vehicles and industrial companies. Carbon dioxide leaves a huge carbon footprint on the planet; it is accounted for about 84% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from human

Wilson3 activities. (Epa). The main sources of carbon dioxide emissions are electricity, transportation, and industry. All these sources are over used daily and many take for granted what they do to our environment. Not only is carbon dioxide short term from being emitted into the air but it is also long term. Some long-term factors that are distributing to the release of carbon dioxide are population and economic growth and many new technologies. Carbon dioxide is the main emission of global warming but there are also other toxic releases. Another common emission is the chemicals used in farming, like pesticides. Chemicals for farming are used daily, they are chemical fertilizers that are used to help the process of plants grow faster. Although, they may only be beneficial for farmers and their harvest they are high in nitrogen oxide, which contributes to the destruction of the ozone layer. When one thinks of global warming they usually do not think of farms having an affect on our environment because it is part of the Earth but surprisingly agriculture is burning up our planet. Some of the methods like, Coal plants, tar sands and natural gas fracking have contributed (Cummins) to our earths decline of a healthy environment. This information is showing evidence of how our daily lives are affecting the planet and producing harmful chemicals into our world and bodies. Even with all this evidence and information there are scientists who believe that this is not accurate. There are people who are in full support of global warming but there are also people who dont even believe it is real. Regardless of all the talk and proof of global warming there are several different scientists that believe it is all a hoax. It is stated that, Since 1998, 31,000 scientists have signed a petition agreeing with the fact that there is no scientific evidence or consensus that man-made global warming exists while the

Wilson4 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has the support of only 2,500 scientists (Scott). There are many more scientists that have signed off on the fact that there is nothing that proves global warming is true and caused by man-made activities. There are several different articles that say the Earth stopped warming in 1977, which means nothing has happened in the Earths climate the past thirty-six years. Recent studies state that our planet is going into a new solar cycle, which should cool the Earth, not heat it. The people who do not believe global warming is true say that the main reason why we are so aware of the issues is because politicians are enforcing the ideas of our planet heating because they want our money to go towards an effort that does not need fixing. They may state all these facts about the how the Earth is not heating up, but they are wrong. There is too much evidence that supports the fact that global warming is real and is mainly caused by human activities. Everywhere one turns global warming is talked about and shown. People can go anywhere to look up information about our Earth heating. For example, the ice glaciers are melting from the warming of the Earth causing rising sea levels that could lead to the flooding of cities and ecosystems. There are many books, websites, and lectures that all focus on this hot topic, and prove it to be factual. The Earth is warming and it is obvious, This year is the seventh warmest since records began in 1850 and rising sea levels caused by climate change (Doyle). There is too much evidence in support of global warming and information about how one can help reverse the negative impact we are creating on the planet. There are many statistics that prove global warming is present and caused by human activities like air pollution and toxic emissions. These statistics prove that emissions, fossil fuels, and other problems are damaging the ozone layer, resulting in a

Wilson5 higher average temperature in the atmosphere. Air pollution is the main reason of the warmer climate from the release of fossil fuels, which contributes to green house gases. The release of bad emissions like carbon dioxide and farming chemicals are all from human activities that contribute to global warming. Many scientists are trying to stop this phenomenon, scientists and researches part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are trying to contain the amount of emissions we are putting into our atmosphere. They are trying to make it possible to keep total concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere at a level that gives the world a chance to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius (Biello). This means that we are trying not to emit more than 1000 billion tons of carbon, which seems like a lot but at this rate it is something the IPCC is striving for. We can take a stand and help the environment by recycling, car-pooling, and reducing our use of non-environmental friendly products. Next time someone acts if global warming is real, people will know it is not a hoax but a fact of life.

Wilson6 Works Cited "Climate Science Glossary." Skeptical Science. 20 Jan. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2013. ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily. Web. 16 Nov. 2013. "Carbon Dioxide Emissions." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 16 Nov. 2013. Cummins, Ronnie. "How Factory Farming Contributes to Global Warming." EcoWatch. 21 Jan. 2013. Web. 16 Nov. 2013. Scott, John. "A Really Inconvenient Truth: Global Warming Is Not Real." PolicyMic. 2 Feb. 2012. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

Doyle, Alister, and Michael Szabo. "2013 Is Seventh Hottest Year, Rising Seas Worsen Typhoon." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 13 Nov. 2013. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

Biello, David. "Global Warming Is Real IPCC Repeats--Now Can We Do Something about It?: Scientific American." Global Warming Is Real IPCC Repeats--Now Can We Do Something about It?: Scientific American. 27 Sept. 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. "B.C. Air Quality." How Business and Industry Contribute to Air Pollution. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.