Global Warming

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A research paper about two things:
- 1000 words on the questions that are answered on the attached document
- 1100 words on three movies that reflect on global warming, compare and contrast the three movies, and see which is the best movies out of the three. (the names of the movies are listed on the attached document)

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE PROJECT

Research to find out

1- What is climate change: is a change in global or regional climate patterns, in particular a change apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels.

2- What is causing it: Most climate scientists agree the main cause of the current global warming trend is human expansion of the "greenhouse effect"1 — warming that results when the atmosphere traps heat radiating from Earth toward space.

Certain gases in the atmosphere block heat from escaping. Long-lived gases that remain semi-permanently in the atmosphere and do not respond physically or chemically to changes in temperature are described as "forcing" climate change. Gases, such as water vapor, which respond physically or chemically to changes in temperature are seen as "feedbacks."

Gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect include:
Water vapor. The most abundant greenhouse gas, but importantly, it acts as a feedback to the climate. Water vapor increases as the Earth"s atmosphere warms, but so does the possibility of clouds and precipitation, making these some of the most important feedback mechanisms to the greenhouse effect.
Carbon dioxide (CO2). A minor but very important component of the atmosphere, carbon dioxide is released through natural processes such as respiration and volcano eruptions and through human activities such as deforestation, land use changes, and burning fossil fuels. Humans have increased atmospheric CO2 concentration by more than a third since the Industrial Revolution began. This is the most important long-lived "forcing" of climate change.
Methane. A hydrocarbon gas produced both through natural sources and human activities, including the decomposition of wastes in landfills, agriculture, and especially rice cultivation, as well as ruminant digestion and manure management associated with domestic livestock. On a molecule-for-molecule basis, methane is a far more active greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, but also one which is much less abundant in the atmosphere.
Nitrous oxide. A powerful greenhouse gas produced by soil cultivation practices, especially the use of commercial and organic fertilizers, fossil fuel combustion, nitric acid production, and biomass burning.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Synthetic compounds entirely of industrial origin used in a number of applications, but now largely regulated in production and release to the atmosphere by international agreement for their ability to contribute to destruction of the ozone layer. They are also greenhouse gases.
3- Who is responsible: humans that live on earth are mainly responsible for this ominous act. Due to constant and rapid human activity global warming and climate change is impending faster. Human activities like cutting down trees that will decrease the amount of carbon dioxide that is inhaled by trees, harmful gas emissions, burning fossil fuels are all activities that contribute to global warming

4- What are the short term and long term effects:

Extinction of Important Species
Global warming endangers animals and plants all over the world. The biggest risk comes from habitat change. For example, polar bears rely on cold, snowy regions. As the planet warms and these regions shrink, polar bears will no longer have a place to live. The long-term impact is not only on large animals, but also on smaller animals such as insects, frogs and fish. Extinction affects the food chain and puts stress on the surviving animals to find adequate food. The extinction of animals and plants eventually affects human choices for food as well.
Health Issues
As temperatures rise, so do heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke. Increased air pollution correlates with the number of lung-related illnesses, such as asthma and lung cancer. Rising temperatures and unstable climates can also lead to rapid spread of disease. For example, infectious diseases, such as malaria and West Nile virus, will likely infect more people in a warmer climate. In addition, many medicines are derived from plant-based sources, and the long-term extinction of those source plants may limit access to the medications.
Melting Glaciers and Rising Oceans
Glaciers feel the impact of global warming. As the glaciers melt, the added water contributes to sea-temperature changes. This affects marine ecosystems. Melting also causes sea levels to rise, which is a threat to coastal ecosystems. There is a potential long-term threat to human-made structures that are situated precariously close to the water"s edge, such as cities like New Orleans and Amsterdam.
Political Conflict
As sea levels and temperatures rise, access to resources such as clean water and land decreases. This could raise the threat of political conflicts. For example, the civil war in Darfur is thought to be the first conflict that can be partially attributed to climate change. The conflict began in 2003 in a country that was already politically unstable. The extreme drought in that year caused fights to break out over the limited resources of water and food. When the lack of resources was added to the instability of the region, war broke out. Although global warming may have not been the only cause, political scientists speculate that global warming added to an already volatile situation.

5- what is being done to combat it:

Many countries are trying to find and implement different ways to slow down global warming. some examples are:
• using different vehicles that do not use harmful gases.
• burning less fossil fuels
• uses alternatives like water or wind as a source of energy instead of fuels
• Another thing is that many countries and convening in conferences to discuss climate change and spread awareness so that people would be more knowledgeable
• when people are more knowledgeable about global threats they start changing simple and major life choices and decisions that are healthier for the environment.

6- What treaties have been signed?

- Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
-Agreement establishing the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research
-High Level Advisory Group on Climate Financing

7- Are these treaties making a difference:

Yes, they are making a big difference, however it is not fully resolved.

8-what should be done to combat it:

- Get involved
- Be energy efficient
- Eat wisely

9- What can an individual do to make a difference:

- Reduce energy use
- Chane the way you think about transportation
- Insulate your home

10- Which organizations/ individuals/countries are at the forefront of the campaign to raise awareness and what have they done?
Watch three movies that focus on these problems and choose the one that gets the message across the best. Detailed answers should outline why the movie you have chosen does a better job than the other two movies you chose to watch

1. The Inconvenient Truth
2. The 11th Hour
3. The Day After Tomorrow

Come up with a video/photo message that we can send out to the public to raise awareness.