Geo Essay (10 marks)

1. With examples and data, justify” Is it ‘virtually certain ‘that humans are to blame for
‘unequivocal’ global warming?

The atmosphere is an open system, receiving radiation from both the sun and the earth. The
energy of the earth is very small but it does have an effect in particular in urban climates.
Incoming solar radiation is referred to as insolation. The earth and its atmosphere constantly
receives solar radiation but there are long and short term variations in the earth's climate &
recent decades have seen the general rise in global temperatures. Human activities have
produced the atmospheric gases that have trapped more of the Sun’s energy in the Earth
system. This extra energy has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land, and widespread
and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, have occured.

Firstly, it is certain humans are to blame for global warming. Carbon dioxide is a
heat-trapping gas that is present in the Earth's atmosphere. It is responsible for the majority
of the warming that has been observed in recent decades. It is released into the atmosphere
through various human activities such as cement manufacturing and the burning of fossil
fuels like coal, gas, and oil. The burning of these fossil fuels has become increasingly
common since the Industrial Revolution and continues to be a significant contributor to the
increase in CO2 emissions. The concentration of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere has grown
considerably over the last 150 years. Before the Industrial Revolution, the concentration of
CO2 in the atmosphere was around 280 parts per million. However, today, the concentration
has risen to over 410 ppm. This significant increase in CO2 concentration is mainly due to
human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, which has greatly increased the
amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere. This is causing the Earth's temperature to
increase and contributing to the overall warming of the planet.

Secondly, land-use changes are another reason why humans are to blame. Land-use
changes can also have a significant impact on the Earth's surface albedo. Albedo is the
measure of how much solar radiation is reflected back into space. Albedo can be affected by
the type of vegetation or land cover, as well as by various human activities such as
urbanisation, deforestation, and agriculture. When forests are replaced with fields or other
types of land cover, the amount of sunlight reflected back into space increases. This is
because forests have a lower albedo compared to fields and other types of land cover.
Additionally, in snowy regions, forests are able to trap snow on the ground, which further
reduces albedo. When the water becomes warmer, the air masses that contract it also
become warmer. This leads to the increased warming of the atmosphere.

Another factor which suggests that human factors are to blame is from methane. When
methane is released into the atmosphere, it reacts with other gases to form water vapour
and carbon dioxide, which also trap heat and contribute to global warming. Methane has a
warming potential that is 28 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period, this
means that a given amount of methane is 28 times more effective at trapping heat than the
same amount of carbon dioxide. This means that even though methane makes up a smaller
percentage of the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, it can still have a significant impact on
global warming. The largest human-caused source of methane emissions is the extraction
and transportation of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. Methane can be released
during the drilling, extraction, and transportation of these fuels. The agriculture sector is also
a significant source of methane emissions, especially from enteric fermentation in livestock.

However, natural factors can be responsible for global warming to a certain extent. Volcanic
eruptions can release large amounts of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and
sulphur dioxide, into the atmosphere. When these gases are released into the atmosphere,
they can contribute to the warming of the planet by trapping heat in the atmosphere. The
carbon dioxide released by volcanic eruptions can also contribute to ocean acidification,
which can harm marine life.

In conclusion, global warming is an issue caused by both natural and human factors. Human
activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, land-use changes, and methane emissions are
major contributors to the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which trap heat
and contribute to the overall warming of the planet. The burning of fossil fuels, which has
become increasingly common, is a significant source of carbon dioxide emissions, which is
responsible for the majority of the warming that has been observed in recent decades.
Land-use changes, such as urbanisation, deforestation, and agriculture, can also affect the
Earth's surface albedo and contribute to global warming. Additionally, the agriculture sector
is a significant source of methane emissions. On the other hand, natural factors, such as
volcanic eruptions, can also contribute to global warming by releasing greenhouse gases
into the atmosphere. However, the impact of human activities on global warming is much
greater than that of natural factors.

Bibliography:
- https://www.exploratorium.edu/climate/atmosphere
- https://www.ibgeographypods.org/a-causes-of-global-climate-change.html
- https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/are-humans-major-cause-global-warming
- https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-why-scientists-think-100-of-global-warming-is-d
ue-to-humans/
- https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56933443