Global Warming Definition

Global Warming Definition

In essence, global warming is the increase in air temperature at Earth's surface and in the ocean which began in the 20th century and is predicted to continue to grow. Most scientists use the term climate change than global warming. The assumption is, is happening now is not only a phenomenon of increased heat of air temperature, but also the changing climate. Why did that happen? Everything comes from the increased heat of air temperature on Earth. Wind and sea currents and transfer heat to all corners of this Earth. The movement is cool some areas, heat some other areas, and change the amount of rainfall and snow which fell to a place. As a result, a change in global climate patterns.

Symptoms of Global Warming

The average air temperature at Earth's surface increased by 0.75 º C in the last century, but the rise double in the last 50 years. UN agency, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), projected that by 2100 the average world temperature will tend to increased from 1.8 º C to 4 º C - and the worst scenario could be reached 6.4 º C - unless the world takes action to limit the greenhouse gas emissions. It seems, that number is not very meaningful to you. However, you need to know, during the last Ice Age about 11,500 years ago, the average temperature of the world is only 5 º C lower than air temperature now, and it was almost the entire European continent covered with a layer of thick ice! Trends warming continues: 11 of the hottest in history all happened in the last 12 years.

Global Warming Relations with the Greenhouse Gas Effect

Earth is actually naturally become hot because the sun's heat radiation into the atmosphere. This heat is partly absorbed by the Earth's surface and then reflected back into space. Because there are greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), partially heat stays in the atmosphere so that the Earth is warm at the right temperature (60 º f/16 º C) for animals, plants , and humans to survive hidup.3 The mechanism is called the greenhouse gas effect. Without the effect of greenhouse gases, average temperatures in the world can be -18 ° C.4 Unfortunately, because now it's too much of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, they catch too much heat. As a result, the Earth warmer. 

Cause of Global Warming


In a recent report, Fourth Assessment Report, issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations body composed than 1,300 scientists from around the world, revealed that 90% of human activity during the last 250 years is what makes our planet is getting hotter. 2 Since the Industrial Revolution, carbon dioxide levels began rising from 280 ppm to 379 ppm in the last 150 years. No kidding, increased concentration of CO₂ in Earth's atmosphere was the highest since 650,000 years! The IPCC also concluded that 90% of greenhouse gases produced by humans, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, especially over the past 50 years, has drastically raise the temperature of the Earth. Before the industry, not many human activities release greenhouse gases, but population growth, deforestation, industrial farming, and the use of fossil fuels causes greenhouse gases in the atmosphere grew more and contribute to global warming.

Animal husbandry

In 2006, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) issued a report "Livestock's Long Shadow" with the conclusion that the livestock sector is one of the main causes of global warming. Livestock sector's contribution to global warming about 18%, larger than the contribution of transport sector in the world which accounts for about 13.1%. In addition, the world's livestock sector also contributes 37% methane (72 times more potent than CO₂ over the range of 20 years), and 65% nitrous oxide (296 times more potent than CO₂).

You may wonder what part of the livestock sector which accounts for greenhouse gas emissions. The following outline according to the FAO:

1. Carbon emissions from the manufacture of animal feed

a. The use of fossil fuels in the manufacture of fertilizers contribute 41 million tonnes of CO₂ each year
b. Fossil fuel use on farms accounted for 90 million tonnes of CO2 per year (eg, diesel or LPG)
c. The transformation of land used for livestock contributed 2.4 billion tons of CO₂ per year, including land that is modified here to graze livestock, land that is converted to plant soybeans as animal feed, or the clearing of forests for farm land
d. Carbon is released from the processing of agricultural land for livestock feed (eg maize, wheat, or soybeans) can reach 28 million of CO₂ per year. You need to know, at least 80% of the soybean harvest and 50% of the world's corn crops used as food ternak.
e. Carbon released from grasslands into deserts because of eroded contributed 100 million tons of CO₂ per year

2. Carbon emissions from animal digestive systems

a. Methane is released in the digestive process of animals to reach 86 million tons per year.
b. Methane released from animal manure to reach 18 million tons per year.

3. Carbon emissions from processing and transportation of cattle meat to consumers

a.  CO₂ emissions from meat processing to reach tens of millions of tons per year.
b. CO₂ emissions from transport of livestock products can reach more than 0.8 million tons per year.

Livestock industry is closely related to meat consumption patterns. Recently, other UN agencies, namely the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) confirmed the guidebook "Kick The Habit" that the meat diet for each person per year, accounted for 6700 kg CO₂. Currently, the Earth's population amounted to about 6 , 7 billion people. If 5 billion people of which are meat eaters, you try to count how many trillions of CO₂ emitted each year? We need to reprogram our eating habits. And you need to know, vegetarians, according to the UNEP report, only accounted for 190 kg of CO₂ per year.

Energy Generation

The energy sector is an important source of greenhouse gases, especially because the energy generated from fossil fuels, like oil, gas, and coal, where coal is widely used to produce electricity. energy sector's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions reached 25.9 %.






Industry

Industrial sector's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions reached 19.4% . The majority of this industry sector's contribution comes from the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity or directly from the production of C02 as part of processing, such as in cement production. Almost all greenhouse gas emissions from this sector comes from the iron industry, steel, chemicals, fertilizer, cement, glass and ceramics, and paper.



Agriculture

Agricultural sector's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions by 13.5% . The source of greenhouse gas emissions come primarily from working the land and forest clearing. Furthermore, derived from the use of fossil fuels for the manufacture of fertilizers and other chemicals. The use of machines in the hijacking, seeding, spraying, and harvesting of greenhouse gases contribute much. The latter, greenhouse gas emissions come from transporting crops from farms to markets.


Transfer Function of Land and Forest Deforestation

Another source of C02 derived from land use change where he was responsible for 17.4% . Trees and plants absorb carbon while they live. When trees or plants rot or burn, most of which they saved carbon is released back into the woods atmosfer. Deforestation also releases carbon stored in the soil. When the forest was not immediately reforested, the land will then absorb far less CO2.



Transportation

Whole transport sector's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions reached 13.1% . The transportation sector can be divided into land, sea, air and rail. The biggest contribution to climate change derived from land transport (79.5%), followed by air transport (13%), marine transportation (7%), and last trains (0.5%).


Residential and Commercial Buildings

Residential and building sector is responsible for 7.9%. However, when viewed from energy use, the residential and commercial buildings can be a source of greenhouse gas emissions are large. For example, in using electricity to heat and cool the room, lighting, use of household tools, the contribution of residential and building sector could reach 30%. Building construction also affects the level of greenhouse gas emissions. For example, cement, accounting for 5% of greenhouse gas emissions.

Trash

Sewage waste contributes 3.6% of greenhouse gas emission. here could come from the garbage that accumulates on Waste Disposal (2%) or from waste water or other waste types (1.6%). Greenhouse gases that contribute primarily methane, which comes from waste decomposition process.