Global warming refers to the rise in the normal temperature of the earths near-surface atmosphere and water bodies ever since the middle of the twentieth century and its predictable continuation.
As reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, in the year 2007, the universal surface temperature rose by 0.74 to 0.180C for the duration of the twentieth century (National Research Council, 6). This was the panels fourth assessment report and the study concluded that a better part of this phenomenon referred to as global warming in is as a result of human activity.
Climate representation extrapolation concluded in the most up-to-date IPCC report point out that the earths surface temperature is to be expected to go up an additional 1.1 to 6.40C during the twenty first century. Even as some quarters dispute these projections and disagree with existing evidence of global warming as being caused majorly by human activity, the facts are just too compelling.
The main cause of this phenomenon is the accumulation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the lower atmosphere and these bar heat from escaping from the earths surface (Ramaswamy, 1138). Thus, a way(s) of reducing the amount of these gases in the atmosphere needs to be worked out.
Occurrences illustrating increase in global temperature
Sea levels getting higher
For the last century, observations show that sea levels moved higher world over. The average figure stood at more or less seventeen centimeters. Observations show that the order at which the level went up in the last decade is shockingly almost two times that of the last century.
An example of an area going through this phenomenon is the marshland going under water at Bayou Chitigue, Louisiana. The estimated sea-level rise for this marshland is 1.38 centimeters per year. For a period of four years, straight up buildup averaged 2.07 centimeters annually which means the lands elevation was corresponding to the increase in sea level.
Coastal marshlands constitute the most useful ecological units in the world. These lands at the land-ocean periphery offer loads of direct gains to humanity, as well as home for money-making fisheries and wildlife, storm defense, enhanced water quality by way of deposit, nutrient and effluence elimination, leisure, and visually pleasing values (Peterson, 17).
These precious ecological units will be extremely susceptible to the consequences of the fast increase in sea level projected to take place in the course of the next century as an outcome of global warming.
Rise in global temperature
Every single one of the three main universal surface temperature reconstructions gives an indication that the planet has become hotter ever since 1880. The largest part of this warming has taken place from the 1970s, with the twenty hottest years taking place from 1981 and with all ten of the hottest years taking place in the last twelve years.
The years beginning in 2000 up to date have seen a reduction in solar output with the period 2007 to 2009 a noticeable solar least amount. Despite this, surface heat levels keep on rising (National Research Council, 11).
The effects of increase in universal temperature are evident from the outbreak of a variety of viral ailments like malaria. The causal agents of these illnesses thrive well in environments with elevated temperatures. The outbreaks have especially been experienced in the developing world.
As a result, the economies and health of people are affected negatively. Mortality rates of both children and adults have gone up in the last two decades. Economies suffer because a larger part of the resources are directed at curbing these ailments through vaccinations and efforts to eliminate the causal agents altogether.
Other than viral infections, high temperatures pose difficulties to persons with cardiovascular complications. In severe occurrences, persons have lost lives as a result of heatstroke aggravated by elevated temperatures. High temperatures also lead to heat fatigue difficulties and respiratory difficulties as a result of harm to lung tissues which is a danger to persons with asthma.
Warming oceans
The worlds oceans have taken up a great deal of the augmented heat, with the upper seven hundred meters, that is, two thousand three hundred feet, of ocean illustrating increase of 0.3020F ever since 1969 (Peterson, 18).
Increasing heat levels have an effect on the physical nature of all oceans. As air temperatures go up, water density decreases and the water parts from a nutrient-filled chilly stratum underneath. This forms the starting point for a sequence effect that affects all oceanic life that depends on these nutrients for continued existence.
The most pronounced effects of this warming on oceanic populaces are alterations in natural homes and food provision and shifting ocean alchemy. Single-celled plants, phytoplankton, that thrive at the ocean floor and algae utilize the process of photosynthesis for making food.
The process takes away carbon dioxide from the air and changes it into natural carbon and oxygen which provides for virtually all ecological units. Studies show that phytoplankton survives in cooler oceans. In the same way, algae which are a plant on which other oceanic life feeds is declining due to oceanic warming. Thus, the most important nutrients are barred from finding their way upward and are stuck to a small stratum near the floor.
Annual growth cycles have been affected leading to disruption of entire oceanic food chains. Heat-driven organisms like phytoplankton have commenced their annual growth phase earlier in the season as a result warming oceans (National Research Council, 13). Creatures that once traveled to the floor for nourishment are now hitting upon areas devoid of nutrients.
Migration patterns that never existed before have been manifested along the east and west coasts. For instance, heat tolerant groups have spread out northward. The effect of this is a new jumble of species in a totally new location, in the end leading to alterations in predatory routines (Peterson, 18). Those species that will not be able to become accustomed to their new environment will die and become extinct.
The chemical composition of oceans is another aspect that is being altered due to increasing global temperatures. Higher carbon dioxide levels being emitted into oceans cause a rise in their acidity. With higher acidity levels, phytoplankton is trimmed down. The result is reduced marine plants to absorb greenhouse gases. Elevated acidity levels also impact negatively on other life forms like corals and shellfish. These might become extinct with time if nothing is done to counter global warming.
Disappearing ice sheets
Ice sheets at Greenland and Antarctic are diminishing at high rates. Statistics from NASAs Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment illustrate how Greenland dropped ice ranging from 150 to 250 Km3 annually from two thousand and two to two thousand and six. Antarctica dropped more or less 152 Km3 of ice in the period from two thousand and two and two thousand and five.
Ice sheets outline the earths surface and form the principal freshwater source. Shrinking ice sheets put many humans at risk from floods, rise in sea levels, droughts and deficiency in drinking water (Church and White, 18). The areas that are majorly threatened include Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and several other small island nations.
Ecological units in these areas are being messed up and life that has been thriving there now faces extinction if nothing is done. Animals that wont thrive in flooded areas such as polar bears face such threats.
Extreme weather events
Quite a number of excessive climate events have taken place in the last few years and they are as a result of global warming. These include pronounced heat waves and intense precipitation. They are expected to increase if appropriate steps are not taken to curb rise in global temperatures (Peterson, 18). Their effects are detrimental and lead to loss of lives since they are difficult to predict.
How to curb global warming
This phenomenon needs to be brought to a stop to avoid further negative effects and make the planet habitable for all forms of life. The first step needs to be reducing, reusing and recycling waste. We need to choose reusable commodities as opposed to non-reusable ones. Production of commodities with least packaging needs to be encouraged.
Recycling can be done on paper, plastics, glass and even metal products. This goes a long way in reducing up to an approximated two thousand for hundred pounds of carbon dioxide per year (National Research Council, 17).
Humanity needs to use minimal amounts of heat and air conditions in homes, offices and even in transportation means like vehicles. We can begin by insulating our walls and setting up weather stripping about all building openings in a bid to reduce warm up costs by an estimated twenty five percent.
Practices like turning down the heat while asleep or off in the course of the day and maintaining heat levels all the times are recommended. Statistics indicate that maintaining thermostats at two degrees lesser in winter and upper during summer is likely to keep at bay more or less two thousand pounds of carbon dioxide annually.
Car owners need to drive less and smart. Reduced driving translates to fewer carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Mass transportation systems like trains are effective. Whenever driving, we need to ensure that the vehicle is running resourcefully. Tires need to be appropriately inflated and the entire engine well serviced (National Research Council, 19). Every liter of fuel saved keeps carbon dioxide off our atmosphere in addition to saving on running costs.
All of us need to ensure we plant trees and maintain the worlds forest cover to maintain our world green. In the course of photosynthesis, these plants take in carbon dioxide as they release oxygen. With many of them then there will be a good balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Conclusion
The general consensus is that global warming is as a result of human activity. Therefore, efforts need to be directed at environmentally safe practices if the planet is to remain habitable for people, other animals and plants. Universal cooperation efforts such as the Kyoto Protocol need to be encouraged and all world states need to back such efforts.
Works Cited
Church, J. A. and N.J. White, A 20th century acceleration in global sea level rise, Geophysical Research Letters, 33, L01602, doi:10.1029/2005GL024826. (2006).
National Research Council (NRC), 2006. Surface Temperature Reconstructions For the Last 2,000 Years. National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
Peterson, T. C. et.al., State of the Climate in 2008, Special Supplement to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, v. 90, no. 8, August 2009, pp. S17-S18.
Ramaswamy, V. et.al., Anthropogenic and Natural Influences in the Evolution of Lower Stratospheric Cooling, Science 311 (24 February 2006), 1138-1141.
Global warming has caused a lot of destruction in various ecosystems. The worse part of it is the fact that a consensus is yet to be reached on what actually causes it. This fact has led a number of individual scientists and research organizations to conduct research in a bid to establish what the causes of global warming are. Although a number of findings have came out of such research activities, most of these research activities lead to the conclusion that global warming is a result of human activities.
Introduction
Global warming has, for a number of decades, been a major issue affecting humans worldwide. Its environmental effects are so adverse that it has led to the extinction of several species of both flora and fauna. Despite the controversy surrounding the causes of global warming, there has been substantial academic research showing that human activities are responsible for the continued warming of the earths surface.
Some critics of this fact have been arguing that the sun is continually getting warmer, but their arguments are based on speculations. This paper is a proposal for a research seeking to establish the cause of global warming, and determine if global warming is as a result of human activities (Global Warming 2009, p. 1).
Literature review
As stated in the discussion above, the question of the cause of global warming has sparked a lot of controversy from both environmentalists and their critics. While most environmentalists believe that global warming is caused by human activities, their critics argue that the sun is continually getting hotter, and thus they are of the opinion that human global warming is not a result of human actions.
Despite this controversy, reliable research has shown that the production of greenhouse gases by the activities of humans is the leading cause of global warming. These are gases like carbon dioxide and methane. Their effect on the atmosphere is that once they accumulate in the atmosphere, they form a blanket of greenhouse gases that cushion heat from escaping to the atmosphere. This leads to continual heating of the earths atmosphere.
Some of the activities that produce greenhouse gases include burning of fossil fuels, incomplete combustion of gas in faulty automobiles, and the like.
The main problem with global warming is that it is self sustaining. For instance, global warming leads to the melting of ice caps on the highest points of mountains. These caps normally act as heat reflectors, and thus when they are molten, heat from the atmosphere has worse effects on the earths surface. As mentioned earlier, global warming creates harsh living conditions in a variety of ecosystems, and endangers the existence of species existing in these ecosystems.
Methodology
This research can be conducted by integrating both field research, and desk research. This is because a lot of research has been conducted on this topic and it is imperative that existing knowledge on this topic be utilized.
The field research will thus be used to fill the gaps in the existing research, and also establish the truth behind the possible negative effects of past synergies in a number of research documents. This will ensure that the findings of the research are credible, and that they are guided by the most probable cause of global warming (Godfrey, 2010, p. 1).
Conclusion
As evidenced in the discussion above, global warming is caused by human activities. The proposed research is bound to prove this fact, and thus be in agreement with research that has been done on this topic. The research hypothesis can thus be formulated that global warming is not caused by human activity so that in the end, the hypothesis is rejected.
Since global warming has been proven, by past research, to be caused by human activities, the proposed research will act as a reinforcement of this fact, and bring fresh ideas on the measures that can be taken to mitigate the effects of global warming. It is thus of essence that once this kind of research is completed, its findings and recommendations are taken seriously and implemented diligently.
An inconvenient truth is a film by Al Gore elaborating the very controversial issue of global warming. Al Gore as a politician and scientist explicitly enlightens the public about environmental pollution that causes global warming and hence the green house effect.
Human activities carried out on this planet are the main causes of the disastrous global warming, which has led to drought, hurricane, diseases, tornados, and floods among other life threatening disasters. Carbon emissions from industries, homes, and automobiles among others are the main sources of global warming. Moreover, deforestation trims the carbon sink and hence leads to carbon dioxide concentration in the earths atmosphere.
Al Gore uses visual arts like charts and photographs of the earth, hurricane, and floods to mention but a few to explore his concept on the recent dramatic climate change. He asserts that there is increasing levels of carbon dioxide on the earth surface. The correlation between human activities that increasingly release Carbon on earth surface and lack of vegetation cover are the main contribution to the increase. In the last fourteen years, there has been a high level of carbon emission.
The main effect of increased carbon dioxide emission in the atmosphere is the high ice melting on different mountains. Due to the high temperatures caused by global warming, the Himalayas, Peru in South America, Italian Alps, and Patagonia among others have experienced significant ice melting in the recent past.
In addition, many rivers are drying up due to global warming. Therefore, in the near future, water will be scarce because all the water catchments are presently under destruction. Recently, there has been high level of floods in Asia and South America resulting from intense ice melting. Conventionally, ice melts and evaporates due to high temperatures leading to high level of rainfalls hence floods.
The recent occurrence of Hurricanes, tornados and typhoons is due to high temperatures in the oceans and other water bodies. Such hurricanes include, Ivan, Dennis, the infamous Tsunami, Emily, and Katrina, which recorded high number of deaths and tremendous loss of property.
However, the main cause of these hurricanes is the increase in temperatures at sea level. Due to global warming, there is an increase in the temperature of sea or ocean water beyond normal levels. Consequently, there is an increase in the velocity of wind, which increases its energy levels leading to disastrous hurricanes. Therefore, as the carbon dioxide emissions increase in the atmosphere, more catastrophic events are yet to hit the earth in the near future.
The green house effect has led to high soil temperatures. Atmospheric temperatures have gone up leading soil moisture evaporation. The impact is drying up of vegetation due to lack of water. There is a high expansion of deserts like Sahara and the rest. Therefore, this phenomenon contributes to global warming because vegetation is the main source of carbon sinks on earths surface. Cities like Nairobi and Harare have recently recorded high levels of Malaria because the vectors, which thrive in warm areas, have migrated to high altitudes.
These two cities are on highlands; however, due to global warming from industries, automobiles and farming among others, the temperatures increase thus favoring mosquito survival. Other infectious diseases like avian flu have reemerged due the effects of green house gases. Environmental pollution has not only led to global warming, but also break out of new infectious diseases like Ebola and West Nile virus among others.
In conclusion, the global warming has led to disastrous effects on the earth. These include drying up of vegetation cover, hurricanes, tornados, typhoons, floods, depletion of coral reefs, earthquakes, ice melting and wildfires among others. In addition, there is break out of new diseases due to global warming leading to loss of lives.
However, human activities on earth are the main cause of global warming due to emission of green houses gases. The increasing human population has led to increase in vegetation clearance to increase food supply. Therefore, a decrease in human carbon emission and continuous reforestation is the only solution to curb global warming because trees consume any carbon dioxide that is in the atmosphere according to Al Gore.
This article is about a controversial issue that has been a growing concern over the last decade. It is about the linkage between the overall rising global temperature (commonly known as global warming) and the worldwide rising of spread-range of infectious diseases during the same period. The central thesis of the author, Sylvain Fleury, is that global warming is one of the major, if not the major, causes of this high spread rage of infectious diseases.
A second point deriving from the thesis statement is that the negative effects of global warming, and subsequently, infectious disease spreading is felt much more in developing countries than in developed ones. On the other hand it is industrialized nations with their economic and political policies which are one of the major causes of global warming, and thus, of the spreading of these infectious diseases.
The author, Fleury, begins her article by stating that, in fact, the relationship between climate change and infectious diseases is complicated and controversial.
Anyway she cites a 2006 study by University of Michigan ecologist Mercedes Pascual, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences regarding the issue. This study shows that climate change, in addition to drug and pesticide resistance, changing land use patterns, and human migration, was responsible for the resurgence of malaria (Fleury, 2008, pg. 1).
This study is concentrated to the disease of malaria and around it Fleury constructs her central argument. And there is one major reason for that.
First, the high risk of transmission that humanity is exposed toward this disease. Almost 40% of the global population is under threat of transmission. Malaria has a potential reach to roughly 2.4 billion people on this planet.
Between 350 and 500 million cases of malaria occur each year, causing more than one million deaths. (Fleury, 2008, pg. 2)
The second concern that the author raises is that this disease is not taken very seriously on a world stage. This is partially due to the fact that most of the cases of malaria occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, in a place at the corners of policy attention. Since the rest of the world, North America, Europe and even Asia are north of this malaria line , meaning having colder temperatures, they feel malaria is not a problem that should be much concerned about.
And that is the mistake, according to the author. With the rising of global temperatures these regions will begin to have climate temperatures similar to those where malaria has already thrived. Today, in politics and economics there are many efforts being made trying to curb global warming. Unfortunately there is no acceptable solution in sight. Even if starting today the most drastic measures were to be taken, such as extremely limiting the use of carbon fuels, the earth would continue to warm for several decades.
It is true that some consequences of global warming such as rising sea levels may be unavoidable. But there are some consequences we can deal with. As the author suggests, We can take measures to soften the impact of habitat expansion for insect-borne infectious diseases (Fleury, 2008, pg. 3).
The only thing that is in our hand is to start do something about it. First step would be to recognize that this is an issue that affects all of us as human kind and that it is better to start implement the adequate policies to be prepared when these problems start to appear.
The global warming has significant implications for the economic sustainability of many communities. In particular, it is possible to mention the declining harvest of various crops as well as threats to food security in various countries. Furthermore, one should speak about the need to adopt new approaches to production such as the use of genetically modified organisms. Additionally, much attention should be paid to the risk of the natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and tornados that can damage the property of many people and threaten their survival. Admittedly, the mechanisms of global warming are not fully understood. This process may not be caused by only human activities. Nevertheless, the impacts of this process should be of great concern to policy-makers. These are the main issues that should be discussed more closely.
Introduction
The questions related to global warming have been of great concern to scientists, engineers, policy-makers, and journalists. The potential risks associated with this process have led to the adoption of new regulations and significant changes in environmental practices of many manufacturing companies. This research paper is aimed at examining various aspects of this phenomenon. In particular, one should focus on the main effects of global warming; for instance, it is possible to speak about the transformation of agricultural production and the threats to food security. To a great extent, these changes can be caused by the changing fertility of different crops. Thus, it is important to consider the danger of famine in various regions in the world. Furthermore, much attention should be paid to the criticism of the main models explaining or describing this process. Overall, it is possible to argue that global warming poses significant threats to the economic sustainability of different countries; moreover, it can increase the risk of natural disasters that produce catastrophic effects on various communities. Admittedly, the mechanisms of this phenomenon may not be fully understood by scientists; however, its risks should not be disregarded. Therefore, it is vital to reduce the impact of human activities on various elements of the environment. This is the main thesis that should be examined in greater detail.
The effects of global warming
Overall, scholars argue that the global increase in temperature can be explained primarily by the human activities (El-Sharkawy, 2014). This explanation is adopted by the majority of scientists who study the changes in the climate. In particular, one should speak about the excessive use of fossil fuels and deforestation (El-Sharkawy, 2014, p. 161). Furthermore, researchers focus on the release of such gases as methane, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and nitrous oxide (El-Sharkawy, 2014, p. 161). To a great extent, global warming can be attributed to the growth of industrial production throughout the world. These examples highlight the need for changing the environmental practices and adopting new methods of production. It should be mentioned that during the past century the global temperature has risen by approximately 0.75 C (El-Sharkawy, 2014, p. 162). In turn, global warming can influence many biological processes that are of critical importance to human beings. Many of these influences may not manifest themselves immediately, but they can become noticeable only in the long term. This is one of the main details that legislators should consider in order to protect various social groups.
Overall, researchers single out various implications of global warming. In particular, scientists mention the changes in plant disease and pest occurrences (Ayyogari, Sidhya, & Pandit, 2014, p. 145). Furthermore, the increase in temperature can intensify the life-cycle of different organisms that harm crops; for instance, one can mention fungi (Ayyogari et al., 2014, p. 147). Furthermore, it is important to speak about the migration of insects to higher latitudes (Ayyogari et al. 2014). Thus, this trend can create significant challenges for many farmers living in these areas. In particular, they will need to find new ways of protecting crops. These trends can also influence the volume of agricultural production. In particular, some of the plants will better adjust to the changing climate conditions due to such attributes as the tolerance of heat. For instance, it is possible to mention cassava, soya beans, as well as rice (El-Sharkawy, 2014). Nevertheless, many vegetables will be adversely affected by these factors. In particular, one should speak about potatoes (Ayyogari et al., 2014). This crop is vital for agricultural production of many countries. It is important for the food security of various communities. This is one of the risks that can be singled out.
Additionally, global warming forces many farmers to adopt new approaches to production. For instance, farmers located in middle and high latitudes will be able to increase the crops various plants due to the effect of CO2 fertilization. Thus, some stakeholders can actually benefit from global warming, at least in the short term. Nevertheless, the countries located in tropical and sub-tropical areas may suffer from agricultural losses. The problem is that at present, the temperature in these regions has already reached the limits of thermal adaptation (El-Sharkawy, 2014, p. 165). Thus, it is possible to say that global warming can significantly threaten food security in different countries, especially those ones that are more exposed to the risks of draughts. For instance, some African countries can be affected by hunger. This is one of the main risks that should be reduced to the minimum.
It is also necessary to mention that global warming can affect migration of people. One should keep in mind that many people may leave the countries provided that their capacity for agricultural production is undermined (El-Sharkawy, 2014). This argument is particularly relevant if one speaks about African countries and the refugees who need to find a new place of residence. This case shows that global warming can increase the vulnerability of less developed countries that have not fully integrated into the modern economy. Thus, international community should be ready for these challenges because many countries will need to support refugees. This problem illustrates the long-term influences of global warming that can impair the welfare of many stakeholders.
Another indirect effect of global warming is the increasing use of genetically modified organisms that can significantly increase the resistance of different plants to external stressors such as heat and draughts (Fuhrer & Gregory, 2014). The use of genetic engineering can be a solution to the problems that can posed by global warming. Nevertheless, researchers and farmers should make sure that these products do not jeopardize the health of consumers. This is one of the aspects that should be taken into account. On the whole, these examples demonstrate that global warming has significant implications for millions of people whose life and health can be dependent on the environmental practices adopted by different various companies. The most important task is to adjust agricultural production to the changing climate conditions. Apart from that, one should make use of the most energy-efficient technologies that can reduce global warming.
Furthermore, scholars mention that global warming can result in the changes of the river flow regimes (Do Hoai, Udo, & Mano, 2012, p. 541). Thus, these changes can have significant implications for many communities that can face significant risks of floods. Furthermore, researchers assume that such natural disasters as hurricanes and tornados are also caused by the increase in temperature, because warmer atmosphere has more energy to power storms (Masters, 2012, p. 19). Overall, such events as floods and hurricanes can result in significant financial damages. In many cases, they can bring thousands of people to the brink of homelessness and poverty (Masters, 2012). Thus, one should not assume that global warming is only related to agriculture. These are some of the perils that should be distinguished. Certainly, the causal relations between natural disasters and global warming have not been fully investigated. Nevertheless, these possible connections should be taken into consideration by people who develop environmental regulations. These professionals should pay attention to the long-term effects of this phenomenon on various stakeholders.
The controversies related to the global warming
It is also important to mention that some researchers are very skeptical about the validity of scientific models that can explain the global changes in temperature. For instance, they point out that in the past there were historical periods when the temperature rose dramatically in various countries (Leyland, 2005). The most important issue is that these abnormalities were long before the Industrial Revolution. This is one of the limitations that should be taken into account. Moreover, researchers note that the projections about climate change may not be very accurate (Leyland, 2005). These models cannot take into account various variables affecting thermodynamic processes. Additionally, one should not forget about the impact of such a factor as sunspot activities since they can also cause temperature fluctuations (Leyland, 2005). This argument implies that many regulations which are aimed at curbing CO2 emissions are not necessarily effective. To a great extent, these examples show that it is important to evaluate existing models of global warming more critically. In this way, researchers can gain a better idea about the origins of this phenomenon.
Furthermore, researchers note that natural abnormalities can be very difficult to explain. Admittedly, they can take their origins in thermodynamic processes (Seager, Naik, & Vogel, 2012). Nevertheless, they can be caused by a complex set of factors that can be easily described with the help of existing meteorological models. These are some of the limitations that should be taken into account by people who need to make informed judgments about the nature of global warming.
More importantly, some scientists argue that variations in the climate are imbedded in nature, and they are not directly dependent on the activities of human beings (Spencer, 2012). The main problem is that scientists assume that the rise in temperature could be caused the increased emissions of greenhouse gases. Nevertheless, these variations may be inevitable. This argument implies that the modern concerns about greenhouse gases may not be justified since there may not be significant causal relations between human activities and climate changes. Overall, the issues discussed in this section are important because they suggest that peoples activities cannot be blamed for various detrimental effects of global warming. These are some of the main points that can be made.
Discussion
Overall, it is vital to examine a complex set of factors leading to the changes in climate. Nevertheless, the critique provided in the previous section does not invalidate the idea that global warming can be a significant challenge for many stakeholders such as farmers, manufacturing enterprises, governmental organizations, and every member of the community, in general. Admittedly, the mechanisms of this process may not be fully understood nowadays. However, it is not permissible to think that the impact of global warming is negligible. The key issue is that atmospheric temperature increases at a very alarming rate, and it is necessary to find ways of reversing this trend and minimizing its detrimental effects. This strategy can be instrumental for the sustainability of many communities.
Conclusion
On the whole, it is possible to argue that global warming can endanger the sustainability of many societies, especially those ones that are dependent on agricultural production. This problem takes its origins in the inefficient use of energy and excessive deforestation. It is possible to distinguish the following impacts: 1) the increased vulnerability of various crops such as potatoes; 2) the changes in the migration of insects; 3) the increased risk of natural disasters; 4) threats to food security, and 5) decreased economic sustainability of the global community. Admittedly, existing models that are supposed to explain this phenomenon may not be perfect. Nevertheless, the risks associated with this process cannot be overlooked by legislators and policy-makers. One of the main goals is to focus on the development of energy-efficient technologies that limit peoples influences on various thermodynamic processes. These are the main arguments that can be put forward.
Reference List
Ayyogari, K., Sidhya, P., & Pandit, M. K. (2014). Impact of Climate Change on Vegetable Cultivation A Review.International Journal Of Agriculture, Environment & Biotechnology, 7(1), 145-155.
Do Hoai, N., Udo, K., & Mano, A. (2012). Climate Change Impacts on Runoff Regimes at a River Basin Scale in Central Vietnam. Terrestrial, Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, 23(5), 541-551.
El-Sharkawy, M. (2014). Global warming: causes and impacts on agroecosystems productivity and food security with emphasis on cassava comparative advantage in the tropics/subtropics. Photosynthetica, 52(2), 161-178.
Fuhrer, J., & Gregory, P. (2014). Climate Change Impact and Adaptation in Agricultura Systems: Soil Ecosystem Management in Sustainable Agriculture. New York, NY: CABI.
Leyland, B. (2005). Manmade Myth. Power Engineer, 10(11), 48-49.
Masters, J. (2012). 2011s Billion-Dollar Disasters: Is Climate Change to Blame?.Weatherwise, 65(2), 12-19.
Seager, R., Naik, N., & Vogel, L. (2012). Does Global Warming Cause Intensified InterannualHydroclimate Variability?.Journal of Climate, 25(9), 355-372.
Spencer, R. (2012). The Great Global Warming Blunder: How Mother Nature Fooled the Worlds Top Climate Scientists. New York: Encounter Books.
Methane is one of the greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases contribute to a condition known as global warming in which temperatures of different places around the world rise above normal values. Global warming has raised a lot of concerns among most environmentalists around the world because of the effects of global warming are not addressed at their early stages then the lives of plants and animals living in the world are at very high risk of ending (Beauchemin & McGinn, 2005). Global warming and its effects can only be controlled if the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere is minimized as much as possible. Methane is a major contributor to greenhouse gases and thus its emission into the atmosphere has to be reduced as much as possible.
Livestock farming is an agricultural practice that contributes to the high production of methane. The production of methane gas can be controlled by controlling the ratio of feeds that are given to ruminant animals. This is because the amount of methane produced by ruminant animals is proportional to the ratio of nutrients that are available in the animal feeds (Ellis, Kebreab, Odongo, Beauchemin, McGinn & Nkrumah, 2009). It is highly believed that if methane emission to the atmosphere especially from byproducts of ruminant animals is reduced then global warming can effectively be dealt with.
Understanding the variability of methane production about diet that is fed to ruminant animals especially cattle is a very important factor in decreasing the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. If the emission of greenhouses into the atmosphere is reduced, the variability of temperatures around the world will be a thing of the past. It is on this basis that most countries such as Canada and Australia are now committed to reducing the emissions of greenhouses by about 6% of the amounts produced by the year 1990 (Beauchemin & McGinn, 2005).
Studies have shown that methane emissions take place in the rumen of ruminant animals during the fermentation of feeds which is aided by microorganisms in the rumen. It has also been established that the emissions of methane from the rumen of ruminant animals represent the loss of productive energy which should be used by the animals (McLean & Tobin, 1987). The level of methane in the meat of beef cattle kept under intensive feedlot systems is usually lower than the level of methane in the meat of cattle under extensive grazing systems. This implies that the amount of methane available in the rumen highly depends on the diet of an animal (McLean & Tobin, 1987). It is therefore important to appropriately quantify the number of feeds given to cattle in feedlots to minimize methane emissions.
Previous experimental results showed that the digestibility of dry matter content (DMC) during the background phase of heifers was less than during the finishing phase. If the production of methane in the rumen is aided by microbial fermentation, then the dry matter must also affect methane production (Ellis, Kebreab, Odongo, Beauchemin, McGinn & Nkrumah, 2009). This gave a good background for researchers who wanted to study methane production in finishing bulls.
It was because of methane emission concerns and the effects of global warming that an experiment was undertaken in the Tullimba research feedlot facility in Australia. The experiment was conducted using 84 weaned Angulus bulls with known weights and the weights were monitored as the experiment proceeded (Beauchemin & McGinn, 2005). The main aims of the experiment were to quantify for finishing bulls in a feedlot if having a high dry matter intake decreased methane production rate, and are low methane producers likely to have potential environmental benefits.
Reference List
Beauchemin, K. & McGinn, M. (2005). Methane emissions from feedlot cattle fed barley or corn diets. Lethbridge, Alberta: Career and Technical Education. Journal of Animal Science; 83, 3.
Ellis, J., Kebreab, E., Odongo, N., Beauchemin, K., McGinn, S. & Nkrumah, D. (2009). Modeling methane production from beef cattle using linear and nonlinear approaches. Lethbridge, Alberta: Career and Technical Education. Journal of Animal Science; 87, 4.
McLean, J. & Tobin, G. (1987). Animal and Human Calorimetry. Edited by K. A. Johnson and D. E. Johnson. New York: Cambridge University Press, pp.159.
The onset of global warming has resulted in a significant rise in temperatures and the melting of ice in the Arctic region. Diminishing of ice in the Canadian Arctic ice implies an increase in the size of accessible land. Accessibility of the Arctic will in no doubt raise the question of the sovereignty and security status of Canada. Since the Arctic region is endowed with about 37% of worlds unexploited resources, conflict over boundaries, resources, and shipping will definitely arise over the area (Griffiths 257).
Canada has settled most of its population in its islands apart from one island. This situation gives her the legitimacy to claim sovereignty over the region. International law gives Canada the authority to claim control of its coastline in the Arctic for 200 nautical miles. However, conflict over international free waters, straits, and/or how they are defined affects Canadas interest in the Arctic. In the past, the country had a conflict with countries such as the US concerning the Arctic region. During the cold war, Canada defended its interest in the Arctic from Russia. Countries such as the US, Russia, Denmark, and Finland, which have a coastline with the Arctic, have begun preparing their navies and resources towards more ventures into the Arctic.
Hence, Canadas Arctic sovereignty is at stake. Although Canada has remained quiet over the Arctic, the question of whether it will be able to regulate shipping, mining, and exploitation of the Arctic is yet to be seen (Griffiths 258). Moreover, states that are far from the Canadian Arctic such as Japan, China, and India have shown interest in the region. The paper confirms that the Arctic is no longer a seabed to be ignored but an economically viable region that countries of the world are looking upon with diverse interests. Therefore, since global warming is at the center of the debate, this paper confirms that it has a profound impact on the Canadian Arctics sovereignty and security.
Background Information
Over the years, the Arctic region of the North Pole has been regarded as inaccessible due to ice caps. National and international interest in the region has also been low, owing to the infeasibility of venturing into discovering and exploring the Arctic region. One of the Arctic countries of interest is Canada. Although Canada portrayed great interest in defending the sovereignty of its Arctic territory during the cold war, such efforts began to dwindle after the cold war. Since then, Canada has not been assertive enough to enact policies and/or allocate funds for the development of its Arctic territory.
However, the impact of global warming has awakened the interest of many states concerning the Arctic. Global warming has resulted in warmer temperatures in the Arctic (Birchall 3). High temperatures have resulted in the melting of ice in the region. Consequently, the ice-covered waterways continue to be opened. In fact, by the end of the 21st century, there will be no ice in the Arctic (Griffiths 12). By 2030, there will be very little ice caps in the Arctic. Moreover, researchers from the US have asserted that there will be a low ice cover in the Arctic as early as the summer period of 2015.
The melting of ice caps in the Arctic will therefore mean increased accessibility of the region by interested parties. According to Birchall, researches by the US government have claimed that 37% of the worlds unexploited resources such as gas and oils are in the Arctic (3). This observation makes the Arctic region the most productive region in the world. Every nation requires gas and oil to enhance its industrial production. This demand will eventually make the five states that have a coastline with the Arctic lay more claim on the region.
Legitimate and unlawful states have shown interest in the Arctic. Russia has already started exploiting the oil reserves in the region. It has even used its navy to drop its national flag at the North Pole in the recent past. This move a prove enough that although Russia is allowed to ply the high waters by the international maritime laws, planting a national flag at the North Pole Russia is a show of where its boundaries end. Other states such as Denmark have already presented their claim over the Arctic in to the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Seas (UNCLOS). Nations such as Finland, Russia, and the US are yet to present their claims. China, India, and Japan are also eying the potential for oil and gases from the region to their industries. In fact, this move has repeatedly been challenged by the US.
Sovereignty implies authority and control that a country and its leadership have over a territory, people, or resources. The Canadian Arctic sovereignty implies the ability of the Canadian government to exercise authority over its territories, regardless of whether they inhabited or uninhabited by its people. Authority to regulate maritime activities in its Arctic region is also part of its responsibilities.
Canada remains the most affected country by the greenhouse effects of pollutants that originate from industries in the US and many other countries, including China and India. Deposits of pollution from these countries end up in the Canadian Arctic. Pertinent matter that relate to the health and environment of the people are therefore affected by global pollution and warming. Global warming has also affected activities in the Canadian landmass since melting of the ice caps has resulted in the flooding and destruction of lives of communities that live near the coastline (Griffiths 15).
Increase in storms has also been attributed to global warming. As a sovereign nation, Canadas sovereignty is guaranteed in the international law. However, such sovereignty in the Arctic remains a big question. Hence, the debate concerning the sovereignty of the Canadian Arctic after global warming can therefore be evaluated based on the way the government is able to meet these factors. Global warming has resulted in increased accessibility of the Canadian Arctic. Interested parties will gain access to the region. The ability of the government to meet the renewed interest in the Arctic will therefore be significant.
Canadian Arctic Sovereignty
Sovereignty of the Canadian Arctic is indicated by the rights, authority, and responsibility that the federal government of Canada has over its land, water, and people. Sovereignty is therefore a legal force that is accepted within the nation and in the international systems. This section evaluates the Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic based on its defined territoriality, validity of governance system, and the occupation of the territory by people.
Governance System
Canada has a defined governance system that is acceptable by its people and the international community. There is no question of threats to the sovereignty of the Canadian government. The sovereign government of Canada is presented as federal state, which has devolved its powers in various units. Such territories include the South, North region, Yukon, Northwest, and Nunavut. Although the northern comprises poorer people compared to other regions, the section has embraced the sovereignty of the government.
The Canadian Arctic government has therefore defended the sovereignty of the country since independence. For example, during the cold war, the government protected its territory against the influence of Russia. In several instances, the government has stamped its authority by allowing the US ship to sail through its internal waters. In fact, the government of the Canadian Arctic canceled the permission that had been granted to a US vessel to pass through its waters after complaints from people that Canada was accepting the demands of the US government.
This position was an indication of the sovereignty of the governing system. However, failure of the Canadian government to allocate resources towards the development of the Arctic has resulted in its perceived lack of interest in the region. Although the government has commissioned researches on the Arctic after it realized that the climate around it was changing, little has been done in exploiting the untapped resources (Birchall 4).
Occupation of a Territory by People
The sovereignty of a country is indicated by the occupation of its territory by people. Although there are no definitive minimum or maximum number of people who should occupy a territory for a government to claim sovereignty, Canada has occupied all its islands except the Hans Island. The Hans Island has no population. This situation has resulted in questions concerning Canadas sovereignty over it. Although the Canadian Arctic has a small population, the northern part of the country is poor, comprising relatively unemployed young people. As such, the government has a duty to ensure resource provision to its people. Sovereignty and exploitation of gas and oil-rich Arctic will be imperative, especially after the evidence of ice melting.
Defined Boundaries
There is no doubt that the validity of boundaries in the Canadian Arctic is a challenge. A country cannot claim sovereignty and security over an area if it has no valid and internationally recognized boundaries. Although the landmass boundaries of the Canadian Arctic are well defined, the question of marine boundaries is still a challenge. However, international maritime laws define the territory that a country that has a coastline can claim sovereignty.
However, the international community needs to define the number of countries, which must ratify a boundary to be recognized internationally. However, this concept has not yet been well defined worldwide. It is worth noting that there have been increased disputes over ocean boundaries across the world. The issue of ocean boundaries has also been rife in the Arctic region. In fact, the major challenge of sovereignty of the Canadian Arctic since time immemorial has been ocean boundaries. This problem is likely to intensify, especially now that the ice in the Arctic is melting at a very high speed, owing to the global warming effect.
Other interested parties are therefore likely to challenge the sovereignty of Canadian Arctic over the ocean due to the riches that lie therein. The UNCLOS has however enacted laws on the definition of international maritime zones. This convention came as a relief to most of the countries that have coastlines. Earlier, countries maritime territories would only extend to 12 nautical miles in the sea. However, since the endorsement of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), this space was extended to 200 maritime miles. The space sovereignty that EEZ gave the Canadian Arctic covers a wide territory in the seas. In this region, Canada can carry out fishing and drilling of natural oil, gas, or any other available mineral resources. Such laws will therefore define the question of the control that Canadian Arctic will have over the ice-free Arctic after global warming. Canada will have complete control of the waters that are close to its coastline.
However, the evident huge distance that lies between Canada and its Arctic coastline zones will bring the question of who the legitimate owner of the region is. Although it may seem logically correct for Canada to have sovereignty over the whole of its Northern region up to the North Pole, the international maritime laws may not uphold it. This observation can be compared to the case of Russia where its military sailed the international waters up to the North Pole where it planted the Russian flag. However, an international uproar of Russias action was evident from other Arctic states that claimed that Russia was legally wrong.
Canada knows the significance of the Arctic to its security and interest. However, the international law allows the passage of all international sea vessels in regions that are out of the 200 nautical miles area. There is no doubt that UNCLOS gives countries that have a coastline control over the ocean if they have a continental shelf. This privilege goes beyond the EEZ boundary. It has to be scientifically proven before ratification. In fact, a continental shelf gives a country an additional 150 nautical miles of seabed and soil. Such a state can therefore be said to control close to 400 seafaring miles of naval zone. Therefore, under these international laws, Canada can assert dominion over a great section of the Arctic.
However, although melting of the ice caps in the Arctic and the eventual accessibility of the sea allow Canada to have control over resources, it is not allowed to control scientific research, fishing, or shipping beyond 200 nautical miles boundary. Conflicts have ensued between Canada concerning its sovereignty over a maritime zone that the US believes is a strait while Canada believes is its internal waters. The argument is that if the waters join two international water bodies, they form a strait that can be used in international shipping (Griffiths 259).
However, a country such as Canada can exercise sovereignty by regulating all activities apart from international ship passage, regardless of whether they are submerged or afloat. Canadas reference of the strait as internal waters can be weighed under the definition that internal waters comprise water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and swamps that are wholly within the landmass of a country. Since the strait lies along the Canadian Arctic Island, the claim of sovereignty over it is difficult to judge. However, since it joins two international water bodies, the US claims that it is not part of internal water still hold some truth.
Therefore, Canada may be said not to have a problem with two elements of sovereignty, namely population and governance. However, with the global warming setting in, Canada faces increased problems of sovereignty of its maritime boarders. The ability of Canada to exercise sovereignty over its geographical region or territory will assure its citizens of their security. In fact, sovereignty and security of the Canadian Arctic are intertwined.
Significance of the Canadian Arctic to the Global Warming Era
In the early years of the Canadian Arctic, the idea of Arctic sovereignty was exclusively used to address the dispute between Canada and the US over Northwest Waterway (Charron 831; Pharand 24). This issue was different from Canadian Arctic security, which was concerned with the differences that Canada had with Russia during the cold war. At this point, Canadian Arctic policymakers did not bother to enact laws to protect their interest in the Arctic region (Blunden 121). However, the Arctic region is significant to Canada now than any other time. The arctic is a hub of wealth. As such, various nations have begun challenging the sovereignty of the Arctic county over the region. Canadian Arctic has no choice but to move fast to assert its sovereignty and security over its Arctic region.
Sovereignty of the Canadian Arctic landmass has already been challenged by Denmark. For example, Denmark claims ownership of the Hans Island from Canada. The fact that the island is very small and that the Canadian Arctic has not deployed its population there makes its sovereignty claims questionable. The international rules of sovereignty demand a country that is laying claims of a land mass to follow them (claims) by subsequent occupation.
Denmark has therefore claimed the territory that has originally been known to be owned by the Canadian Arctic. Denmarks claim over the Hans Island comes with the realization of the economic potential in the Canadian Arctic waters. This situation has actually been intensified with the 1990s realization of climate change in the world and its impact on the northern Arctic pole (Birchall 5). Claims of landmass by a foreign nation are a clear indication of its interest even in the waters.
The fact that control over maritime zone depends on a countrys coastline is indicative of Denmarks intention. If it manages to legitimize its claims over the Island, it will directly translate into the waters that lie around the island upon considering the EEZ rule of 200 nautical miles. The implication of such a claim on the Canadian Arctic will be far reaching.
It will mean its loss of sovereignty and security over a territory and subsequent loss of economic resources. Moreover, by virtue of gathering enough courage to claim a territory that has been known to belong to the Canadian Arctic, Denmark shows that it will soon be claiming the Arctic from the sovereignty of Canada. In fact, all the five members of the Arctic region have started preparing their navies and economic resources, including ice-ships, in readiness to exploit the economic resources in the Arctic.
Global warming has made Arctic countries begin preparing to venture into the rich Arctic after its accessibility seems assured in the near future. On its part, Canada seems to be moving slowly into the realization of the likely conflict it is headed to with the global warming impact on the Arctic. For example, Russia is already making ships that use nuclear power to sail over the ice-capped Arctic. There is no doubt that Russia has already begun drilling oil and gas in its Arctic region. In addition, the Russian navies have sailed all the way to the North Pole to plant a flag at the centre, which has been seen by analysts as indicating the countrys claim over the Arctic.
Although this move has resulted in condemnations from the US and Canada, Russia has continued to portray its assertiveness in demonstrating its sovereignty over the region. In fact, although there has never been a conflict over maritime boundary between Russia and the Canadian Arctic, this move may be the onset of a bigger action. Moreover, the Canadian Arctic has policies that bar it from using nuclear power (Blunden 127). This limitation means that its ability to exploit the rich Arctic north is limited compared to that of Russia, which is using nuclear power to heat or propel its ships in the northern Arctic.
Denmark has already filed a case in the UNCLOS laying its claim over the Arctic. It has also prepared its navy towards exploring the region. As seen earlier, Denmark has also claimed the ownership of one small island that is under the sovereignty of Canadian Arctic. Denmark continues to intensify its naval technology in readiness for the Arctic. Finland also aims at launching its claims immediately after Denmark receives accreditation for its region from the UNCLOS.
Developments of ships that can sail better in both ice and high waters by countries such as Japan are indicators of how the world is preparing to venture into the Arctic. Although such countries are not in the Arctic region, their interest is indicative of the significance of the region following the effects of global warming. Nations that have economic interest such as China and India have also requested to be included as observers of the affairs of the Arctic council. Such countries are focusing on the oil and gas deposits in the Arctic, which will be very useful in regulating the worlds energy prices. These countries have already started working closely with Arctic countries such as Russia and Finland. The fact that the Canadian Arctic contains huge deposits of energy resources makes it a place of interest for most countries of the world.
Japan has discovered jell-like structures that contain ice energy that is believed to be formed from compacted petroleum gases. These structures can therefore be processed to produce petroleum. In fact, Japan is already looking into how such structures can be harvested and used for commercial production of petroleum. Japan has deployed its researchers and archeologists to investigate the feasibility of commercial exploitation of these resources (Huebert Renaissance 26). This move is indicative of Japans interest in the Canadian Arctic. Consequently, it puts the sovereignty of the Canadian Arctic in question since the amplified interest from external countries indicated more security threats in the region.
Increased Need for the Canadian Arctic Sovereignty
As the issue of global warming intensifies, so is the need for the Canadian Arctic sovereignty. The fact that global warming results in the rise in temperatures and eventual melting of the ice cap in the Arctic north makes the region an unexploited mine (Carnaghan and Goody 8). Although global warming is perceived as a negative effect of pollution of the global environment, it will result in more accessibility of the oil and gas-rich Canadian Arctic. The untapped 37% of the world energy that is said to lie in this region attracts the interest of many states. Based on other countries interest and claims over the Arctic region, Canadian Arctic sovereignty and security become an important matter.
The question of whether the federal government of Canada will continue to ignore the hot idea of securing its interest in the Arctic is important. The international community, the media, and people of Canada are watching to see the actions that the government of Canada will take to secure its interest against any external aggression. The interweaving line between national sovereignty and national security rests on the ability of a government to secure its people and their interests (Carnaghan and Goody 20).
Over the years, the Canadian Arctic has undermined the economic benefits of its Arctic region with leaders strategically refusing to enact laws that define how the resources can be exploited. In fact, the federal government of Canada has witnessed criticism and pressure from its citizen over its reluctance to stamp authority over the Canadian Arctic (McRae 60 Arctic 427). For example, Canada has looked for areas of better international relations with the US, yet it is its greatest threat in matters of the northern Waterways. In fact, the government was once forced to stop yielding to pressure and influence of the US and/or allowing its ship to sail in the Canadian Arctics internal waters by public pressure.
The interest of the now accessible Canadian Arctic has resulted in increased aggression by neighbors over its territoriality. In addition to Denmarks claim over the Hans Island, the American government has strategically failed to ratify all international organizations that have an interest in the Arctic. Therefore, the US has a clear interest in the region. It does not want any organization or body to exert control over boundaries, economic activities, or sovereignty of the region.
Moreover, the US has openly differed with the Canadian Arctic over territoriality, hence challenging the sovereignty of the Canadian Arctic over some parts of what it claims to control (McRae Arctic Sovereignty 53). The United States has differed with Canada concerning its maritime jurisdiction. The area of contention between the American government and the Canadian Arctic is defining the margin of the Beaufort maritime. Canadas sovereignty over the region is therefore challenged. Beaufort Sea is one of the areas that the Canadian Arctic needs to lay claims firmly on and stamp authority before more violations happen.
Sovereignty of the Canadian Arctic is also affected by globalization in the sense that Denmark, which is one of the Arctic countries, also perceives an opportunity in the rich Canadian Arctic (Carnaghan and Goody 29). Denmark has not been contented by how the Lincoln Sea is divided and/or the share of the Canadian Arctic. This dissatisfaction shows that it is a potential aggressor of Canadian Arctic sovereignty and security. Moreover, Denmark has openly laid claims concerning not only the water but also the Hand Island landmass. In fact, Denmark has continually prepared its military towards more exploitation of the accessible northern Arctic. It therefore follows that the sovereignty of Canadian Arctic is under potential aggression by several states.
The definition of a continental shelf by UNCLOS Article 96 is also likely to challenge the sovereignty of Canadian Arctic in a considerable maritime area. English confirms that countries that are likely to lay claims over the continental shelf that is currently under the sovereignty of Canadian Arctic include Russia, the United States, and Denmark (30). Any country that presumes to have a continental shelf in the maritime zone that it needs to stamp its sovereignty over has the right to do so as per the international maritime laws under the United Nations (Churchill, Rolf, and Lowe 13).
Such countries are supposed to carry out research on the area and the reason why they think they qualify to claim it for a period of ten years. After the research, they should submit their report to the United Nations committee on maritime shelf. The committee will then meet to make a resolution concerning the report. According to Pharand, the fact that these three countries are already carrying out research in preparation to lay their claims is also a threat to Canadian Arctics sovereignty (25). If the UNCLOS grants such shelf to these countries, the Canadian Arctic will have lost a great deal of resources.
Sovereignty of the Canadian Arctic is also of interest in the Northwest Passage (Charron 833; Pharand 25). Canada has openly declared that the area is part of its internal waters and that it has sovereignty and security over it. Canadas control of maritime shipping in the region has been on the lime light for a considerable period. Having declared its sovereignty over the Northern Waterways, Canada has taken a step to regulate who has access to these waters. Under the interior resource maritime regulations, the Canadian Arctic has complete control over any in-house waters.
However, the debate of whether the Northern Waterways is strait or internal water persists in the international arena. English affirms that the European Union and the United States have asserted that this area is a strait and that no country can lay claims over it (28). As such, the Northern Waterways is an international maritime zone for all shipping countries, which do not need to have any one in control. The sovereignty of the Canadian Arctic is therefore challenged further. Its authority to control ships that pass through this region has even been challenged in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) (Churchill, Rolf, and Lowe 18). The final decision is pending.
Canadian Arctic needs to assert its sovereignty in the region not only to have control over the region and its activities but also to protect the interest and security of its people. Activities that are likely to begin following the global warming and melting of ice are likely to affect the Canadian environment directly. For example, if countries begin exploiting oil and gases in the Arctic, the impact of ice melting will be felt intensely in Canada than in the rest of the world.
As such, the people that the federal government of Canada has sovereignty over are likely to be displaced by ocean storms and/or change their livelihoods. The maritime ecosystem in the Arctic will also change. The relationship between Canadian people and its environs will definitely be altered. Immersion of more land mass and drying of wells will also increase as activities that result in melting of ice cap increase. Consequently, some of the Canadian citizens will be left without houses, food, and livelihood. The subject of security and autonomy of the Canadian Arctic is a function of global warming. Canada has to protect its people, waters, and land.
Increased Need for the Canadian Arctic Security
Security of people in the Canadian Arctic has been threatened by global warming. The authority that the government of Canadian Arctic has been given by its people is to ensure their security first before pursuing other interests (Hubert 34). The government is therefore challenged to respond to numerous threats that have been posed to its people and its territory by the actions of foreign nations. Although the issues surrounding the Canadian Arctic sovereignty are multidimensional and that they keep on changing with time, there is a need for the government to assure its people of their security.
One of the major security challenges that the Canadian Arctic is facing is the deposition of pollutants and wastes from all over the world through the sea. In fact, some of the pollutants in the Canadian Arctic region come from as far as India. The health of the Canadian Arctic citizens has been negatively affected by eating contaminated locally grown foods. For example, agrochemicals and heavy metals that are contained in certain chemicals that are used in farming and other activities in the world end up in the Canadian Arctic (Hubert 41). In turn, plants that the people feed on take them in. This observation calls for the protection of the Canadian Arctic from harmful pollution by the rest of the world. Canada has therefore been tasked with a heavy responsibility of persuading the international community not to dump chemicals into the sea.
Other physical security threats to the Canadian Arctic have also happened in the recent past. For example, criminals from Norwegian Hells Angel entered the Canadian waters up to the Cambridge Bay. They went undetected and unabated by the Canadian authorities, regardless of the fact that they were in a small boat. The Canadian security systems are therefore challenged to protect the countrys maritime interest. However, the Canadian Arctic is now enlarging its navy, especially after the impact of global warming that spelt danger to its sovereignty.
The most important factor at this point is for law and policymakers in the government of the Canadian Arctic to enact laws that advance the security of its territory. Policies on the funding of military, especially naval ability should be enacted. There is a likelihood of an increase in aggression over both land and water in the Canadian Arctic by different countries and even international bodies. The Canadian Arctic needs to be prepared to face these interests with confidence.
Otherwise, it will lose its sovereignty. Protection of Arctic sovereignty and security are therefore important as the impacts of global warming continue to open the Arctic north to international community. The issue of occupation of a landmass that the Canadian Arctic already owns is likely to result in criticism of the security apparatus in the country. Activities of other countries ships in its maritime waters without authorization are also likely to question Canadian ability to protect its people.
Migration of the Southern Canadians to the North
A major impact of global warming on the Canadian Arctic will be the migration of the Southern Canadian Aboriginals to the north. Young Canadians inhabit the northern part of the Canadian Arctic. The region is also poor. The population lacks employment and better livelihoods. However, global warming has brought about new interest in the area by the southerners. As global warming increases, there will be an increase in accessibility of the Arctic north by most of the people. Temperatures in the north are very low. This situation has prevented the southerners from venturing into the north. Opening up of the north will therefore mean an increase in the population in these areas.
Global warming will result in easier accessibility of the northern Arctic by the Canadian Arctic people. As other nations come to exploit oil and gases in the region, the countrys population will pull closer to these economic activities. In the event that Canada decides to exploit oil and gases in its territory in the north, the same impact of migration of people from the south to the north will result. Economic development of the north will also follow the activities in the Arctic north.
Industries for oil refining and shipping will be built on the Canadian Arctic landmass in the north. Young people will seek employment in these industries as a way of raising the economic standards of Canada. With better livelihoods, the people of Canada will therefore focus on economic development of their families and the nation. The need for technical expertise for resource exploitation will also compel the Canadian Arctic to better their education systems. For example, there will be an increased need for engineers, geologist, lawyers, and technicians to work in mining companies in the north.
Migration to the Northern Canadian Arctic by Non-Canadians
Although the issue of who will migrate into the Canadian Arctic after the impact of global warming is fully felt is still unknown, the fact is that many non-Canadian countries, people, and organizations have shown interest in the Canadian Arctic region. For example, the US, Russia, Japan, Finland, Denmark, India, and China among many other countries may move in either as legitimate owners or as investors in the region. India and China may move in as observers or as actors.
The coming of these immigrants will have an impact on the economics, culture, and governance of the Canadian Arctic. Uncertainty of whether global warming will continue to raise temperatures that are necessary for the melting of the northern ice cap is still rife. Many international meetings have been organized to counteract the impact of global warming and its greenhouse effect. The melting of the ice cap in the Arctic region will be stopped or will be slower. However, Sharp confirms that the speed of global warming is still high (297).
By 2030, it is estimated that the Canadian Arctic will be completely open for accessibility. However, persons or countries that will move into the region are still unknown, just as their impact on the area. If global warming stops, there will be little opening of the Arctic region. However, the use of ice-ships that are currently being manufactured in Japan and Russia will still be a point to turn to in exploring the region. The Canadian Arctic is up for resource exploitation in the near future. What is important is for it to guarantee protection and autonomy of the region and its people.
Endangering the Lives of Coastal Communities
According to a report by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP), Arctic Science Committee (ASC), and Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) (Huebert Canadian Arctic Sovereignty 10), global warming will have a security impact on communities, which live along the coastline. This situation will result from an increase in storms along the coastlines. Since global warming will cause the melting of the polar ice, the amount of ice that will be available in the sea will decrease.
This situation will in turn result in the rising of waves that cause storms in the sea. Due to the uncontrolled nature of such waves, storms will have a direct and easy access to the coastline. These storms are likely to destroy lives, buildings, animals, and other strictures. Flooding will also result from the increased melting of the ice in the Arctic. Floods are also a security threat to the coastal communities in the Canadian Arctic. Floods destroy human lives, animals, and plants. Besides, they disrupt the ecosystem.
Flooding may also predispose people to waterborne diseases such as bilharzia, especially with the increased pollution of the Arctic water by the world. The government of Canadian Arctic is therefore charged with the responsibility of guaranteeing security to its people, especially the communities that live along the coastline. Through policy and law, the country and the international community will therefore manage security threats that are posed to the people of the Canadian Arctic by global warming. The countrys security and intelligence system needs to be alert to inform such communities on changes in sea waves and the timing of when to move away from the coastline. Policies on habitation on the coastline need to be enacted to reduce the impact of such an occurrence.
Increased Marine Access and Transport
Because of global warming, ice caps will melt. Hence, accessibility to the Canada Arctics marine environment will increase tremendously (Brigham and Ellis 23). Security and sovereignty issues will eventually become a great concern for Canada. The reduced sea ice in the Arctic North means that sailors and navigators will take an extended period carrying out fishing, oil extraction, and gas mining in the Arctic (Stewart 370).
In addition, navigation will become easier since ships that have the ability to navigate on ice and water will be able to use the region. Powerful states such as the US and simple states will then move to the Canadian Arctic in an effort to exploit resources and/or pursue self-enrichment. This situation will definitely raise the issue of defense and autonomy in the countrys Arctic. Violation of marine laws and/or encroaching areas that are designated as EEZ and continental shelf will increase (Brigham and Ellis 26).
The already visible conflict between the Canadian Arctic and countries such as Denmark, the US, and Russia will intensify. The likelihood of the use of military power by foreign nations in the Canadian Arctic will also be actualized. The use of military by foreign nations to defend individual countries interest and activities in the Arctic will result in death and destruction of property (Chaturved 442). Sharp asserts that the likelihood of application of military power by foreign nations that have an interest in the Arctic North can be seen in the increased military, scientific, and economic preparations that such nations are already engaging in (302).
Countries such as the US have heavily invested in geological research in the Canadian Arctic. The US has continually used the geological data from the Arctic in predicting the future to know if the ice in the Canadian Arctic will have substantially melted by the beginning of the summer of 2015. Such predictions are targeted on preparations for its venture into the Arctic north to exploit the resources therein.
According to Sharp, the increased access to the Canadian north by foreigners will raise the question of sovereignty since the Canadian government will seek more control of the zone (314). The need to assure Canadians that the activities of other countries in the region will not affect their livelihood negatively will be a hard task for the government. The Canadian Arctic will also be required to prove its sovereignty through military patrols in the region and demarcation of boundaries.
The security of the people of the Canadian Arctic will also have to be assured by the government. Increase in economic activities in the Arctic will lead to social and cultural problems. Social evils such as theft, smuggling, corruption, and prostitution will increase. The government must therefore ensure protection of its people from negative social, economic, and political influence.
The melting of ice in the Canadian Arctic will result in a rise in offshore activities in the Canadian Arctic (Stewart 372). Oil and gases that will be exploited from the Arctic waters will need refineries stationed offshore. Due to the proximity of the Canadian mainland, other nations will seek business ventures in Canada to support their Arctic activities. Increase in offshore activities will threaten the sovereignty of the Canadian Arctic. As nations venture into activities of gas and oil exploitation, Hagel says that they will interfere with economic activities of the Canadian people (8). Prices of commodities such as gas and oil will be affected by activities in the shores. The Canadian Arctic will have to prove its sovereignty by protecting its people and its economy from negative influence.
Offshore activities by foreigners will also influence the cultural sovereignty of the Canadian Arctic. Cultural sovereignty of a country is imperative to its existence. The need to defend national culture is a responsibility of a government in a sovereign country. Cultural sovereignty in the Canadian Arctic includes food, dress, festivals, language, and religion.
Such aspects of the Canadian culture need to be protected from the influence of foreign nations. The fact that the Canadian Arctic defended the sovereignty of its people from the influence of the Soviet Russia during the cold war is evidence of its commitment to ensure sovereignty of its people. Culture is used in the preservation of national values in Canadian Arctic. The impact of global warming is likely to threaten its very existence.
Destruction of Infrastructures by Ice
Global warming in the Canadian Arctic will eventually result in thawing of the ground (Heininen 214). There will be an increase in gas and oil extraction industries in Canadas mainland because of the accessibility of the Arctic. The existence of these industries and their operations will be disrupted periodically by freezing ice. The freezing ice destroys roads and other infrastructure even as it melts after temperatures rise.
Destruction of roads in an area that has increased mining and extraction activities will imply that an alternative means of transport will have to be prioritized. The Canadian Arctic is likely to turn to marine transport and make use of modified ship to transport export goods to other nations (Brigham and Ellis 29). Destruction of roads, buildings, and trees by ice is also a threat to the security of the Canadians. In some cases, thawing of ice may even result in the death of the people.
Degradation by permafrost will result in the drying of lakes and destruction of the ground. As a result, the ecosystem in the Canadian Arctic will be disrupted by these changes. Global warming will not only change the social, political, and economic climate in the Canadian Arctic but also the ecosystem. Canada may lose its indigenous plants and animals, thus resulting in a change in the ecosystem. Since all pollutants that are drained into the sea across the world end up in the Canadian Arctic is a threat to people, animals, and plants in the region.
As a result, the lives of people have changed. The ecosystem continues to change since some marine creatures either die or migrate to other regions. The whole process of global warming has therefore interfered with the earlier habitats of the Canadian Arctic. Canadian Arctic has therefore lost sovereignty and control over the composition and safety of its marine ecosystem. The implication is that global warming is a threat to the security of the Canadian Arctic ecosystem. Canada needs to reinforce the campaign against dumping of agrochemicals into the sea by nations of the world in order to ensure security of its people and marine ecosystem.
A Threat to Food Security in the Canadian Arctic
Indigenous communities that live in the south and the northern parts of Canada depend of food species that existed in the area since time immemorial. However, the witnessed change in the Arctic temperatures has resulted in climatic changes, which have led to the extinction of some food species. Plants and animals in the terrestrial ecosystem have been affected by the changing ecosystems. Thawing of ice and the changing weather conditions have resulted in drying of plants. Food crops that people depend on can no longer grow as they used to do before the interference with the global climatic conditions through industrialization. New species of crops and trees that can survive and excel in the changed environment have had to be imported or developed. This situation has caused a great threat to food security in the Canadian Arctic.
Global warming has also interfered with marine animals and creatures that are fed on by the Canadians. Indigenous sea creatures that survived in the cold waters of the Arctic have been forced to migrate to other regions while others have died out of pollution. Global warming has resulted in a rise in temperatures across the world and in the Arctic marine environment.
Creatures that were previously adapted to living in the very cold temperatures cannot survive in the changed environment. Change in marine environment means that indigenous fish and other marine creatures that people fed on have had to die or develop modified structures that adapt them to the new environment. Loss of these creatures in the Canadian Arctic marine environment is another threat to food security. In fact, new species are slowly moving to the Canadian Arctic marine environment from other parts of the world.
Hagel asserts that global warming will result in increased access to the resource-rich northern Arctic by the Canadian government (9). This move is also likely to result in decreased food production in the country. Owing to the increase in competition for oil and gas in the Arctic, the federal government of Canada may focus much of its attention in the exploitation of these resources and/or protection of its interest through the military.
In fact, the Canadian Arctic has already begun building a strong army in readiness to face the likely provocation of its interest in the Arctic by foreign countries (Heininen 209). Citizens of the Canadian Arctic have also prevailed on the government to portray its sovereign authority, especially in the marine environment. Canadian citizens piled pressure to their government to stop yielding to the demands of the US over the Northwest Waterways. Investing in security and machinery for exploiting the Arctic will mean that most of the government resources will be focused on the Arctic.
This move will leave very low or inadequate resources for the development of the agricultural sector. Since people and the government the agricultural sector as the source of food security, poor economic support to this sector will mean poor food security in the country. The country will then have to depend on food imports from other nations, despite their huge and productive landmass.
Oil extraction and the building of industries on the shores and the mainland will also be a threat to food security. Increased accessibility of the Canadian Arctic will result in increased extraction of oil. As companies extract oil in the sea, chances of oil spillage into water will also increase. Oil spillage is a great threat to marine ecosystem, which is a source of food for the Canadian people. Oil spillage results in a reduction of oxygen gas in the marine environment to the extent of suffocating sea creatures.
Global warming is therefore a great threat to the Arctic marine ecosystem in different ways. Increase in the number of ships and water-moving machines in marine environment disrupt the marine ecosystem (Huebert Climate Change 18). Such machines interfere with the eating habits, mating, and normal life environment of the sea creatures. This situation, which is expected to worsen, will threaten the life of the very food that the people rely on.
Consumption of contaminated water and food by sea creatures because of pollution from diverse parts of the world is also a threat to the health of the Canadian Arctic. All chemical and non-chemical pollutants in the world are deposited to the Canadian Arctic. Marine creatures such as fish then consume these chemicals and heavy metals. However, people consume them (fish) later. Consumption of contaminated fish and seafood is a great threat to the health of the people of Canada. Such contamination may result in diseases such as cancer. The impact of this pollution of food may affect several generations of the people of Canada. The government must therefore enact laws that guard its marine environment to ensure food security to its people.
High Levels of Ultraviolet Rays (UV)
The impact of stratospheric change in temperatures in the Arctic region will negatively affect the ozone layer. Greenhouse effect will result in the destruction of the Ozone, which in turn will fail to protect the living creatures from harmful rays. Ultraviolet radiation is detrimental to the life of human beings, animals, and plants. Young people in the northern part of Canada will experience Ultraviolet radiation for the whole of their lives.
According to Chaturvedi, it is estimated that the people of the Canadian Arctic in the current generation will experience a 30% increase in Ultraviolet rays, which are harmful to their health (450). Ultraviolet rays may cause skin cancer and other ailments. Hence, in the coming years, the number of patients who will be suffering from cancer will increase. Health will therefore be a security issue in the Canadian Arctic as global warming increases.
Ultraviolet emissions will also influence the health of vegetation and other living organisms. This radiation impedes photosynthesis, thus resulting in the death of plants or low production in cultivated crops. Green plants depend on sunrays for energy production through photosynthesis. Ultraviolet rays will mean low production of plants and extinction of some species. Ultraviolet rays also affect marine creatures negatively.
For example, in fish, the fingerlings are strongly affected by Ultraviolet radiation. Growth of such fish and small amphibians is therefore impeded by this radiation. In fact, in some cases, malformation of body structures in fish and amphibians results from Ultraviolet rays. Malformation of fish because of Ultraviolet may be inherited by the following generation, and hence a threat to both health and food security of the people of the Canadian Arctic. In addition, it is also a threat to the environmental security of the Canadian.
Conclusion
The impacts of global warming on the Canadian Arctic sovereignty are numerous. Global warming has resulted in increased melting of the ice in the Canadian Arctic. Because of the perceived accessibility of the Canadian Arctic, the number of states that are expressing interest in the area has increased. Researches by various geologists have indicated that the Canadian Arctic is endowed with unexploited oil and gas resource.
Many states have therefore showed their interest in occupying the area or being involved in the exploitation of resources. This situation has raised the question of the impact of global warming on sovereignty and security of the Canadian Arctic. Canada is tasked with the duty of securing the sovereignty of its boarders, people, and property. The security of the people in terms of health, physical security, cultural security, political security, and social security are also threatened by global warming. Various countries of the world have begun taking steps towards ownership of the Canadian Arctic.
Countries that have been discussed here include Denmark and its interest in Hans Island, the US and its interest in the Northwest Subways, Finland and its interest in the continental shelf, and Russia and its interest in the continental shelf. All these countries are a threat to the sovereignty of the Canadian Arctic. Some of them have started preparing their military and economic resources in readiness to venture into the Canadian Arctic. The government of Canada has also started refocusing on the security and sovereignty of its Arctic interests.
Works Cited
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The issue of Global Warming has always been thorny, and more so in the 21st century. Physicists are finding themselves in a dilemma especially due to influence by governments and international organisations with a lot of financial capability, much to the dismay of pioneer physicists such as Harold Lewis, a Professor of Physics wrote a terse resignation letter to Curtis G. Callan, the President of the American Physical Society. He expressed a number of concern addressed to a number of members at the American Physical Society. In his letter, Professor Lewis protested against the issue of undue influence by big money in the world of physicists (Delingpole, 2010).
He further noted that Pre World War physicists lived a selfless life of sacrifice, service to humanity, and country. They were not driven by the search for material gain and wealth. In addition, they worked without any undue external pressure. Their independence was respected and protected (Delingpole, 2010). They were able to evaluate important world issues such as global warming without any reproach or political interference.
However, things have gradually changed since then. For example, global warming is increasingly turning into a money minting scheme. In this regard, millions of dollars have been poured to influence its reporting and decision-making (Houghton, 2004). Objective debate on the issue of global warming has been severely suppressed and critical decision point is now a matter of a few well-connected members.
In addition, real scientists opinion has been neglected and at times even dismissed. When the worst came to worse, a few members of The American Physics Society sought to petition for a sober debate on Climate Science and in doing so, underhand tactics were used. As a result, they were banned from having any registered member sign to petition. This was against its constitution. To add to this, secret committees have been formed to advance secret agenda by the top leaders at The American Physical Society.
In the eyes of Professor Callan, the rating of the American Physical Society plummeted drastically. Moreover, his confidence in the institution was shaken. Consequently, he no longer agreed with any decision arrived at. This is because there had been unexplainably bizarre scheming by the top echelons of the American Physical Society. They have done everything in their powers to discredit modern physicists, often seen as being less smart than the famed physicist of the old, who stand in the way of self-interest decision making. He could therefore not work anymore for the American Physical Society as it no longer represented his interests, and neither did it project his belief on the issue of global warming.
It is worth noting however that the billions poured in the global warming have very little impacts compared to other seemingly major factors. To begin with, global warming is also a matter of scientific uncertainty. Popular scientific press articles over a ten-year period up to 1995 reveal scientific uncertainty on global warming as a genuine concern to physicists global warming phenomena. They are uncertain as to what global warming holds. Suffice to say that the effects are more destructive than constructive in nature; research is yet to conclusively reveal specific short and long term effects (Cline, 1992).
There are varying feedbacks from the natural climatic phenomena and possible effects on the overall climate and regional sub climatic phenomena. The scientists also argue that the public does not genuinely understand the levels of scientific uncertainties that scientific have. In addition, the public does not also appreciate it as a genuine concern, that global warming is an issue that needs more research in the coming years. The complexity of the matter makes it impossible to predict future effects.
Global warming is also a combination of earths natural processes and negative human activity. Deforestation and mining of fossils fuels are the leading human activities that result in the emission of considerable amounts of green house gases such as Carbon Dioxide. These gases accumulate in the atmosphere and form a blanket-like layer. This layer keeps the world warmer than normal (Delingpole, 2010).
Therefore, global warming cannot be alienated from the effects of human activity especially in developing countries that have more pressing matters such as poverty, disease, hunger and famine to deal with. This makes it a tricky affair to balance these basic human activities that are a means of livelihood and managing their effect to the environment at large.
Global warming is also a mass communication problem. Sadly, public knowledge of the issue is limited and for the most part, vague. Public awareness of the definitions, causes, effects and mitigation measures is non-existent (Delingpole, 2010). The public is largely misinformed, holding many misconceptions about the issue. The mass media does not help the situation either as they are always spreading these misconceptions to the unsuspecting public.
No efforts by government is made to educate the public on the matter and the role of the public should in helping to curb this rising global menace at their local regions is also sadly missing. On their part, politicians too, are no less guilty. Many are the times when they incorporate these misconceptions in their political propaganda and innuendo that will endear them to their immediate public in efforts of raise their ratings in the eyes of the electorate. Therefore, global warming campaigners should embark on a serious civil education projects all over the world on the role of the public in global warming causes and possible effects and localised mitigation measures.
The assertions by Prof Harold Lewis are true; that diligence, integrity, honesty and open debate are a thing of the past when it comes to the politics of global warming. Most of the global warming and climate change physicist nowadays are driven by selfish interest than the real subject. That fame and recognition is the core of their scientific work as opposed the subject itself.
While billions of dollars have been dedicated to alter the course scientific work and influence evaluation of possible research outcomes. This however is not the overriding issue in the efforts to fight global warming. There are other inter-connected factors more important than science and the politics of science. The activities of the unknowing public are the primary cause so to factor them in the search for solutions will be fundamental.
This will involve extensive civic education through the mass media and public campaigns. While extending much support to further research, it is important to note that the earth is natural processes also play a major role in fuelling the warming. Therefore, it is imperative not to focus on a few corrupt individuals at the American Physical Society and blame them for lack of solutions.
Reference List
Cline, W. (1992). The Economics Of Global Warming, Washington, D.C.: Paterson Institute.
Delingpole, J. (2010). US physics professor: Global warming is the greatest and most successful pseudoscientific fraud I have seen in my long life. Web.
Houghton, J. (2004). Global Warming: the complete brief. Cambridge, Mass; Cambridge University Press.
The increase of CO2 in the atmosphere poses a significant challenge in global heating. The reduction of the gas is hence an essential area of research. Separating and sequestrating CO2 are among the near-term methods for reducing emissions. This essay explores the absorption of CO2 using diverse methods.
Main Body
Separating and sequestrating CO2 can be conducted using various methods such as absorption through solvents or solid sorbents, pressure-swing, and temperature-swing. A variety of solid sorbents, cryogenic decontamination, films, and new and emerging technologies are employed alongside the methods. The largest obstacle in separating CO2 is the cost incurred. Some techniques afford highly clean jets of CO2. However, they undergo substantial degradation and damage caused by other elements in the outlet gas. Other methods afford long-term solutions but take a long to attain a satisfactory selectivity when separating CO2 while others demand equipment and separation conditions that are too costly.
Absorption
The method of absorbing CO2 through a liquid solvent or solid matrix is contemporarily underway. The solvent used in the process only dissolves CO2. The CO2containing solution is pumped through the regeneration column where the CO2 is stripped off. Optimal conditions for CO2 absorption are high pressure and low temperature that is typically between the flue gas desulfurization (FGD) step and the stack. The absorption follows after the electrostatic precipitation and the FGD stages. The resultant flue gas (low in CO2) is released to the atmosphere or harnessed for other purposes such as chemical production.
Mono-ethanolamine (MEA) Process
Monoethanolamine (MEA) is a valuable and cost-effective solvent. Once pumped through a column containing MEA, the flue gas is selectively rid of the CO2. Between 70 and 80 percent of operating costs arise from temperature manipulation. Finding a novel solvent or fine-tuning the current techniques is an area that requires much improvement.
Advantages and disadvantages to absorption
The process of CO2 absorption has diverse advantages and disadvantages. Many of the disadvantages arising from the fact that there are many design issues to conquer. Re-generability of the solvent is among the issues that arise. In addition, the amount of oxygen in the flue gas raises concerns as high concentrations lead to corrosion of carbon steel absorption apparatus.
The outstanding advantage of the process is the existence of easily re-generatable solvents. The absorbing solution once placed in the regenerator can be re-used to perform the procedures with similar results as new solvents.
Fuel gas desulfurization
SOx compounds are used in forming CO2-absorbing solvents. Compounds formed from limestone are used to separate SOx from flue gas before absorption. Consequently, they are run together to form the solvent for absorption. Using cost-effective transportation to the absorber reduces the capital cost of retrofitting an operational facility.
Alternative solutions
Guaranteeing utmost interaction between the solvent and the flue gases through better techniques is a possible solution to improving absorption. The packing of the absorbing material increases the surface area of the solvent while reducing the residence time. Alternative improvement is the dilution of MEA solution with organic solvents. They have lower heat capacities hence reducing the energy demand for regeneration.
Solid Sorbents
These include calcium and lithium hydroxides. They are associated with higher temperatures but higher absorption rates. They induce cleaning costs due to the formation of CaCO3 on the surfaces. However, they possess similar advantages and disadvantages as wet solvents.
Conclusion
The conditions inherent in the shaft gas stream determine the most appropriate methods for utilization in separating CO2. They affect the absorption rate and regeneration energy. The proper combination of solvent, packing, and conditions will reduce the costs of absorption of CO2.
When one hears the term Global Warming , different ideas come to mind. Many people associate global warming with high temperatures, industrial revolution, factories, and pollution. Global warming is affecting all regions and areas that are parts of this earth. It makes them warmer and warmer by time (Bo et al., 2009).
What happens to your ice cream in a hot weather? It melts of course. Now imagine the ice cream as a habitat or a region. This scenario would be the frigid region of the earth. I was curious about the effects of this global climatic change on the polar regions of the earth. Polar Regions are located at the North and South Pole of the earth, and they are made up of the polar icecaps.
North Pole and South Pole are also called Arctic region and Antarctic region correspondingly. The percentage of ice thickness in these regions is decreasing with time due to warmer weathers. When these frozen areas melt, they cause many serious changes to the environment (Bo et al., 2009). Thus, this topic has become a controversial issue amongst people.
The meltdown of the South and North poles caused by global warming has negative effects on the Polar Regions to the extent that it destroys ecosystems, leads some animals to extinction, and affects the entire world negatively. Despite the numerous negative effects of global warming on the Polar Regions, it also has some positive effects.
For instance, global warming has led to the emergence of new varieties of vegetation as well as migration of animals into areas that they were once not habiting (Fyfe et al., 2007). Despite this scenario, global warming has led to devastating effects in the Polar Regions leaving the area inhabitable only not for plants and animals, but also for people living in the regions. This paper looks at the effects of global warming in Polar Regions.
Effects of global warming
The impacts of global warming in the Polar Regions are so clear and have severe repercussions that they led to the institution of the International Polar Year. Some of the undertakings during this year included exploring the polar ecosystem to understand how it responded to environmental changes like global warming. From the onset of the industrial revolution, the Polar Regions have witnessed significant environmental changes (Haeberli & Burn, 2002).
The amount of temperature in the region has significantly increased making the regions record high rate of snowmelt ever. Besides, temperature changes have made it hard for some animals and vegetations to thrive in the regions leading to their decline while some are facing extinction.
Global warming has led to destruction of infrastructural facilities in the polar region, especially in the Arctic region. A wide area of the Arctic comprises of a ground covered by permafrost. The permafrost supports the establishment of different infrastructural facilities in the area. For instance, pipelines, roads, and buildings are laid on the permafrost (Smetacek & Nicol, 2005). Increase in temperature in the region is leading to thawing of the permafrost.
In return, most of the infrastructures have ended up twisting, collapsing, and others becoming unstable. It has become difficult for the region to develop due to lack of infrastructural facilities (Hughes, 2000). While some people claim that global warming in Polar Regions will open new areas to economic activities, they do not consider the fact that for economic activities to succeed, they require different infrastructures like roads.
With global warming leading to twisting of most of the roads and pipelines as well as the collapsing of buildings in the area, it would be very hard for any significant economic activity to take place in the region. It would be hard to ship anything from the region due to poor infrastructure.
Another impact of global warming in Polar Regions is the melting of the ice caps. In 2006, scientists claimed that the planet was losing its ice at an alarming rate. A study conducted to ascertain the rate of meltdown in the regions proved that the Antarctic region was losing its ice at a tune of 152km2 per year.
The meltdown is gradually leading to a steady rise in sea level. Along the Arctic region, global warming is leading to a retreat of the ice cover (Ye & Mather, 2007). Currently, the region is losing its ice-cover at a rate that is 18 times more than what it used to lose a decade ago. The rise in see level is gradually leading to displacement of people living along the coastline as the land adjacent to the ocean is swallowed by water.
The meltdown of the Polar Regions leads to changes in vegetation to the level that polar biome is converting to a newly formed ecosystem. Large areas devoid of any vegetation are revealed from under the ice (Olech et al., 2011, p.36). This aspect makes some destructive changes to the native animals life.
In the Arctic pole, the populations of herbivores, such as reindeers, which are not the local animals of this district, have increased in the past years; as a result, the vegetation of this area has changed and it is leading to an enormous change in the structure of the original tundra.
For example, the population of lichen, a kind of plant in the Arctic area that many polar birds depend on, is decreasing due to the increase in the population of reindeers that feed on those plants. In other words, new plants form when recession of frozen areas takes place (Gunn & Skogland, 2007), which shows how the ecosystem is changing from one nature to another, and it affects the native animals that used to live on the glaciers negatively.
As proven by Kister (2005), this encroaching change means the elimination of the tundra, and questions the survival of the animals that depend upon that fertile wetland ecosystem (p.114). The region is becoming a new habitat for the existing animals. It will be hard for the living things to adapt to a different kind of environment which is warmer and lacks ice, and so they will either extinct or migrate to cooler places.
Despite some animals facing extinction or being displaced due to global warming, it is imperative to note that global warming is also leading to the emergence of new species of plants and animals in areas that they did not exist. For instance, the Arctic pole was not popular for animals like reindeers.
However, due to global warming, the area is gradually recording an increase in the population of these animals and a number of other herbivores. The trend means that the region will soon comprise of a variety of animals thus making it a favorite tourist destination (Mendelsohn et al., 2006). The emergence of these herbivores has come due to growth of certain vegetations and changes in temperature.
The main reason why these animals would not survive in the region is that there was no food for them. Hence, their appearance means that the vegetation of the area is gradually changing. In a way, this aspect implies that global warming is leading to the emergence of new varieties of vegetation in the polar region.
The disappearance of the polar ice affects the habitat of the polar bears. They depend on polar ice for their survival and activities. However, global warming threatens the existence of this species since the habitat they depend on is changing slowly with time from one phase to another.
According to Weller and Anderson (2005), if current melting trend continues, the bears are likely to become extinct in the southern Beaufort Sea region of Alaska, and adjacent Canada (p.31). The rate of reproduction of the polar bears is low since mother bears give birth to one or two babies and then they stay with their mothers for around 24 months. After that, the mother might give birth again.
According to Kister, Polar bears have suffered 15 percent decrease in their number of offspring and a similar decline in weight over the past 25 years (2005, p.57). Moreover, polar bears depend on haunting seals as a source of food (Pedersen, 2012). Since seals are only found on ice, with the elimination of ice, there will be no seals; thus, the polar bears will not find any seals to feed on thus face extinction.
Although the supporters of Arctic melting believe that it has beneficial economic outcomes, these outcomes cannot compare logically to the entire globe that it is damaging. According to Pedersen (2012), the melting of the Polar Regions results in the expanding of business and industrial opportunities.
On the one hand, his suggestion seems reasonable for it makes the shipping between the Northern Canada and Northern Europe easier and less expensive. On the other hand, he does not seem to recognize that the ships used for shipping goods through this area release poisonous gases that pollute the environment even more. The use of ships along these regions will lead to the intensification of global warming effects.
Moreover, Pedersen explains that less ice would lead to increase of gas and oil sources (2012). A great amount of unexploited oil and gas are found in the Arctic region, and the continued meltdown in the region would facilitate in their exploitation. His argument seems to be convincing since these resources fall in the category of beneficial nonrenewable resources.
One of the reasons that have led to oil prices going high across the globe is a reduction in its supply. The majority of the countries that were major oil producers are gradually exhausting their oil deposits, and this scenario is calling for new explorations to ensure that the world does not plunge into an oil crisis, which might lead to economic activities coming to a halt.
With a lot of oil lying in the Arctic region, global warming will facilitate in its exploitation (Weller & Anderson, 2005). Explorers will have an easier access to the continental shelves in the region therefore drilling the oil in the region. Besides oil exploration, global warming will significantly open fishing activities along the Polar Regions.
For decades, snow has covered the greater part of the sea along the poles. Global warming is leading to the meltdown of this snow making it possible for fish to survive in the region. If this trend continues, the fishing industry will have an opportunity to exploit the region.
Global warming is lead to some fish species that could not thrive in the polar region swimming to the region and multiplying there thus opening the region to fishing activities. Nevertheless, one should note that some fish species thrive in the polar region. Global warming in this region is having adverse effects on these fish species.
The fish species are being compelled to relocate and look for areas with stable temperatures or acclimatize with the new temperatures (Rothrock et al., 2007). This aspect implies that in spite of the region being open to fishing, the activity will not be productive, as it will only have limited supply of fish.
Global warming might facilitate in oil exploration along the Polar Regions, which would have significant benefits to the global economy. Nevertheless, we have to remember that despite the benefits of oil exploration, the process will have immense adverse effects on the region.
The machines used in the exploration and drilling process will lead to air and noise pollution in the area thus affecting the animals and plants in the region. As proven by World Wildlife Fund (2012), Infrastructure for these development projects can destroy habitat, fragment migration routes, and drain freshwater resources.
Besides, in case an oil spillage occurs in the region, it would lead to the destruction of Arctic wildlife, which could take numerous years to restore (par. 4). Oil spillage can have devastating effects on the ocean life as witnessed during the incidence that occurred along the Gulf of Mexico. In case of such an incidence, the world would have to use a lot of money and other resources in an attempt to clean the coastline and restore its ecosystem.
This scenario would imply that all the money gotten from the oil would go back to cleaning the region. Rather than taking advantage of the current meltdown in the Arctic region to drill oil, which might later cost us heavily, it would be appropriate to look for ways to stop the meltdown and restore the ecosystem.
The polar ice is melting rapidly by time. It is affecting the Polar Regions in terms of plants and vegetation. Now, after reading the article, imagine the ice cream again. How will the melting of a whole nation be? Everything that was once naturally frozen is now melting day after day due to the global warming (Stringer, 2005).
Imagine a world without ice. What will it be like? Animals that are adapted to Polar Regions are now about to become extinct for their homes are disappearing. Global warming is leading to a reduction of ice in the Polar Regions. In return, the reduction is affecting the breeding course of various animals in the region (Madin, 2008). For instance, walrus pup and seal take advantage of the ice condition to wean and bring up their newborns.
Poor ice conditions due to global warming is making it hard for these animals to wean their newborns properly, which leads to the death of a majority of the same. If the trend continues, these animals will suffer extinction since they do not multiply. In return, polar bears will also face extinction since they depend on these animals for food (Stirling & Derocher, 2008).
Global warming in the Polar Regions does not only affect plants and animals. It also affects people living in the region. Global warming alters freeze-thaw line in both space and time. Consequently, it leads to significant effects not only to biological and physical systems but also to the human system (Everett & Fitzharris, 2003).
The aboriginal people living in the Arctic region depend on the stable running of the ecosystem and natural resources in the region. The Yupik and other communities have already experienced the wrath of global warming. According to the communities, global warming has altered the process of sea ice formation and led to early melting thus affecting the hunting season. Due to global warming, whales, seals, polar bears, and walrus have changed their migration and feeding trends.
It has become hard for the native people to predict when and the route that these animals will use during their migration (Xu et al., 2007). Hence, it has become hard for them to arrange for hunting expeditions. Global warming has made it hard for the aboriginals in the Arctic region to acquire food leading to most of them suffering from starvation.
Apart from starvation, it has become hard for people in the region to preserve their food for use during the dry season. Normally, the aboriginals amass a lot of food during the dry season (summer and spring) and preserve some for use during the wet season (autumn and winter).
Today, global warming is responsible for the increase in the rate of precipitation during the dry season (Oppenheimer, 2006). Arctic region experiences heavy rain, cloudy skies and fog during the summer and spring. It becomes hard for people to air-dry their traditional food for preservation. Most of the food they amass during the dry season goes into waste making them suffer during the wet seasons when there is a food shortage.
Conclusion
Global warming has more devastating effects than benefits to the Polar Regions. It leads to increase in temperature, which in return damages infrastructural facilities due to thawing of permafrost. Even though global warming might facilitate in the exploitation of oil and gas in the region, it would be very hard to transport the oil and gas due to poor infrastructure.
Besides, the exploitation process would intensify the global warming in the area. Currently, it is hard to predict the environmental conditions in the Polar Regions.
Today, high rainfall, cloudy sky, and fog characterize the dry season. Indigenous people in the region find it hard to dry their food. Besides food preservation, global warming has altered the migration and feeding trend of various animals in the region, which has led to the aboriginals encountering difficulties in hunting.
Moreover, global warming has led to the reduction in the number of animals in the polar region. Animals are unable to wean their newborns due to increase in temperature and a reduction in the food supply. The meltdown of permafrost due to increase in temperature caused by global warming has led to increase of methane gas in the atmosphere.
In return, the gas has led to the accumulation of temperature on the surface of the earth leading to plants that survive in low temperature dying. With all these negative effects of global warming in the polar region, one may ask if it is worth going on with the industrial revolution in these regions. Industries are a major cause of global warming. Establishing industries in the region would imply intensifying the effects of global warming.
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