Global Warming, Not Caused by Humans

Global Warming, Not Caused by Humans

In modern America few problems prove to be as fundamentally problematic as the theory of human induced global warming. Its repeated coverage from within the media and political arena are influencing people worldwide, putting those who think differently in an outcast shadow. The truth of the matter is, to not believe in human induced global warming has become politically incorrect and unacceptable in the public eye. The theory of human induced global warming can be defined as the rise in temperature through human pollution of greenhouse gases resulting in catastrophic alterations in the earth’s environment. However, human pollution of greenhouse gases is so minor that it is not a contribution to the Earth’s climate change, and a natural cause is the only logical explanation. In order to understand how emittance of greenhouse gases has a relation to the Earth’s climate, it is necessary to understand The Greenhouse Effect.

The sun fuels the earth’s climate. The earth absorbs most of the sun’s energy called solar radiation, but some is reflected back into space. Clouds and a natural layer of atmospheric gases absorb a portion of earth's heat and prevent it from escaping into space. This keeps our planet warm enough for life and is known as the natural "greenhouse effect". These atmospheric gases are known as greenhouse gases. The main greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone (Environmental Protection Agency). Without the natural greenhouse effect, the earth's average temperature would be much colder, and the planet would be uninhabitable.

Although this is a necessary process, an overbuild up of greenhouse gases traps additional heat in the atmosphere, and creates a rise in temperature. This rise in temperature is known as “global warming”.

There is skeptism to the idea that build up of greenhouse gases causes a rise in temperature, but by referring to the graph “1000 Years of Global Carbon Dioxide and Temperature Change” it is clearly shown that as carbon dioxide rises, temperature also rises. Thus proving that carbon dioxide causes a rise in temperature. Humans are the publicly accepted explanation for the rise in greenhouse gases, so it is assumed that humans are at fault for the rise in temperature. Understanding why humans are considerd at fault requires knowing how they release greenhouse gases.

Humans are the accepted explanation for global warming because of their usage of fossil fuels and other various activities, but more than 90% of human greenhouse gas emissions come from the combustion of fossil fuels (EPA). The most common fossil fuels are petroleum, coal, and natural gas. Fossil fuels are used to power all modern technology such as: kitchen appliances, laundry appliances, lawnmowers, planes, trains, and the biggest domestic emitters automobiles. The combustion of these fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere furthermore assisting in global warming. The burning of fossil fuels is responsible for five gigatons of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere (EPA).

Also, another major human contributor is garbage and deforestation. All the waste humans create becomes decomposed, a process that leaves behind massive amounts of carbon dioxide (EPA). Although humans create massive amounts of greenhouse gases, observing of past temperatures is crucial to see a correspondence between human emissions and rise in temperature.

Human greenhouse gas emissions add up to around six gigatons, but by reviewing past temperatures it is easily seen that humans do not cause a rise in temperature. By referring to the graph “Global Observed Temperatures” the temperatures for the last 140 years are shown.

First, the majority of the temperature rise took place from 1905 to 1945, and less production means less greenhouse gas emissions and a decrease in temperature. Although there are less human emitted greenhouse gases in that time period the temperature rises, contradicting the current view on human induced global warming.

Also, in a period after World War 2 that economist call the Post War Economic Boom industrial production was at an all time high. If production is at an all time high greenhouse gas emissions are also at an all time high then ultimately the temperature should rise. However the temperature decreases in the Post War Economic Boom further more opposing the statement that human emissions cause a temperature rise.

Lastly, Congress ratified the Clean Air Act in 1967 that forced many product manufactures to limit their products emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Once again less greenhouse gases should cause a decrease in temperature, but from the time the amendment was ratified in 1967, the earth has seen the five hottest