The industrial revolution and the rapid development of the
world's economies during the last two centuries were driven
by the accelerating use of energy. Steam engines began to
burn wood and coal. Coal is still burned in large
quantities and has been joined by ever increasing amounts
of oil and natural gas.
After the invention of the automobile, consumption of
petroleum products began accelerating steeply and is
actually still growing today.
During recent years, we have begun to realize that
combustion of fossil fuels not only releases large amounts
of energy in the form of heat but also discharges huge
amounts of water vapor and treacherous carbon dioxide.
In addition, combustion of fossil fuels is emitting many
harmful pollutants, which accumulate in the atmosphere, in
freshwater reservoirs, and in soil.
Increasingly, people are becoming aware of the many
negative implications of fossil fuel combustion.
Regulatory efforts are being introduced for reducing the
emissions of health threatening substances. However, large
amounts of pollutants are sent still into our atmosphere on
a continuing basis. There is no legal liability for the
damages these substances are causing, and there are no
efforts underway to effectively eliminate these harmful
agents entirely.
Combustion of fossil fuels is accelerating, emissions of
pollutants and of carbon dioxide are increasing, global
warming is intensifying, and aggravating climate changes
are being felt across the world.
Why is the world overheating, what can be done to stop the
damages, and what are the consequences of a continuing
accumulation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases
in the Earth's atmosphere?
Already one hundred fifty years ago, a couple of scientists
warned of the dire consequences of releasing carbon dioxide
emissions into the Earth's atmosphere. Their warnings were
published in scientific journals, were read by only a few
people, and were soon forgotten.
Since then, science has made huge advances and our
knowledge about the effects of carbon dioxide emissions has
advanced dramatically. Carbon dioxide emits and absorbs
infrared radiation. This emission effect is used in
sensors for the early detection and location of rockets and
airplanes and is a vital part of the US Ballistic Missile
Defense System.
The strong radiation effect of carbon dioxide is also a
major factor in industrial applications where metals and
other substances are heated and melted at extreme
temperatures.
This same emission capability is present at lower
temperatures but to a lesser degree. A major reduction of
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leads to a major cooling
effect and has caused an earlier Ice Age. Conversely, a
major increase of carbon dioxide will result in a warming
effect and to the eventual overheating of our Earth.
Very small concentrations of carbon dioxide can be measured
very accurately. Therefore we know that carbon dioxide
concentrations have increased from 280 parts per million
(ppm) to close to 400 ppm as a direct result of fossil fuel
combustion. In fact, the increase would have been even
larger, if the oceans had not absorbed some of this
combustion generated carbon dioxide.
Unfortunately, this ability of the oceans is being
diminished as seawater is heating up in response to global
warming. Additionally, countries like China, India, and
many other Asian countries have begun to burn ever
increasing amounts of fossil fuels and especially coal.
Coal combustion discharges especially large amounts of
carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide emissions have resulted in an average global
warming effect of roughly two degrees Fahrenheit already.
Extrapolating quickly accelerating carbon dioxide emissions
during the last decade over the next forty years makes it
very likely that global temperatures will rise another
three to four degrees by 2050.
Carbon dioxide is a very stable gas, which stays in the
atmosphere for hundreds of years. There are no
technologies available or imaginable that can remove carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere.
Once global warming has occurred, it cannot be reversed.
The effect of global warming is a delayed effect. World
oceans and lands need a long time before they begin to warm
perceptibly. This means that global overheating will
continue even after we have stopped all fossil fuel
combustion.
There is only one conclusion we can arrive at. We must end
fossil fuel combustion as quickly as possible or our Earth
will overheat and make living in the tropical and
subtropical regions unbearable. We will experience ever
more destructive climate changes in the form of more
violent storms, extreme flooding, and more severe heat
waves. Many animal and plant species will become extinct.
Melting of glaciers on mountains and of ice sheets in Polar
Regions will accelerate. Ocean levels will rise and will
inundate coastal regions with their irreplaceable
infrastructures and huge cities.
Is there anything we can do?
Yes there is. The US must take the lead and show the rest
of the world how to change their energy supply systems.
The world must begin to use more and more renewable
energies in the form of sun energy, wind power, hydropower,
marine power, geothermal energy, nuclear energy, and
biomass.
Most difficult will be the replacement of fossil, liquid
transportation fuels with renewable fuels. Airplanes
cannot fly, cars cannot drive without.
Only the USA has the resources to find and develop
replacement energies that can be used for the next several
centuries without harming our Earth.
We must convince the incoming administration to start with
a well directed and well managed rescue effort immediately.
----------------------------------------------------
Dr. Hemsath recently published the book: CLIMATE CHANGE -
GOLD RUSH OR DISASTER? For 50 years he has worked as
scientist, process engineer, Corporate Vice President of
R&D, Company President, CEO, and Inventor. He holds more
than 60 US Patents.
He is working on a new book: "THE SOLUTION FOR ENDING
GLOBAL WARMING AND CLIMATE CHANGE". Go to
http://www.thermalexpert.com
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=44048
0 comments
Post a Comment