“The Causes of Global Warming”
By Peter Cognetti

Global warming has been a controversial issue over the years. Global warming is an increase in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere. It is caused by an increase in greenhouse gases, fossil fuels, fume, CO2, etc. The greenhouse effect is caused when greenhouse gases (Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, etc.) trap heat but allow sunshine to come through. When too much of these greenhouse gases get into the air, more heat is being trapped. In turn, the temperature rises. This creates climate changes everywhere and melts the polar ice caps. It has been a controversy with politicians to what should be done and what the right course of action is. Only a few American politicians have spoken out for change. There has been a policy passed for this but we still have a long way to go in order for us to fix this problem of ours. The Japan Policy of ’97 sets bindings limits on greenhouse gas emissions and creates incentives for developing countries to control their emissions. Over 180 countries met for this agreement.

I think we have to strive harder to better this situation. We depend on Earth and we should take care of it better. We have to invent better technology that is more environmental-safe. We have to become less dependant on fossil fuels and need to find a safer and better way of getting energy. U.S. has to get involved in this struggle for the recovery of our planet because we are one of the top polluters in the world. Also, people must be more informed about global warming and the dangers of it. They have to become aware that it is really happening. This is a serious problem and must be fixed.

My Sources

Reference Source
Pittier, W. Richard. "Earth as a Dynamic System." MacMillan Encyclopedia of
Earth Sciences. 1st ed. 1996.
R 550 E
Pages 196-98
This reference tells about the dynamic structure of earth and its interactions. It tells about aerosols and greenhouse gases in the air. It gives you some nice background on ocean currents and heating.

Book Sources
Fridell, Ron. Global Warming. N.p.: Franklin Watts, 2002.
363-738 F
Pages 24-31
A more in depth book of the causes. It focuses on the greenhouse effect and the Carbon Cycle. It talks about greenhouse gases and of the different kinds. It tells a lot about the carbon build up and the amounts we put into the atmosphere every year. It explains all about the cycle of carbon and how it works.

Shaw, Jane S. Global Warming. N.p.: Greenhaven Press, 2002.
363,738 SHA
Pages 13-26
An easy-to-comprehend way of explaining the causes of global warming. It gives you some good background of how Global warming came to the public attention. It tells you all about the greenhouse effect and how it happens. It gives you some nice graphs showing the rising surfaces temperatures between the years. They give you a better understanding that this is really happening.

Web Sources
Nasa. http://www.nasa.gov/home/. 21 Dec. 2005
<http://eobglossary.gsfc.nasa.gov/Library/GlobalWarming/warming2.html>.
It focuses on the sun and the radiation it gives off. It shows how our atmosphere works and talks about the absorption process. It tells about how humans have been artificially raising the amounts of greenhouse gases in the air. It has some graphs to show the rising carbon dioxide levels and temperatures over the last couple of decades. They show you just how much we are polluting our atmosphere.

Exploratorium. http://www.exploratorium.edu/. 21 Dec. 2005
<http://www.exploratorium.edu/climate/index.html>.
This website gives you a whole overview of climatic change research. It gives you a better understanding of how our atmosphere works. It tells about parts of our atmosphere and how they are affected. It has some great diagrams and charts. It gives a great explanation of the greenhouse effect.

Cooper, Mary H. "Air Pollution Conflict." The CQ Researcher Online 13.40 (2003). 19 December 2005 <http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2003111400>. Document ID: cqresrre2003111400.
It gives a more political point of view of global warming. It shows both sides of the story. It talks about the Clean Air Act and the huge amounts of carbon emitted by power plants. It brings up many points about global warming, power plants, and the Clean Air Act and its policies.

Magazines
McKibben, Bill, Ross Gelbspan, and Chris Mooney. "Climate of Denial." Mother
Jones May 2005. SIRS Researcher. ProQuest Information and Learning. 21
Dec. 2005 <http://sks.sirs.com/>.
Pages 34-49
This article talks about the cutting down of CO2. It tells about the policies and the politics that have been going on with the cutting down of fossil fuels. It also talks about the denials and resistances of the car and oil companies.

Weidenbaum, Murray. "Scientific Uncertainties and Policy Controversies Over
Global Warming." USA Today July 2005. SIRS Researcher. ProQuest
Information and Learning. 21 Dec. 2005 <http://sks.sirs.com/>.
Pages 12-13
This is a well written article about the causes of global warming and what is being done. It is in a question and answer format. It tells you about the harm of burning fuels fossil fuel. It also talks about the fluctuating temperatures over the years.

Peter deMenocal, Peter. "After Tomorrow." Orion Jan. 2005. SIRS Researcher.
ProQuest Information and Learning. 21 Dec. 2005
<http://sks.sirs.com/>.
Pages16-23
This article is greatly written and talks about climatic science and political reality. It tells how only a few American politicians have the courage to urge this issue on the threat of global warming. It tells about the high increase of atmospheric CO2 since the start of the Industrial Revolution and that greenhouse gases are causing the earth to get warmer. It also talks about how the weather has changed in places and how it is going to change.