Global Warming Theory: An Exploration

Global Warming Theory: An Exploration

As a scientific concept, global warming has both proponents and disbelievers. The evidence, which can often be construed one way or another, points to the fact that pollutants have a negative impact on the environment, and that these pollutants have begun to cause a massive global weather shift. As far as a theory goes, global warming has many implications for humans in every society. If proven true, it would represent one of the largest climatic changes in the history of mankind. Depending on their viewpoints, many scientists argue either for or against this theory, with evidence existing to back both perspectives. There is evidence that points to humans causing the warming trend which cannot be denied or explained away as a natural and cyclical change in the Earth's climate.

Global warming, as a theory, has existed for decades. But the scientific evidence supporting it is relatively inconclusive, as far as climate change goes. Over millions of years, the planet Earth has entered cooling and warming cycles. This is evidenced through geologic studies and conclusions from many of the world's leading scientists. Currently, the Earth is due for a warming period since the last ice age occurred over 10,000 years ago. These cycles tend to occur on a relatively consistent basis, signaling warming ad cooling trends quite regularly. According to author Chris Moony (2008), the Earth has just begun to enter its latest warming cycle, spurred by solar activity and other environmental changes. This, according to Mooney, is responsible for the latest changes in climate, including the melting of much of the Polar Regions as well as glaciers worldwide. It is also nothing to be alarmed about, since it is part of a natural process that occurs every so often. This global warming trend can account for the rise in global storms and hurricanes that has been experienced over the past two decades as well as the warming trend that has affected the Earth over the same time period.

The same scientists that argue against the general theory of global warming argue that humans have not had a serious effect on the atmosphere at any time in history, and that the effects humans could present to the Earth are not potentially dangerous (Singer and Avery, 2007). Authors Singer and Avery argue for a cyclical warming and cooling trend that can help explain the Earth's atmosphere and behavior of the ice sheets and glaciers worldwide. In Singer and Avery's (2007) view, this warming and cooling process is natural, and there is evidence of it within the ice samples taken by scientific expeditions to the Polar Regions. In his book, Singer and Avery (2007) offer some alternative explanations to the familiar theory of global warming. He sees it as a warming trend which will eventually reverse itself as the solar cycle's peak in the next 1500-year (Singer and Avery, 2007). This coupled with the fact that humans have never before been able to scientifically measure these cycles, shows that global warming is a theory without merit.

Other scientists disagree with the global warming and cooling trend theory and posit that the recent warming in the Earth's climate is due to pollutants entering the atmosphere. These pollutants, namely greenhouse gasses like hydrogen and methane, which act to trap heat and moisture within the Earth's atmosphere, have had a profound effect on the heating of the Earth and contributed to global warming worldwide. Scientists that back this theory are under the impression that this warming has been triggered by human activity, especially that activity over the past 150 years that has resulted in greenhouse gasses being spilled into the atmosphere (Houghton, 2005). To these scientists, the presence of these gasses is evidence enough of a global climate change due to humans.

The global rise in sea levels and the diminishing of glaciers in nearly every mountainous region cannot be denied. The effects of the introduction of greenhouse gasses could give a reason behind these receding ice levels. In order to understand the receding of this ice, it is necessary to take a closer look at greenhouse gasses and their effects in the atmosphere. Since the industrial revolution, greenhouse gas levels like hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane have more than tripled in the atmosphere (Trenberth, 2005). This means that the gasses which trap heat and moisture have elevated creating an atmosphere that is prone to the greenhouse effect.