Final Examination

Final Examination

There are four major gases that may trap heat in the atmosphere carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases. The Earth naturally manufactures these gases but in today’s developing world humans produce more greenhouse gases each year. Greenhouse gas emissions are a currently debated issue in the government and by scientists. Some scientists believe that the climate change from greenhouse gases would have occurred natural regardless of the emissions humanity produces. The International Panel on Climate Change is the leading international body in assessing climate change. The foundation was established in 1988 to grant the population a better understand and knowledge concerning climate change. Within the agency there are thousands of scientists from around the world. In 2001 the department published a report that by their data indicated that humans dramatically have an effect on the climate changes. The most recent IPCC report on the climate change states that the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased from 280 ppm (parts per million) from 1750 to 367 ppm in 1999 (31% increase). Today’s carbon dioxide concentration has not been exceeded during the past 420,000 years and likely not during the past 20 million years (IPCC, 2001). According to the same report methane and nitrous oxide are also showing record high numbers. Whether or not humans effect climate change it is on many individuals minds. In the recent Presidential Election speech President Obama spoke of global warming and promised to work on the issue in the next four years. Governments, scientist, Industrial companies, and local communities need to develop “cost effective” methods to reducing the carbon footprint on the Earth.

One major environmental issue in Maryland is climate change. Climate change is responsible for dramatic changes to the local ecosystems. There are different causes for climate change but the one that individuals are responsible for is greenhouse gases rising each year. One of the more recent events is that East Coast experienced a super storm that left many individuals without power, food, and water. The devastation is expected to continue and increase with early winter weather in the regions hardest hit areas. Changes in temperature are to blame for droughts, flooding, and record braking heat waves. In 2009 the Obama administration developed the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force that works directly with scientist. This agency