Nursing:
Purpose
The goal of this investigation was to ascertain whether there would be an increase or a decrease in global CO2 emission over the next 40 years and provide possible reasons for the same.
Introduction
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the primary Greenhouses gasses (GHGs) alongside such gasses as Methane, Ozone (O3), Nitrous oxide, and Sulfur Dioxide (SO4) that are actively driving global warming and the planetary greenhouse effect. However, to understand the effects of GHGs it is paramount to comprehend the concept of the greenhouse effect. The light from the sun is not only used to light the earth and power the global geochemical cycles but also to keep the planet warm. Of the 100% light, the earth receives from the sun, not all of it reaches the surface of the earth. According to NASA, about 30% of the sunlight is reflected back into space by the reflective surfaces of the clouds, sand, oceans and other open seas, snow, and ice. Only about 70% reaches the face of the earth warming the planet during the day (Conserve Energy Future, 2016). At night, the surface releases the heat it absorbed during the day in the form of long wave infrared radiation (IR) out of the atmosphere into space. However, before the IR escapes into space, they are absorbed by the GHGs present in the air thus making it possible to keep the planet warm at 30 degree Celsius for life (Conserve Energy Future, 2016). Although the GHGs comprises only 1% of the earth’s atmosphere, they act like a blanket that envelope the atmosphere regulating the global climate in the process (Conserve Energy Future, 2016). Now, while this naturally occurring process aids in heating the earth and maintaining the ecological balance, an increase of GHGs in the atmosphere due to human activities leads to global warming and anthropogenic climate change that is detrimental to all life forms on earth.
However, CO2 is the primary GHGs emitted by human activities that are responsible for global warming. For instance, in 2014, anthropogenic CO2 emissions accounted for about 80.9% of all the GHGS emissions in the USA alone (US EPA, 2016). Human activities in the recent past have been altering the Carbon-cycle by adding CO2 in the air and by influencing the ability of natural sink pools like the oceans, wetlands, and forests from the atmosphere (US EPA, 2016). This trend is expected to continue for the next 40 years unless measures are taken to curb the trend (Table 1).
Information as retrieved from (Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL), n.d.)
Hypothesis
It is estimated that there will be an increase in CO2 emissions over the next 40 years deriving from anthropogenic activities such as industrialization, agriculture, and the continued use of fossil fuels.
Methods
Online search and analysis of the GMD Measurement Locations were used to gather information utilized in the study.
Results
The results of the survey showed that CO2 emissions will continue to increase over the coming years as human activities intensify (Table 1).
Discussion
The results obtained from the investigation as indicated in Table 1 above demonstrates that the hypothesis of the study was correct. Over the past years, the CO2 concentrations have been rising at rates of about 30 parts per million (ppm) for every 15 years. For example, at Location Code SMO, CO2 emissions in 2005 increased to 380 ppm from 350 ppm in 1990. The same trend was observed at Location Code BRW where the CO2 concentrations rose from 355ppm in 1990 to 380ppm in 2005 (Earth system research Laboratory (ESRL), n.d.)1%. Historical records of CO2 concentrations reveal that human activities have been in the forefront in increasing the CO2 levels (RealClimate, 2004). Since the turn of the century, the burning of fossil fuels, clearing and burning of the forested landscape at rates faster their rates of regeneration have pumped in more CO2 into the atmosphere at rates never seen before (RealClimate, 2004). With the current trend of human activities, it is expected that carbon dioxide emissions will continue to increase in the coming years unless appropriate measures are taken to curtail the trend.
References
Conserve Energy Future. (2016). Causes of the Greenhouse Effect. Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/GreenhouseEffectCauses.php
Earth system research laboratory (ESRL): Global Monitoring Division. (n.d.). ESRL Global Monitoring Division - Observatory Operations. Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/obop//
RealClimate. (2004, December 22). How do we know that recent CO2 increases are due to human activities? Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2004/12/how-do-we-know-that-recent-cosub2sub-increases-are-due-to-human-activities-updated/
United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). (2016). Carbon Dioxide Emissions | Climate Change. Retrieved April 17, 2016, from https://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/co2.html
