Global Warming, is it real?
We have researched global warming, interviewing people throughout the world, to attempt to understand if there is reality to the threat of global warming.
Studies show that our earth is becoming warmer, that our ice caps are melting at both the north and south poles, and that areas of the world are experiencing more droughts. But we wanted to learn more.
Scientists say that the cause of global warming is in increased level of carbon in the atmosphere. So, we went to science to determine the level of carbon parts per million. Note the millions in slums in cities all over the world, cities that are now having to study how to manage diminishing sources of water.
CARBON PARTS PER MILLION IN ATMOSPHERE
- 4000 BC (time of Adam and Eve) 280 ppm
- 2000 BC (time of Stonehenge) 280 ppm
- 32 AD (time of Christ) 280 ppm
- 1780 AD (invention of steam engine) 280 ppm
- 1830 AD (just 50 years later) 315 ppm
- 1975 AD 330 ppm
- 1995 AD 330 ppm
- 2005 AD 360 ppm
- Projected 2050 AD 500 ppm
Every time the level of carbon parts per million goes up, globa temperature rises, causing higher ocean levels, heat droughts, loss of glaciers. The last time carbon ppm hit 500, there were tropical animals such as crocodiles, living in Alaska. Governments must take this seriously, because at the present rate of increase, life on earth will be in grave danger in just 50 years.
But pollution not only comes from automobiles and industry. Developers and farmers of the Brazillian Amazon released 370 million tons of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, representing 5.38% of the total, burning forests to make way for new roads and farms. 28% of Brazil's forests have been destroyed by development, logging and farming. 9,500 square miles of rainforests disappeared in 2004 alone. Brazil will pave an 1100 mile road from Cuidaba (capital of Mato Grosso State) to the part of Santarem in Para State opening up a huge new section for development.. Yet, in Brazil, at the end of April, 2005, President Fernando Henrique Cardoso announced that Brazil's government would cut an additional 29.6% from the Environmental Ministry's budget.
When areas such as Brazil emit huge greenhouse gasses, or when Europe and the USA emit huge carbon into the world's atmosphere, it affects everyone. For example, the Australian city of Goulburn is literally dying from thirst. Matt O Rourk, city water engineer now says that they are limiting residents to 40 gallons of water per day, because the city is drying up. Why? Because of drought and lack of rain. Even Prime Minister, John Howard has taken note of the impact of global warming on the Australian economy. In the USA, the American west has seen 7 years of droughts, and gradually higher temperatures. The farm and ranch economy is suffering. These are not isolated trends. As more carbon is released into the atmosphere, science has shown that it sometimes takes 70 to 100 years to decay or remediate naturally. Nature simply can't keep up with the pollution that we are belching into our atmosphere. At current rates, by the year 2050, the world will be at the highest levels in centuries. Some predict that we could see massive droughts and massive natural disasters if the trend continues. Is global warming for real? 98% of the world's scientists agree that it is. 98% of the world's farmers and ranchers agree that it is. Even weather forecasters in major cities report that average temperatures are up. People who live the slums of big cities, not protected by air conditioning feel the heat in a personal way.
When areas such as Brazil emit huge greenhouse gasses, or when Europe and the USA emit huge carbon into the world's atmosphere, it affects everyone.
For example, the Australian city of Goulburn is literally dying from thirst. Matt O Rourk, city water engineer now says that they are limiting residents to 40 gallons of water per day, because the city is drying up. Why? Because of drought and lack of rain. Even Prime Minister, John Howard has taken note of the impact of global warming on the Australian economy. In the USA, the American west has seen 7 years of droughts, and gradually higher temperatures. The farm and ranch economy is suffering.
These are not isolated trends. As more carbon is released into the atmosphere, science has shown that it sometimes takes 70 to 100 years to decay or remediate naturally. Nature simply can't keep up with the pollution that we are belching into our atmosphere. At current rates, by the year 2050, the world will be at the highest levels in centuries. Some predict that we could see massive droughts and massive natural disasters if the trend continues. Is global warming for real? 98% of the world's scientists agree that it is. 98% of the world's farmers and ranchers agree that it is. Even weather forecasters in major cities report that average temperatures are up. People who live the slums of big cities, not protected by air conditioning feel the heat in a personal way.
Bill Weddeking, of Quarius Technologies, of Fort Worth, Texas has one answer. His company has technology to convert salt water into drinking water. "Each of our units can produce 150,000 gallons of drinking water per day". The by product is a salt clay sludge, that can be used to make bricks or building materials. While technologies such as his can help with drinking water, the overall impact of global warming is bigger than technological band aids. Somehow the world must learn to stop the pollution. Energy efficient cars, fuel cells and battery powered automobiles will help. But first, industry, and political leaders must understand that the problem, the science, the danger, to all of mankind, is a real and present danger.