A Case Study on Global Warming

Global warming is the steady escalation of the temperature of the earth’s lower atmosphere which started in mid-20th century and its expected continuation (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). It poses heavy environmental and economic problems as widely publicized works, studies and reports have shown.

Changes to the frequency and intensity of heavy precipitation are attributed to global warming. This in turn is said to cause glacial recoil, Arctic shrinkage, and worldwide increase in sea level. These changes consequently modify, damage, or even destroy natural habitats which lead to species extinction. Harsh effects on agriculture, reductions in the ozone layer, extreme weather events are more likely to be experienced brought about by global warming.

According to the 100 peer reviewed estimates conducted by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2005, the average is US$12 per tonne of CO2, but range -$3 to $95/tCO2. On the other hand, Nicholas Stern aggregates the economic impact of global warming through gross domestic products (GDP). In his report entitled the Stern Review, he concludes that global GDP might go down by one percent and that global per capita consumption to fall by 20 percent due to extreme weather condition.
What is the most probable cause of “global warming”?
Global warming is caused by an increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere such as water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and ozone. Greenhouse effect by water vapor is around 36-70%; CO2 9-26%; methane 4-9% and ozone 3-7% .
Greenhouse gases are like “mirrors” that reflect back to the earth the heat energy, which would otherwise be dispersed in space. This phenomenon is the “greenhouse effect” which is exacerbated when there are plenty of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.