Global Warming Essay Example for Free

Global Warming Essay Global warming causes changes in the earth’s weather patterns that have disastrous effects. Global warming or anthropogenic global warming is defined as the gradual increase in the earth’s surface temperature. One of the major causes for this phenomenon has been attributed to the increase in the quantity of certain gases in the atmosphere that cause the greenhouse effect. The radiation received from the sun by the earth is retransmitted by the earth into space, but the wavelength of the retransmitted radiation is greater than that of the incident radiation. The gases present in the atmosphere absorb this radiation and this action results in increasing the earth’s temperature. Carbon dioxide is the predominant greenhouse gas. Some of the other greenhouse gases are water vapor, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, hydroflourocarbons, perfluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons. Industrialization and deforestation are the chief factors that have caused this increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Further, the ever increasing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are modifying the composition of the atmosphere, thereby leading to global climatic changes. For instance, the period 1995 to 2006, was witness to the warmest atmospheric temperatures. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or the IPCC had estimated in the year 2001 that the linear warming trend from 1906 to 2005 of 0. 74? C was higher than the corresponding trend for the period from 1901 to 2000 when it was only 0. 6? C (Webb, Barlow, Whetton, May 2007). Moreover, the increase in global temperatures has wrought widespread climatic changes. The melting of glaciers and ice deposits near the poles and the thermal expansion of the oceans has brought about an increase in the sea level. Heavy rains are being caused due to the changes in the patterns of precipitation and an increase in the number of hurricanes was observed. In addition, an increase occurred in the average intensity and duration of these hurricanes, due to the correlation of hurricanes with the surface temperatures of the tropical seas. Furthermore, other natural catastrophes like floods, droughts, heat waves and tornadoes exhibited intensification in their duration and cycles. In addition, global warming causes changes in agricultural output, glacier movements and summer stream flows; and the extinction of certain species. Other concomitant causes are the spreading of infectious diseases like malaria. Scientists predict that the effects of global warming would last up to the year 2100 because carbon dioxide would persist from fifty to two hundred years (Cause and effect for global warming). Deforestation is one of the main reasons for the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, because trees convert most of the carbon dioxide to oxygen. In addition, burning of fossil fuels increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. For instance, in the year 1987 a large area of the Amazon rain forest was burned down and this burning released nearly five hundred tons of carbon dioxide into the earth’s atmosphere. Further the conflagrant of forests would result in a reduction of the number trees, which would increase the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and thereby enhance the greenhouse effect. Modern civilization entails the use of cars, power stations and industrialization, which are factors that contribute to global warming. The main contributors to this process of global warming are the United States, the European counties and China (Global Warming). In addition to carbon dioxide, which comprises more than half of the greenhouse gases, there are other gases that also contribute to the greenhouse effect. Methane is released due to activities like coal mining, oil excavations and the burning of fossil fuels. Agriculture is the chief contributor of methane and cattle emit methane into the atmosphere when they chew their food. As the world population increases, the activities of agriculture are also increased thereby the emissions of methane also increases. Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas that is emitted during the burning of fossil fuels. Chlorofluorocarbons are emitted by air conditioners, refrigerators and aerosols and their molecules are ten thousand times more effective in absorbing heat than carbon dioxide molecules. Moreover, they survive for a hundred and ten years in the atmosphere (Global Warming). Oceans absorb carbon dioxide, but when the oceans heat up their ability to absorb carbon dioxide diminishes. Moreover, methane, which is located in the ocean bed, is released due to the warming of the oceans. Global warming raises temperature levels and it has been observed that the temperature at poles rises more than that of other regions on the earth. This causes the melting of glaciers and ice at the poles, which would further raise the sea level. Occurrences of storms and hurricanes become more frequent due to global warming, because the heated oceans produce more water vapor. Continental farmlands suffer a greater depletion of water due to the heavy evaporation and there is decrease in the groundwater levels. These factors serve to increase the possibility of droughts. Due to the melting of the polar ice caps the sea level may rise by twenty to fifty centimeters by the year 2050, which would result in the inundation of the coastal areas (Global Warming). In order to overcome the problem of global warming it is essential to contain fossil fuel combustions, ban the use of CFCs completely and plant more trees. Energy conservation will help to diminish fossil fuel burning and efforts have to be made to find alternate transportation modes that will replace petrol and diesel fuelled cars. Moreover, cars that meet the eco friendly standards only should be manufactured. Deforestation should be completely stopped and afforestation should be initiated on a war footing. In the absence of such measures, the future of this planet is grim and life would be seriously endangered. References Cause and effect for global warming. (n. d. ). Retrieved September 9, 2007, from http://timeforchange. org/cause-and-effect-for-global-warming Global Warming. (n. d. ). Retrieved Septeber 9, 2007, from http://www. ypte. org. uk/docs/factsheets/env_facts/glob_warm. html Webb, L. , Barlow, S. , Whetton, P. (May 2007). Climate Change Raises the Heat on Wineries. Australasian Science , Vol. 28, Issue 4; Pg 20.

Comparing Creation Myths of Ancient Egypt and The Christian Bible Essay

Comparing Creation Myths of Ancient Egypt and The Christian Bible Creation in Ancient Egyptian religion can be much different than the creation account taken from The Bible. Genesis has a set description of â€Å"The Beginning† while there are several different versions and variations in Egyptian mythology. The versions range from a â€Å"one god† myth (Ptah; see picture) to the more common creator out of Nun, which in itself has several derivations. The Ogdoad is a grouping of eight gods that existed before the creator and formed him. This version is taken from Middle Egypt at Hermopolis. The eight gods consisted of Amun, Huh, Kuk, and Nun and their counterparts (i.e. Nun and Naunet). They came together to create an egg that contains the creator (Baines, 1991). This is the point at which variations will occur. Inside the egg there could be gods (Re, Atum, or sometimes even Thoth) or a Blue Lotus. This Lotus would come forth from the egg and rise high into the darkness to a young god, Amen-Re. (The egg was surrounded by Nun which contained the Ogdoad. The Ogdoad consisted of four serpents and four frogs.)(Egyptian Creation Story, pg. 1) The child radiates light and banishes the darkness. He destroyed the silence with his Word and thus creation began. He then constructed a mound for which he could sit upon. (The Benben Stone, which was kept in Heliopolis, was said to have been the mound upon which the creator god, in this case Re, sat.(Redford)) In a different account the mound came forth from the waters of Nun bearing the egg and a falcon emerged. This falcon soared into the air and took its place as the sundisk (Redford). The falcon could also be represented by a winged insect such as a beetle or as a golden falcon. Another variat... ... is reality. If this type of thinking were to be followed one would come to realize that all the gods and goddesses did exist and so did the events told time and again in story. They were alive in the conscience of society. Creation did begin with Nun, yet it also began with God creating the heavens and the earth. Everything depends on time, place, and perception of reality. WORKS CITED Holy Bible. New International Version. Zondervan. Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1984. Genesis Chapter 1. John Baines, Leonard H. Lesko, David P. Silverman. Religion in Ancient Egypt. New York Cornell University Press 1991. Pages 92-100. Ancient Egyptian Religion. http://www.egypt-tehuti.com/religion.html. Pages 2 and 3 of 5. Egyptian Creation Story. http://members.aol.com/kheph777/mideast/mythos/egyptcrt.html. Page 1 of 3. Redford, Professor Donald. Oral Communication

Islamic Economic System Essay

Islamic Economic System implies a mood of satisfying the economics needs of the members of organized society in accordance with is injection of Quran and Sunnah. It’s derived from the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and explained in his Ahadith by the Holy Prophet (SWT). This system continued in this original form till the death of the Second Caliph Hazrat Umar (RA). The system believes in the private ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange which are managed and controlled by individuals or groups of individuals for private profit. Islam enjoins investment of money and other resources; it issues clear injunctions on the legitimate ways of investing them. The Jews confused â€Å"Ribā† with trade; they would call â€Å"Ribā† a kind of trade. Unrestricted economic freedom and non-interference of the state in such freedom is another feature of conventional economy. Competition, which is another feature of conventional, leads to t he destruction of minor enterprises and firms. This encourages merger of smaller business organisations into major ones and thus monopolies or cartels are established. The Institution of banking and interest is the life-blood of conventional form of economy. For business, trade and industry especially for big projects and economic ventures, huge funds are required which no individual or firm can arrange. To pay ‘ZakaÌ„t ’ on ones wealth and property is extremely obligatory for a Muslim. AbuÌ„ Huraira has reported God’s Messenger as saying: â€Å"If God gives anyone property and he does not pay the ‘ZakaÌ„t ’ on it, his property will be made to appear to him on the day of resurrection as a large bald snake with black spots over its eyes. It will be put round his neck on the day of resurrection, then seize his jaws, then say, ‘I am your property; I am your treasure.† The only verses which state not mere ethical norms but rather economic rules or regulations are the verses dealing with zakaat (tax on surplus wealth) and riba (usury/interest). Establish worship, pay the poor-due, and bow your heads with those who bow (in worship). 2:43. In Islam there is no conflict between matter and soul, as there is no separation between economy and religion. Its characteristics, value and essence are appreciated by Muslims and the non-Muslims. The over-arching values of Islamic economics lie in the principle that it is an economic strategy that can achieve unity and harmony between the material and the spiritual life of the people.

Movie Review `` Life Itself `` By Robert Ebert - 938 Words

Like any number of aspiring movie critics, on some level I idolize Roger Ebert. Even before I became seriously interested in film, I knew his name. He transcended movies, becoming an icon not as a filmmaker, but a film watcher. When I began reading his reviews, something I do with every movie I watch that he reviewed, I was amazed by the brilliance of his writing. In short, one of the movies I’ve been wanting to see for two years is â€Å"Life Itself,† a biography of Ebert from one of the filmmakers whose career Ebert boosted, Steve James. I’m sorry I waited this long to see this documentary. â€Å"Life Itself† tells the story of Ebert’s life, warts and all. We learn about him throughout his life, including as a young boy publishing his own newspaper, as a college student working as an editor at his school newspaper, as the youngest critic in America for the Chicago Sun-Times, as a host on his hit show â€Å"Siskel Ebert† and as a man battling cancer. The main reason I wanted to watch â€Å"Life Itself† was to learn more about Ebert himself, and perhaps garner some knowledge about good film criticism. On the first front, James absolutely succeed. (I now know that latter part was unrealistic, although I did learn something about good writing). He does a great job of picking the people (the talking heads) to discuss Ebert, from old drinking buddies, filmmakers like Martin Scorsese (who also served as an executive producer on the film) and Werner Herzog, professional colleagues like A.O. ScottShow MoreRelatedThe Avengers Review Essay example1349 Words   |  6 PagesThe Avengers PG-13 Nick Mantegani 5/7/2012 EN121 The Avengers is a Sci-Fi/Action movie directed by Joss Whedon. It is rated PG-13. The movie stars a vast assortment of stars, including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson and more. It was released in May 2012, and is available in a 3D format. The Avengers is the first movie in an ongoing series. 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