Global climate change (GCC) has become a very controversial topic. People often argue about whether or not it actually exists. Some people just refer to it as global warming. However, global climate change is much more than that. It includes global warming along with many other weather pattern changes. These include, but are not limited to, rising sea levels, increasing temperatures, and melting of ice (Shaftel, 2016). One of the biggest causes has been the increase in the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) being released into the atmosphere and trapping more and more heat (Environmental, 2016g). This leads to the greenhouse effect. Both natural and enhanced greenhouse effects exist. The natural greenhouse effect is made up of natural processes
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Any molecule that has at least three atoms can have the “vibrational motions” needed to change its dipole moment, including the 0.1% of trace gases in the atmosphere (GHG). This allows for the absorption of photons within the infrared (IR) spectrum and the re-emitting of the energy. Absorbing this IR energy increases the amount of vibration, increasing the amount of energy. When the “energized molecules” collide with other molecules, the amount of thermal energy is increased, raising the temperature. The opposite occurs, also. The molecules lose their vibrational energy, decreasing the number of molecular collisions. This decreases the amount of thermal energy, lowering the temperature (American, 2016; The University, 2012). Combustion, on the other hand, is more indirect. It involves chemical reactions with oxygen through a burning process, usually that of fossil fuels (mostly made of hydrocarbons (HCs) – hydrogen and carbon). The species in the reaction is oxidized because of the high electronegativity of oxygen. An example reaction is as …show more content…
Changing light bulbs, changing filters in air conditioners or heaters, putting in insulation, reducing, reusing, recycling, or even walking can all help to reduce individual impact. Educating people about this can help. Even companies and industries can all do these things, as well (Environmental, 2016e). However, because this pollution does exist, it is necessary to watch how we go about disposing of waste, whether it be dealing with water or garbage or the systems we use to do so. Water and wastewater systems need to be more energy efficient; these account for about 3-4% off all energy used in the United States. Making these more efficient could potentially save about 15-30% of this energy (Environmental, 2016h). Using water wisely, or even conserving it, can help us to adapt to any consequences of GCC, such as drought and other extreme weather events (like rain storms), which affect the availability of water (National League,
Any molecule that has at least three atoms can have the “vibrational motions” needed to change its dipole moment, including the 0.1% of trace gases in the atmosphere (GHG). This allows for the absorption of photons within the infrared (IR) spectrum and the re-emitting of the energy. Absorbing this IR energy increases the amount of vibration, increasing the amount of energy. When the “energized molecules” collide with other molecules, the amount of thermal energy is increased, raising the temperature. The opposite occurs, also. The molecules lose their vibrational energy, decreasing the number of molecular collisions. This decreases the amount of thermal energy, lowering the temperature (American, 2016; The University, 2012). Combustion, on the other hand, is more indirect. It involves chemical reactions with oxygen through a burning process, usually that of fossil fuels (mostly made of hydrocarbons (HCs) – hydrogen and carbon). The species in the reaction is oxidized because of the high electronegativity of oxygen. An example reaction is as …show more content…
Changing light bulbs, changing filters in air conditioners or heaters, putting in insulation, reducing, reusing, recycling, or even walking can all help to reduce individual impact. Educating people about this can help. Even companies and industries can all do these things, as well (Environmental, 2016e). However, because this pollution does exist, it is necessary to watch how we go about disposing of waste, whether it be dealing with water or garbage or the systems we use to do so. Water and wastewater systems need to be more energy efficient; these account for about 3-4% off all energy used in the United States. Making these more efficient could potentially save about 15-30% of this energy (Environmental, 2016h). Using water wisely, or even conserving it, can help us to adapt to any consequences of GCC, such as drought and other extreme weather events (like rain storms), which affect the availability of water (National League,