Question

1. Describe at least two things people can do today to help protect Earth and reduce levels of CO2.

Answer 1

1.       Two ways that man can reduce the global warming is by reducing carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) emissions. One way is by planting more trees. Forests are reservoirs for carbon since their remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the process of photosynthesis. Second is by reducing the use of fossil fuels to produce energy. Fossil fuels are the biggest emitter of carbon dioxide in their combustion

2.       Greenhouse gases permit infrared rays from the sun to pass through them but do not allow heat to escape into the atmosphere. When infrared hits the earth's surface it turns to the heat wave that has much longer wavelengths. This causes the earth’s atmosphere to retain more heat hence increased global temperatures.

3.       When greenhouse gases especially carbon dioxide are reduced in the atmosphere, the earth is able to radiate more sunlight back into space due to the reduced greenhouse effect. This enables the global temperatures to remain low. At the poles where temperatures are cold remains even colder hence the waters in these regions turn to glaciers. The ice continents increase in size and hence a big characteristic of ice ages.

4.       Humans are not responsible for global warming even though they contribute but in minimal proportions as compared to the natural process. This is because it is estimated that termites produce even more carbon dioxide than humans. Ice ages and global warming are therefore natural cycles governed by the sun. However, human activity aggravates global warming.