Online Education Essay - 1378 Words

Online Education Education is an important part of people’s lives; it will either make them or break them in the future depending on the careers they choose. Education is greatly diverse today in comparison to the 1950s because of advancements in teaching and other great inventions that provide easier techniques of teaching. One major issue that has been raised is distant learning courses and online education. Distant learning could be any format from VHS videos, DVDs, or internet courses online. Online education has been legal since 1993 and is a new way of teaching students of all ages. Online education has been gaining popularity through out the years because of the ease of the internet. The internet has made it easier for†¦show more content†¦Discussion on issues is done in chat rooms and forums where everybody writes their views on the issue. This is an advantage for foreigners who can not speak proper English correctly. Live video and sound can also be done with special equipmen t for a real time conversation with instructors and peers. Other features on the online courses are the learning aides that can be used while taking the course. Certain programs can be made such as flash cards and games which can increase the learning experience of the student. These learning aides can be done on the student’s time and does not require the teacher to be there. Time for a face to face class is very difficult if a person works 40 hours a week but an online course can put an ease on the time restriction because the person does the work at their own pace and time. It is also easier to sign up for an online class than a class at a college. Message boards are in use if the students need to leave a question or a comment about the subject their on. They also save time by not traveling to the college and trying to find a parking space. Rural areas where students have to travel a great distance to get to class can save time and money by doing online classes. For example, a child of a farmer can help the family out in the morning with the farming chores then go to an online class later on. Rural kids may also take additional educational classes online that their school does notShow MoreRelatedOnline Education And Online Schools946 Words   |  4 Pagestypes of schools starting with online and public. How would someone know which one to choose? While some believe the quality of online education isn’t as good as a regular school’s, online school is just as effective or more and should be continued as a teaching resource because online students are getting higher test scores and more options are offered by online schools. One of the reasons why online school is more effective than regular school is by cause of online students have shown higher testingRead MoreOnline Discussion Of Online Education1303 Words   |  6 Pagesdiscussion of online education in philosophy, there would sometimes come a rather curious moment in the conversation. I began to think of it as the â€Å"microwave question moment.† Many years ago, when microwave ovens first were advertised, there was a rather clever ad depicting a salesperson standing in front of a crowd of people, going on and on about all the wonderful advantages of microwave cooking, until a deep voice from the back spoke up with: â€Å"But does it brown the food?† Online course deliveryRead MoreOnline Education Essay712 Words   |  3 PagesOnline Education Online learning is definitely one of the newest and fastest moving industries; more and more students are opting to getting their degree this way instead of going to a land college, mostly due to the convenience of the schedule, where before a full time employee, could not fit schooling into their schedule, but they are finding out now that they can do this through the online environment, so they are utilizing this alternative way of achieving their higher education. Yet, the onlineRead MoreBenefits Of Online Education1136 Words   |  5 PagesOnline classes have become a more popular source for learning in the education system over the past couple of years. In the technology based world lived in today this is no surprise, it seems that everything is turning from human performed to technology based. The technology based world lived in has good and bad consequences, with technology based classes the need for teachers in the classroom teaching the material is declining. Along with j obs declining, many argue online learning may not be providingRead MoreTraditional Education And Online Education926 Words   |  4 PagesBatter, Online or Traditional Education Imagine that someone studies and has a neighbor in the same age. They study in together until high school. Someone continues to go to university but his neighbor decides to stay at home. They finally graduate and discover that his neighbor also graduate. Here will be there a lot of the questions beginning revolve in his head. How does his neighbor graduate and not go to school? The answer is an easy. His neighbor benefited from technology in education. This isRead MoreOnline Learning And Online Education1115 Words   |  5 Pagesdefinitely been absorbed into the education world. When one mixes technology and education, online learning is brought to life. Many believe that going to school online is a fabulous invention, because online classrooms can bring education to anyone, in any place imaginable. Some also argue that online classes can be more affordable than taking classes in the traditional classroom. Although a large number of American students believe that online learning is a valuable education tool, numerous research studiesRead MoreOnline Education Vs. Education1303 Words   |  6 PagesA Current trend that is occurring within the field of education is online education. The purpose of an online education is to allow student to receive a degree without having to be present or on campus. Online education helps working adults pursue higher education and gives them better career opportunities. It will also help people increase their lifetime earnings, Online education also helps to connect with people we would have never dreamed of interacting with it also gives students opportunitiesRead MoreOnline Education Vs Traditional Education1068 Words   |  5 PagesOn-Line Education versus Traditional Education Introduction/Thesis Online education has rapidly become a popular alternative to traditional education, due to the flexible nature of the courses and also the fact that the online learning environment may not require additional expenses. However, some people find traditional learning to be more advantageous than online learning. The traditional learning environment provides some people with more support throughout their scholastic career. When lookingRead MoreBenefits Of Online Education901 Words   |  4 Pagesgetting education and degrees online. A few years ago online education was never thinkable, and yet it has become to reality and it is widely expanding with popularity. Online education is a type of educational instruction that delivers learning to individuals to their own homes, and it is getting very popular among nontraditional student and others. Individuals prefer online education because they find it comfortable and better at their own house. To further more, some advantages of online ed ucationRead MoreOnline Education Essay626 Words   |  3 PagesOnline education has grown since it first came about, there are mixed views on whether it is truly beneficial. The reasons for the huge growth of online education is money even though online education targeted working adults that have little or no time to sit in a traditional classroom for millions of men and women serving in the armed forces online education has made earning a degree much more possible. In recent years there have been significant technological growth with this growth technology

Military For Civilian Life And Supporting Their Families

Military returning to Civilian Life and supporting their Families Millions of combat veterans are returning from various campaigns including Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and America’s latest campaigns in Afghanistan and will need support to transition from military combat life to family life and a civilian existence. A variety of support personnel and services are needed to help veterans transition successfully. Veterans suffer from physical and mental health problems which make it challenging to find new employment to support their family. In addition, over his or her years of service, the veteran has identified as a soldier with all of the status and hierarchical command structure that is part of the military. Physical rehabilitation, mental health intervention, and employment support are ways to address the needs of military veterans transitioning into civilian life. Physical injuries resulting from military service can pose a significant barrier to service members trying to resume their pre-deployment life roles. A variety of medical disciplines assist service members with recovery from traumatic injuries sustained during combat. The rehabilitation process begins at medical facilities located near the battle front. Early rehabilitation of injuries, considered within 7 days after injury, has well documented benefits. (Marin, 2006) As soon as possible, the injured soldier is transferred to a fixed facility within Europe or the UnitedShow MoreRelatedMilitary For Civilian Life And Supporting Their Families1046 Words   |  5 PagesMilitary returning to Civilian Life and supporting their Families Millions of combat veterans are returning from various campaigns including Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and America’s latest campaigns in Afghanistan and will need support to transition from military combat life to family life and a civilian existence. A variety of support personnel and services are needed to help veterans transition successfully. Veterans suffer from physical and mental health problems whichRead MoreMental Health Issues Of Vietnam Veterans1595 Words   |  7 Pagesreturning to civilian life. Vietnam veterans are infamously known for being homeless and having a host of mental health issues. Today’s veterans have more support systems but the success of those systems may vary from region to region. In the Puget Sound region there are many homeless veterans despite efforts made by communities and municipalities. Issues of access to health care and inadequate community support intersect to form an underserved group of citizens who served in the military. Those whoRead MoreHomeless Veterans Throughout The City Of Los Angeles1678 Words   |  7 Pageswill surely increase. Additionally let’s not forget that these are the men and women who put their own lives in danger to protect our freedom and our way of life. After all that, the least we can do is to ensure that they are provide with adequate post-war services and training in order to adequately transition from military to the civilian sector. â€Æ' Los Angeles The Homeless Veteran Imagine not knowing where you will sleep tonight, not having a place to shower nor, having any money to buy foodRead MoreAn Argument For Military Expertise. Of The Six Chapters1008 Words   |  5 PagesAn Argument for Military Expertise Of the six chapters in Army Doctrine Reference Publication (ADRP) 1, chapter 5 is the most important with respect to the duty positions and responsibilities of a Captain in the United States Army. The Army Profession - chapter 5, titled Military Expertise – Our Application of Landpower, defines military expertise, outlines the three steps necessary to develop and maintain military expertise, and finally describes dominance in the land domain as what Soldiers actuallyRead MoreFamily Service Paper1178 Words   |  5 Pagessupport services available to military families through Military OneSource. Though there are a tremendous amount of services available we will focus on spouses, parenting and children, and survivor and casualty assistance. Spouses Military life can be challenging when you are not accustomed to the lifestyle and are coming from a civilian lifestyle. It can take some getting used to and it is more challenging when the other party is not readily around to help with supporting the new-found lifestyleRead MorePowerhouse of World War II, United States and Great Britain Essay1033 Words   |  5 Pagesdeath toll. Nations were in a state of â€Å"total war,† involving not just the military but also the entire nation. Civilians were aggressively aiding in supporting their military, creating a home front, making a significant impression on the result of the war. Rationing, defense and manpower were concerns for governments; and they made any economic and industrial change to support their efforts in aiding their nation and military. Great Britain Fear swept across Europe, as result from the continuous amountsRead MoreThe And Metaphysical Idea Of Human Rights927 Words   |  4 Pagesdisrespect by this, however I personally fail to see why a underdeveloped fetus, whom often is not much more than a blob of human cells cultivating has more of a right to life than say, a little boy whose family came here illegally for a better life and are then turned away, and essentially left for dead, and how a poor starving family is told that they are not worth a nominal tax raise and how though that fetus might be forced to stay alive against the mother’s will and right to choice because of shortcutsRead MoreThe The Dogs Are Eating Them Now : Our War Afghanistan And It Broke My Heart Essay1459 Words   |  6 Pagesrebuilding of Afghanistan, including the elimination of the Taliban through air strikes and poppy eradication, even though they did not truly understand the needs and priorities of Afghan citizens and were constantly perc eived negatively by the Afghan civilians. In an accessible method, Smith provides general knowledge about how the intervention on the behalf of the international community impacted the country and its people. This book also leaves me with reflections on the dynamic between insurgents andRead MoreThe Army Profession1228 Words   |  5 PagesWebster’s dictionary defines the word profession as a type of job that requires special education, training, or skill. Many Soldiers would not consider the Army as a profession but a way of life. Some think the word profession belongs to everyday jobs like a plumber, mechanic, or doctor. Dr. Don M. Snider stated â€Å"the Army is a profession because of the expert work it produces, because the people in the Army develop themselves to be professionals, and because the Army certifies them as such† (SniderRead MoreWorld War I During The World Of Russia1651 Words   |  7 Pagesethnic Russians had taken over their land and homes with m any Chechens having to buy their own homes back. Clashes and hatred between Chechens and Russians living within Chechen territories persisted to present times. A local, Ramazan Abdulatiov, supporting this attitude, said that, a shot was fired in the Caucasus, but the echo lasts for 100 years. After the soviet collapse of 1991, neighbouring Georgia s recent successful secession attempt inspired a Chechen separatist movement. General Dzhokhar Military For Civilian Life And Supporting Their Families Military returning to Civilian Life and supporting their Families Millions of combat veterans are returning from various campaigns including Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and America’s latest campaigns in Afghanistan and will need support to transition from military combat life to family life and a civilian existence. A variety of support personnel and services are needed to help veterans transition successfully. Veterans suffer from physical and mental health problems which make it challenging to find new employment to support their family. In addition, over his or her years of service, the veteran has identified as a soldier with all of the status and hierarchical command structure that is part of the military. Physical rehabilitation, mental health intervention, and employment support are ways to address the needs of military veterans transitioning into civilian life. Physical injuries resulting from military service can pose a significant barrier to service members trying to resume their pre-deployment life roles. A variety of medical disciplines assist service members with recovery from traumatic injuries sustained during combat. The rehabilitation process begins at medical facilities located near the battle front. Early rehabilitation of injuries, considered within 7 days after injury, has well documented benefits. (Marin, 2006) As soon as possible, the injured soldier is transferred to a fixed facility within Europe or the UnitedShow MoreRelatedMilitary For Civilian Life And Supporting Their Families1032 Words   |  5 PagesMilitary returning to Civilian Life and supporting their Families Millions of combat veterans are returning from various campaigns including Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and America’s latest campaigns in Afghanistan and will need support to transition from military combat life to family life and a civilian existence. A variety of support personnel and services are needed to help veterans transition successfully. Veterans suffer from physical and mental health problems whichRead MoreMental Health Issues Of Vietnam Veterans1595 Words   |  7 Pagesreturning to civilian life. Vietnam veterans are infamously known for being homeless and having a host of mental health issues. Today’s veterans have more support systems but the success of those systems may vary from region to region. In the Puget Sound region there are many homeless veterans despite efforts made by communities and municipalities. Issues of access to health care and inadequate community support intersect to form an underserved group of citizens who served in the military. Those whoRead MoreHomeless Veterans Throughout The City Of Los Angeles1678 Words   |  7 Pageswill surely increase. Additionally let’s not forget that these are the men and women who put their own lives in danger to protect our freedom and our way of life. After all that, the least we can do is to ensure that they are provide with adequate post-war services and training in order to adequately transition from military to the civilian sector. â€Æ' Los Angeles The Homeless Veteran Imagine not knowing where you will sleep tonight, not having a place to shower nor, having any money to buy foodRead MoreAn Argument For Military Expertise. Of The Six Chapters1008 Words   |  5 PagesAn Argument for Military Expertise Of the six chapters in Army Doctrine Reference Publication (ADRP) 1, chapter 5 is the most important with respect to the duty positions and responsibilities of a Captain in the United States Army. The Army Profession - chapter 5, titled Military Expertise – Our Application of Landpower, defines military expertise, outlines the three steps necessary to develop and maintain military expertise, and finally describes dominance in the land domain as what Soldiers actuallyRead MoreFamily Service Paper1178 Words   |  5 Pagessupport services available to military families through Military OneSource. Though there are a tremendous amount of services available we will focus on spouses, parenting and children, and survivor and casualty assistance. Spouses Military life can be challenging when you are not accustomed to the lifestyle and are coming from a civilian lifestyle. It can take some getting used to and it is more challenging when the other party is not readily around to help with supporting the new-found lifestyleRead MorePowerhouse of World War II, United States and Great Britain Essay1033 Words   |  5 Pagesdeath toll. Nations were in a state of â€Å"total war,† involving not just the military but also the entire nation. Civilians were aggressively aiding in supporting their military, creating a home front, making a significant impression on the result of the war. Rationing, defense and manpower were concerns for governments; and they made any economic and industrial change to support their efforts in aiding their nation and military. Great Britain Fear swept across Europe, as result from the continuous amountsRead MoreThe And Metaphysical Idea Of Human Rights927 Words   |  4 Pagesdisrespect by this, however I personally fail to see why a underdeveloped fetus, whom often is not much more than a blob of human cells cultivating has more of a right to life than say, a little boy whose family came here illegally for a better life and are then turned away, and essentially left for dead, and how a poor starving family is told that they are not worth a nominal tax raise and how though that fetus might be forced to stay alive against the mother’s will and right to choice because of shortcutsRead MoreThe The Dogs Are Eating Them Now : Our War Afghanistan And It Broke My Heart Essay1459 Words   |  6 Pagesrebuilding of Afghanistan, including the elimination of the Taliban through air strikes and poppy eradication, even though they did not truly understand the needs and priorities of Afghan citizens and were constantly perc eived negatively by the Afghan civilians. In an accessible method, Smith provides general knowledge about how the intervention on the behalf of the international community impacted the country and its people. This book also leaves me with reflections on the dynamic between insurgents andRead MoreThe Army Profession1228 Words   |  5 PagesWebster’s dictionary defines the word profession as a type of job that requires special education, training, or skill. Many Soldiers would not consider the Army as a profession but a way of life. Some think the word profession belongs to everyday jobs like a plumber, mechanic, or doctor. Dr. Don M. Snider stated â€Å"the Army is a profession because of the expert work it produces, because the people in the Army develop themselves to be professionals, and because the Army certifies them as such† (SniderRead MoreWorld War I During The World Of Russia1651 Words   |  7 Pagesethnic Russians had taken over their land and homes with m any Chechens having to buy their own homes back. Clashes and hatred between Chechens and Russians living within Chechen territories persisted to present times. A local, Ramazan Abdulatiov, supporting this attitude, said that, a shot was fired in the Caucasus, but the echo lasts for 100 years. After the soviet collapse of 1991, neighbouring Georgia s recent successful secession attempt inspired a Chechen separatist movement. General Dzhokhar

How Humans Have Contributed to Climate Change Free Essays

CLIMATE CHANGE: HOW THE HOMO SAPIENS HAVE CONTRIBUTED By Ernest Ebo Jackson TERM PAPER Climate change refers to change in average weather patterns and can be caused by both natural processes and human activities. In the past, the earth’s climate has been affected by natural factors such as changes in solar output and the discharge of volcanic ash. In fact, the planet has been through many periods of cooling and warming. We will write a custom essay sample on How Humans Have Contributed to Climate Change or any similar topic only for you Order Now The last period of major cooling ended about 10,000 years ago. The physical evidence that suggests that the earth’s climate is changing is truly overwhelming. The world’s glaciers are retreating and disappearing, extreme weather is occurring more often now than in the past, the sea’s level and temperature is on the rise and it’s becoming more acidic, increased evaporation is drying out the earth’s supply of fresh water found in lakes and rivers, heat waves kill thousands in Europe, uncontrollable forests fires are destroying forests reserves in places like Australia and Africa, and increasing atmospheric temperature is raising the budget of many families in tropical countries use in cooling their homes. Need I say more? The sun’s warmth heats the surface of the earth, which in turn radiates energy back to space. Some of this radiation, which is nearly all in the infrared spectrum, is trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases. For instance, water vapor strongly absorbs radiation with wavelengths between 4 and 7 micrometers, and carbon dioxide (CO2) absorbs radiation with wavelengths between 13 and 19 micrometers. The trapped radiation warms the lower atmosphere, or troposphere. Some heat then finds its way back down to the Earth’s surface, making it hotter than it would otherwise be. This is the greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere over the last 400,000 years show a rise since the industrial revolution. Analysis of ice in a core drilled from an ice sheet such as the Antarctic ice sheet enables scientist to arrive at this conclusion. But since when did humans becoming aware of the potentially adverse effects of Carbon dioxide emissions on the climate? As early as 1827, French polymath Jean-Baptiste Fourier predicts an atmospheric effect eeping the earth warmer than it would otherwise be. He is the first to use a greenhouse analogy. Also in 1957, US oceanographer Roger Revelle warns that humanity is conducting a â€Å"large-scale geophysical experiment† on the planet by releasing greenhouse gases. Colleague David Keeling sets up first continuous monitoring of CO2 levels in the atmosphere. Keeling soon finds a regular year-o n-year rise. Over the years, there have been many conferences aimed at finding solutions to climate change or global warming. In 1985 for instance, there was a major international conference on the greenhouse effect at Villach, Austria, which warned that greenhouse gases will â€Å"in the first half of the next century, cause a rise of global mean temperature which is greater than any in man’s history. † This could cause sea levels to rise by up to one meter, researchers say. The conference also reports that gases other than carbon dioxide, such as methane, ozone, CFCs and nitrous oxide, also contribute to warming. The world’s nations however have not been united in their quest to curb global warming or climate change. Many nations have been selfish, especially developed ones, seeking first to achieve or maintain economic growth and thus world dominance rather than make the sacrifices needed to reverse the negative trend of climate change. . A revisit to some historical event will help buttress this point. 1995 proved to be the hottest year recorded to date. In March, the Berlin Mandate is agreed by signatories at the first full meeting of the Climate Change Convention in Berlin. Industrialized nations agree on the need to negotiate real cuts in their emissions, to be concluded by the end of 1997. In 1996, at the second meeting of the Climate Change Convention, the US agrees for the first time to legally binding emissions targets and sides with the IPCC against influential skeptical scientists. After a four-year pause, global emissions of CO2 resume their steep climb, and scientists warn that most industrialized countries will not meet Rio agreement to stabilize emissions at 1990 levels by the year 2000. Furthermore, in 1997, Kyoto Protocol agrees legally binding emissions cuts for industrialized nations, averaging 5. 4%, to be met by 2010. The meeting also adopts a series of flexibility measures, allowing countries to meet their targets partly by trading emissions permits, establishing carbon sinks such as forests to soak up emissions, and by investing in other countries. The precise rules are left for further negotiations. Meanwhile, the US government says it will not ratify the agreement unless it sees evidence of â€Å"meaningful participation† in reducing emissions from developing countries. In 2001, the new US president, George W Bush, renounces the Kyoto Protocol because he believes it will damage the US economy. After some hesitation, other nations agree to go ahead without him. Talks in Bonn in July and Marrakech in November finally conclude the fine print of the protocol. Analysts say that loopholes have pegged agreed cuts in emissions from rich-nation signatories to less than a third of the original Kyoto promise. Signatory nations urged to ratify the protocol in their national legislatures in time for it to come into force before the end of 2002. Now let’s talk about a second human behavior that is negatively impacting the climate – deforestation. Deforestation is the permanent destruction of indigenous forests and woodlands by the processes of humans such as logging and/or burning of trees in a forested area. Deforestation occurs because of many reasons: trees or derived charcoal are used as or sold for fuel or a commodity to be used by humans, while cleared land is used by humans as pasture for livestock, plantations of commodities, and settlements. People’s removal of trees without sufficient reforestation has resulted in damage to habitat, biodiversity loss and aridity. It has adverse impacts on biosequestration (the capture and storage of the atmospheric greenhouse gas carbon dioxide by biological processes) of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Deforested regions typically incur significant adverse soil erosion and frequently degrade into wasteland. Forests (an area with a high density of trees. ) are the most natural biological formation. They serve many functions. Firstly, forests protect and form other natural resources. Thanks to the processes of photosynthesis, they renew the oxygen stock in the atmosphere by fixing atmospheric carbon dioxide and moderating the greenhouse effect. Forests also allow for the existence of many species of plants and animals, thus protecting diversity of nature and its gene stock. Forests clean the environment by muffling noises, lowering the wind strength as well as stopping dust and gases. They have a regulatory influence on surface water runoff; they moderate high and low temperatures and prevent soil erosion. By performing all of the above listed functions forests stabilize the climate and shape the landscape. Forests create conditions for relaxation, recreation and improvement of health. Only when actively growing can trees or forest remove carbon over an annual or longer timeframe. The decay and burning of wood releases much of this stored carbon back to the atmosphere. In order for forests to take up carbon, the wood must be harvested and turned into long-lived products and trees must be re-planted. Sadly consumer trends indicate the humans like to discard products such as furniture after only a few years of usage and buy new ones, increasing the need for wood and thus deforestation. Reducing emissions from the tropical deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries has emerged as new potential solution to complement ongoing climate policies. The idea consists in providing financial compensations for the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from deforestation and forest degradation†. The earlier these ideas are implemented, the better for us. The hydrological effects on climate as a result of deforestation are even more alarming. The water cycle is probably the most affected by deforestation. Trees extract groundwater through their roots and release it into the atmosphere. When part of a forest is removed, the trees no longer evaporate away this water, resulting in a much drier climate. Already, acute water shortages in countries like Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Palestine and Iraq has resulted in armed conflicts with factions fighting to control the scanty water resources available. Water prices increase too is an indication of global water shortage. In Britain, water and sewage bills increased 67 percent between 1989 and 1995. The rate at which people’s services were disconnected rose by 177 percent. Deforestation also contributes to decreased evapotranspiration (the sum of evaporation and plant transpiration from the Earth’s land surface to atmosphere), which lessens atmospheric moisture which in some cases affects precipitation levels downwind from the deforested area, as water is not recycled to downwind forests, but is lost in runoff and returns directly to the oceans. According to one preliminary study in deforested north and northwest China, the average annual precipitation decreased by one third between the 1950s and the 1980s. Trees, and plants in general, affect the water cycle significantly: their canopies intercept a proportion of precipitation, which is then evaporated back to the atmosphere (canopy interception); their litter, stems and trunks slow down surface runoff; their roots create macropores – large conduits – in the soil that increase infiltration of ater; they contribute to terrestrial evaporation and reduce soil moisture via transpiration; their litter and other organic residue change soil properties that affect the capacity of soil to store water. Their leaves control the humidity of the atmosphere by transpiration. 99% of the water pulled up by the roots move up to the leaves for transpiration. As a result, the presence or absence of trees can change the quantity of water on the surface, in the soil or groundwater , or in the atmosphere. This in turn changes erosion rates and the availability of water for either ecosystem functions or human services. Tropical rainforests produce about 30% of our planet’s fresh water. So what are we waiting for? When will human start acting to reverse these trends? I wish I knew. The third human activity that has contributed to global warming is the use of chlorofluorocarbon. A chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) is an organic compound that contains carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. Many CFCs have been widely used as refrigerants, propellants (in aerosol applications), and solvents. Applications exploit the low toxicity, low reactivity, and low flammability of the CFCs. During World War II, various chloroalkanes were in standard use in military aircraft. After the war they slowly became more common in civil aviation as well. In the 1960s, fluoroalkanes and bromofluoroalkanes became available and were quickly recognized as being highly effective fire-fighting materials. By the late 1960s they were standard in many applications where water and dry-powder extinguishers posed a threat of damage to the protected property, including computer rooms, telecommunications switches, laboratories, museums and art collections. Beginning with warships, in the 1970s, bromofluoroalkanes also progressively came to be associated with rapid knockdown of severe fires in confined spaces with minimal risk to personnel. By the early 1980s, bromofluoroalkanes were in common use on aircraft, ships, and large vehicles as well as in computer facilities and galleries. A planet’s climate is decided by its mass, its distance from the sun and the composition of its atmosphere. Earth’s atmosphere is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases. Carbon dioxide makes up just 0. 03 – 0. 04% with water vapour varying in amount from 0 to 2%. Without the greenhouse gases, Earth’s average temperature would be roughly -20 °C. The use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in machinery and other purposes have resulted in the release of CFCs into the atmosphere which intensifies the heat-trapping properties of the atmosphere as a whole. There is no natural process that release CFCs. In addition, CFCs rise into the upper layer of the atmosphere, the stratosphere, where they destroy the protective layer of ozone, a gas that forms a shield against ultraviolet rays that can harm many forms of life. About l million tons (over 900,000 metric tons) per year of CFCs have been released worldwide since the mid l970s. Demand for refrigeration (which has cooling systems that use CFCs) in developing countries is projected to increase greatly, especially in China and India. Ozone losses in the upper atmosphere are occurring at all latitudes in both hemispheres. The most striking example of ozone loss occurs over the South Pole during September and October. As ozone is lost, the amount of biologically harmful UV-B radiation will increase. Skin cancer rates are expected to increase. Other health effects will likely include an increase in cataracts and suppression of the immune system. Increased UV-B radiation may also harm plants and animals. These CFCs have a global warming potential of up to 11,000 times as strong as carbon dioxide by weight. Unfortunately, millions of products such as refrigerators, air conditioners, fire extinguishers and aerosol cans that contain CFCs are still in use around the world and are nearing the end of their usable lives. The next 10-20 years present a unique one-time opportunity to prevent emissions from these products as they are retired and therefore mitigate ozone damage and global climate change. The damage caused by CFCs was discovered by Sherry Rowland and Mario Molina who, after hearing a lecture on the subject of James Lovelock’s work, embarked on research resulting in the first publication suggesting the connection in 1974. It turns out that one of CFCs’ most attractive features—their low reactivity— is the key to their most destructive effects. CFCs’ lack of reactivity gives them a lifespan that can exceed 100 years, giving them time to diffuse into the upper stratosphere. Once in the stratosphere, the sun’s ultraviolet radiation is strong enough to cause the homolytic cleavage of the C-Cl bond. Since the late 1970s, the use of CFCs has been heavily regulated. By 1987, in response to a dramatic seasonal depletion of the ozone layer over Antarctica, diplomats in Montreal forged a treaty, the Montreal Protocol, which called for drastic reductions in the production of CFCs. On March 2, 1989, 12 European Community nations agreed to ban the production of all CFCs by the end of the century. In 1990, diplomats met in London and voted to significantly strengthen the Montreal Protocol by calling for a complete elimination of CFCs by the year 2000. On October 2 2009, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing about the stockpile of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in old equipment and building infrastructure, and the enormous potential for these potent greenhouse gases to accelerate climate change. These CFC â€Å"banks† store the equivalent of 18 billion tons of carbon dioxide, approximately one-third of which will be emitted over the next decade under business as usual. EESI estimates that the destruction of CFCs could cost $62 -$180 billion globally. No wonder institutions are reluctant to destroy them though they are very much conscious of the effects CFCs are having on our climate. As the evidence shows, we have ourselves to blame for the unfavorable climate in recent history. Our practices are changing the climate and we are conscious of it but still keep on living life as if nothing is at stake. The billions of dollars that we gain from over-exploiting the earth are the same billion we spent on relief for victims of extreme weather. What then do we gain? The U. S. has sustained 96 weather-related disasters over the past 30 years in which overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion. The total normalized losses for the 96 events exceed $700 billion. Read an instance in the paragraph below. Southwest/Great Plains Drought persists for an entire year in 2009. Drought conditions occurred during much of the year across parts of the Southwest, Great Plains, and southern Texas causing agricultural losses in numerous states (TX, OK, KS, CA, NM, and AZ). The largest agriculture losses occurred in TX and CA. Estimate of over $5. 0 billion in damages/costs. I believe the arguments presented herein are very conclusive. Humans have contributed immensely to climate change and they are paying for it. How to cite How Humans Have Contributed to Climate Change, Essay examples