Research Paper on Climate Change: The Myth of Global Warming
DEDICATION
This Research Paper is lovingly dedicated to our respective parents who have been our
constant source of inspiration. They have given us the drive and discipline to tackle any
task with enthusiasm and determination. Without their love and support this project would
not have been made possible.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to acknowledge the contributions of the following group and individuals to
the development of this research paper:
Our class peer research group for the cooperation and camaraderie.
We are also heartily thankful to our teacher, Mr./Ms._____, whose encouragement,
guidance and support from the initial to the final level enabled us to develop an
understanding of the subject.
To our truly great friend Don who has made available his support in a number of ways.
Lastly, We offer our regards and blessings to all of those who supported us in any respect
during the completion of the project.
Name of Students Here
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ABSTRACT
The surface of the earth has been warming, the average temperature increasing, for several
years. People studying this do not agree on the cause of the warming trend. Some say that
man has caused the change; others claim that it is a natural trend. If some
environmentalists are to be believed, we are on the verge of massive global climate change
which will see a significant rise in sea levels, chaotic weather patterns, and catastrophic
droughts all caused by small increase in global average temperature. Whether global
warming is a problem that can be dealt with, will depend not only on the ways that are
available to governments and people to act but also on their will to act in response to this
environmental change.
INTRODUCTION
Man-made pollution is evident; from litter in local streams to plumes of carbon dense
smoke billowing out of power plants, it has become apparent sustainability is not a
priority. In addition, our resources are being used and abused much faster than the earth
can replenish and recover. Recently, this abuse on Mother Nature has become a topic of
great interest. Known as the “green movement”€, advocates stress awareness of waste
and pollution and its effect on the environment. The most publicized consequence of our
non-earth friendly actions is global warming. This theory is blindly adopted with little
scientific evidence because it justifies the worlds”€™ need to go green. When the
overwhelming facts concerning greenhouse gasses and the sheer amount of waste humans
produce is taken into account, there is no wonder global warming is justified in
peoples”€™ minds. Although human induced global warming is a popular theory, it is
misleading because climate change has occurred throughout history, our most recent
period of warming ended over ten years ago, and the earth is currently in a state of cooling.
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RATIONALS AND BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Climate change is nothing new. In the life span of earth, a climate where humans could
and have inhabited the planted are mere smudges on its”€™ climate time line. Starting
with the big bang over 13.7 billion years ago, the earth has experienced cycles of hot
flashes and freezing spells (Global Warming and Global Cooling, 2007, p. 2). As recently
as 650 million years ago the earth was frozen solid. This period of 10 million years is
known as snowball earth. After this period, volcanoes began to erupt producing
greenhouse gases, which warmed the earth. Over the next 400 million years, global
temperatures rose and fell allowing for small life forms to succeed. Plants, cold-blooded
animals, and insects did well during this time. Then, quite suddenly, there was mass
extinction. Over 95% of the earths species died due to flood basalt eruptions lasting for
one million years. The earths”€™ temperatures rose an impressive 18oF due to a 700%
increase of CO2 during this time. It then took 195 billion years for the blanked of CO2 to
dissipate and earth to cool, once again allowing inhabitants. At 55 million years ago
another 200F increase occurred due to increased methane gas. Over the next 40 million
years, temperatures continued to fluctuate, allowing for the polar ice caps to expand and
retreat. Since, the climate has stayed relatively stable with only a single ice age. When
temperatures warmed, woolly mammoths that thrived during the ice age and other mega
mammals could not survive, while humans where able to adapt (A Global Warning?,
2007). However, it would be naive to thinking climate change would miraculously come
to a stop on behalf of human inhabitation. The above-mentioned changes had drastic
effects on the earth. Recently there has been less drastic, however still noticeable, climate
fluctuations.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
For several years believers and skeptics have argued about the causes of global warming.
The problem is complicated because believers warn that man-made causes if left to
advance too far may be irreversible. Reduction of the rainforests, continued growth in
hydrocarbon industries, increases in livestock, and depletion of the ozone are all
considered factors in the debate. Skeptics maintain that the climate change is a natural
phenomenon, that mans effect on nature is largely overrated. The fact is that for several
years, the earths temperature is rising. The problem remains in deciding what if anything
we can do about it.
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SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS
All research studies also have limitations and a finite scope. In our case, limitations are
more on time and budget constraints. Information and data were gathered from various
sources including the internet. Conducting scientific studies and experiments on a global
