The Carbon Cycle

OCEAN UPTAKE ­ Dissolving of CO2 gas into the oceans and inflow of carbon carried from land by rivers.

OCEAN RELEASE ­ Return of carbon in the oceans directly back to the atmosphere as CO2 gas.

SEDIMENTATION ­ Slow burial of plant and animal matter on land and on the ocean floor, which eventually becomes limestone, coal, gas, and oil.

RESPIRATION ­ Slow combustion of carbon compounds, producing energy within organisms and releasing CO2.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS ­ Conversion of CO2 into energy-rich carbon compounds by plants.

Global Warming

Global warming is the gradual rise of the earths surface temperature caused by the emission of gases that trap the sun's heat in the earth's atmosphere. Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, chlorofluorocarbons and halocarbons contribute to global warming. The greenhouse effect acts to warm the planet and increase average global temperatures. This is seen as a major environmental hazard as average temperatures rise, leading to a possible change in weather patterns and agricultural output. This also may lead to melting of the polar ice-cap and a corresponding rise in sea levels.

Causes Of Global Warming

Carbon Dioxide from Power Plants

Carbon Dioxide Emitted from Cars, Tucks and Aeroplanes

Methane

Nitrous oxide

Deforestation

Carbon in Atmosphere and Ocean

The Greenhouse Effect

Most scientists believe recent global warming is the result of human influence on a naturally-occurring phenomenon called the greenhouse effect. Under normal conditions some of the sun's heat is radiated back into space.

The 'greenhouse effect' occurs when heat is trapped in the atmosphere by gases like carbon dioxide, methane and CFCs The Sun's energy heats the surface of the Earth, although some of that heat is radiated back into space and the planet cools. Some gases in the atmosphere, called the greenhouse gases, prevent this radiation and so trap the heat.

Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have been pumping out huge quantities of greenhouse gases, most notably carbon dioxide. Before 1850 human activity had little influence on the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but since the industrial revolution concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, have greatly increased. Burning fossil fuels is responsible for most of the increase in carbon dioxide. The upsurge in concentrations of methane is due to gas produced by livestock and rice paddies.

Effects of Global Warming

Heat waves and periods of unusually warm weather

Frequent and severe heat waves lead to increases in heat-related illness and death, especially in urban areas and among the elderly, the young, the ill, and the poor.

Ocean warming, sea-level rise and coastal flooding


Warmer temperatures increase melting of mountain glaciers, increase ocean heat content, and cause ocean water to expand. Largely as a result of these effects, global sea level has risen 4 to 10 inches (10-25 cm) over the past 100 years.

Glaciers melting


As glaciers continue to shrink, summer water flows will drop sharply, disrupting an important source of water for irrigation and power in many areas that rely on mountain watersheds.

Arctic and Antarctic warming


Parts of Canada, Alaska, Siberia, and the Antarctic have been experiencing warming well above the global average for the past few decades

Spreading disease



Warmer temperatures allow mosquitoes that transmit diseases such as malaria and dengue fever to extend their ranges and increase both their biting rate and their ability to infect humans.

Earlier spring arrival

Evidence of this comes from earlier thaw dates for rivers and lakes; earlier dates for plant blooming and leafing; and earlier animal egg-laying, spawning and migration. An earlier spring may disrupt animal migrations, alter competitive balances among species, and cause other unforeseen problems.


Plant and animal range shifts and population changes

Plants and animals generally react to consistently warmer temperatures by moving to higher latitudes and elevations. Migration occurs and so does extinction.

Coral reef bleaching

Factors that contribute to coral reef bleaching include nutrient and sediment runoff, pollution, coastal development, dynamiting of reefs, and natural storm damage.

Downpours, heavy snowfalls, and flooding

As climate change increases the risk of flooding, human changes in land use and land cover can also contribute to the growing risk of flooding.


Droughts and fires

Sustained drought makes wildfires more likely, and crops and trees more vulnerable to pest infestations and disease.

Global warming and untreated sewage pose threat to coral reefs

http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/04/09/11/131567.html

The Gulfs Coral Reefs are in danger. The dumping of untreated sewage is becoming an inceasing problem now. Coral reefs are being destroyed but another problem is global warming. Global warming is a worldwide problem and all locations in the world are being effected. In the gulf "Global warming has created difficult conditions for marine fauna and flora, the rising sea levels and the effects of seaward development." According to the article the Gulf waters were getting saltier and warmer due to slow regeneration, if any, of marine life and huge volumes of brine from desalination plants. This is a problem as coral reefs are being destroyed in mass numbers and the seas are being polluted. Marine life is being killed, clean waters are being dirtied and oil wastage is another effect. The climate has been changing lately the winters have been rain filled and the summers have beeen even hotter, stickier and dry.

Reduction of CO2 levels in the UAE

The real problem is that there are 6 Billion of us on the planet, and every time each of us exhales we release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
So the more people we kick out of the UAE the better the less people the better. Since the UAE is still developing and is a growing country the number of people are going to increase rather than decrease.