GLOBAL WARMING

Okay, so the very first post is a knowledge session on global warming. This post is an attempt to bring all that I know in a slightly organized form. It is divided into three parts: what everybody knows, what few people know and what I have thought of.

What everyone knows:

Global warming is the general increase in temperature of Earth’s various –spheres (atmosphere, lithosphere, etc.). General theory is that Global warming is because of the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, water-vapor etc. Much of this increase is attributed to the increased use of fossil fuels like coal, petroleum which emits all kinds of greenhouse gases on combustion.

What few know:

During the recent Cancun summit (HaHaHa…you haven’t heard of it?? Okay, it was a ‘blame-game’ played by developed and developing countries at another conclusion-less climate change summit held after Copenhagen), Australia blamed India and China for the greenhouse emissions. Not because of increasing number of cars or industries, but by calculating that farting by our voiceless livestock account for a bulk of methane emissions. But then India is not far behind when it comes to finding flaws in others, pointed Australia is motherland of all camels [J]. Tit for Tat [Screw ya Aussies].

What I thought of:

First law of thermodynamics suggests that energy can neither be created nor be destroyed. It can only be transformed from one form to another. Using this theory, I’ll prove certain points qualitatively. Quantitative results are beyond the scope of this blog and the blogger. Let us first take the case of thermal power plant. Coal is burnt, its chemical energy is converted into thermal energy, part of which is utilized to run the turbine, while unutilized energy escapes the plant through chimney. So, thermal energy of atmosphere increases, resulting in temperature increase. Running of car again converts chemical energy of petrol/diesel into thermal energy and mechanical energy. Unused thermal energy comes out into the atmosphere in the form of hot exhaust gases through silencer/exhaust. Again, increase in thermal energy of atmosphere. So, what is happening in general is that we are converting different forms of energy into thermal energy, and because of the inefficient systems, unutilized heat is released into the surroundings. I am not sure how much these factors contribute to global warming, but am sure there is some contribution.