Geography: Understanding Sustainability, Global Warming, Climate Change, Pollution, and Environmental Agreements

Running Head: GEOGRAPHY 0
SUSTAINABILITY

GEOGRAPHY 1
1) In global warming, there is an increase in global temperature because of aggregating
concentrations of greenhouse gases in the environment. On other hand, climate
change can be termed as rising alterations in measures of climate comprising wind
patterns, temperature and precipitation over a long period of time.
2) In upper atmosphere of the Earth, there is a natural layer of gas protecting all living
beings from destructive ultraviolet radiations from the sun. This natural layer is called
as ozone layer. Moreover, the phasing out from ozone-depleting substances (ODS)
benefit the environment with fighting various aspects of climate change
(Ravishankara, Daniel & Portmann,2009).
3) The interchange of incoming and outgoing radiation by which the Earth is warmed
and often termed to as the greenhouse effect as it functions in much the similar
approach. When the Sun’s energy extents Earth’s environment, some of its imitated
back to universe and the rest is absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases.
4) Infrared heat energy is trapped by greenhouse gases in the environment. In this
procedure, they increase the temperature of the lower atmosphere and the Earth's
surface in relation to it. The three common greenhouse gases are – Carbon dioxide,
Methane and Ozone. In atmosphere, the most destructive gases considered to be as
Carbon Dioxide.
5) Fossil fuels are developed over centuries from the fossils or residues of dead animals
and plants that were submerged under dirt and rock (Shafiee & Topal, 2009). Oil,
Coal and natural gases are the three major forms of fossil fuels. All they developed
over centuries during the phase of dinosaurs.
6) In natural way, renewable energy sources are continuously replenished. They are also
beneficial as they have a limited negative environmental impact in comparison with
fossil fuels. The three most common renewable sources are – Solar energy, wind
power and hydroelectricity.
7) Pollution is the process of making water, land, air and other natural aspects of
environment dirty, unsafe and not suitable to use. The four sorts of pollution are –
water pollution, land pollution, water pollution and soil pollution.
8) A carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases primarily CO2 that is released to
environment by a specific human activity (Wiedmann et al, 2010). For measuring of
carbon footprints, it is needed to be calculated as tons of CO2 emitted annually, a
number that can be supplemented by tons of CO2 – equivalent gases, including nitrous
oxide, methane and other greenhouse gases.