Comparison of Hitler And Stali

Though the 20th century saw great advances and discoveries in medicine, improving the condition of human individuals, at the same time the condition of the planet itself was declining, according to many observers. From this perspective, the leading "health care" issue of the 21st century may well be the health of our environment.

The following article will briefly summarize some of the key environmental issues that scientists are currently studying.

This is a process in which gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap infrared radiation and thus influence climate. The greenhouse effect is not in itself harmful; on the contrary, it establishes a temperature that is hospitable to life. Without this effect, heat would escape into space and the average surface temperature of the Earth would be -19°C, about 33°C colder than it is now.

The atmospheric gases that produce the greenhouse effect include the naturally occurring substances water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and ozone (O3), as well as artificially produced chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The indication is that because of human activity, s

uch as the burning of fossil fuels, levels of greenhouse gases are now increasing, especially carbon dioxide levels. Research indicates that carbon dioxide levels in the pre-industrial era were 280 parts per million; today they are 350. One current study forecasts an eventual level of 700. It is proposed that this upward trend will lead to higher average temperatures as well as to various other significant climatic changes that cannot be predicted at this time.

Elsewhere on the political spectrum, but also differing with the goals of the environmentalists, are many people in developing nations. Most of the world's variety of species can now be found in certain areas of the developing world; for example, tropical rainforests. Efforts to preserve species by leaving the land in its natural state can come into conflict with the goals of people living in the area. They may see this species-rich area more as a resource to be utilized than as an ecosystem to be preserved.

Another issue of concern is the depletion of the ozone layer surrounding the Earth. This layer normally filters out a harmful form of ultraviolet light from the sun, known as UV-B. With the erosion of the ozone layer, more UV-B rays can reach the Earth's surface, and these rays are known to cause genetic mutations in certain species. (UV-B is also the sun risk for humans.)

Critics of the global warming concept point out that significant climate change has occurred throughout geologic time. If global warming is in fact occurring, they argue, it may have nothing to do with human activity. Others argue that historic climate reports are not proven to be accurate, so we cannot be sure that present-day temperatures are really higher.

Some topics in this essay:
Greenhouse Effect, Public Attitudes, North America, Ozone Layer, Rain Acid, Colin Campbell, Western Europe, Warming Probably, Jolien Hackett, Individual Impact, acid rain, carbon dioxide, global warming, ozone layer, greenhouse effect, current study, burning fossil fuels, rain snow, temperature earth, environmental issues, upward trend, surface temperature earth, carbon dioxide levels, depletion ozone layer,