Global warming refers to the general increase in the average temperatures of the earth and the oceans, causing permanent changes in climate (Philander, 2012). There has been an ongoing debate in the world about whether global warming is real or fake. Scientific literature suggests that the temperatures of the earth and its surrounding oceans have increased in the past few decades due to greenhouse gases emitted through human activities (Graham & Salariya, 2010). While some people consider global warming as a real challenge to the world, others suggest that the issue has been blown out of problems, and that global warming is not a challenge to the world.
One of the opposing claims suggests that there are no actual prolonged or significant changes in temperatures since 1997. According to this view, the temperature rise and droughts of the early 1990s were just part of weather patterns that keep changing, but have not been sustained for a long time (Graham & Salariya, 2010). Scientists suggest that the increase in average temperatures occurred between 1975 and 1997, and from then until now the temperature levels have remained constant (Easterbrook, 2011). This perspective implies that the consistency of temperature levels for the last nineteen years indicates that there is nothing to worry about climate change or global warming; hence global warming is not real.
Secondly, opponents of global warming being real argue that the historical data provided by scientists to prove global warming is not sufficient (Easterbrook, 2011). Scientists across the world have not reached a consensus about the topic because some of them think that the historical data they have are neither sufficient nor clear to prove that global warming is real (Lindzen and Giannitsis, 2002). Until sufficient and clear scientific data are provided, global warming cannot be real.
The third argument also suggests that global warming cannot be real because the arctic ice increased since 2012 contrary to the features of global warming. If global warming was real, rising temperatures would have caused ice to melt. Those who hold this position argue that the predictions of the arctic ice melting completely are wrong because it is actually increasing instead of melting (Hollingsworth, 2013). In fact, they give the example of Al Gore who predicted that the global ice would disappear by 2013 (Hollingsworth, 2013). On the contrary, it increased. So, they argue, global warming does not exist.
Another opposing argument is that the models used to measure or calculate climate change are inaccurate. The calculations of climate change that have been used to predict global warming in the past have been meaningless because they do not give accurate predictions (Hollingsworth, 2013). Furthermore, such views suggest that global temperatures could actually be experiencing natural shifts that have nothing to do with global warming.
These views suggesting that global warming is not real have various strengths and weaknesses. Their major strength is that they attack the weaknesses of the other side of the debate. They look for the inconsistencies of those who argue that climate change is real and use them as their strong points. The second strength is that they look for data and information which show that temperatures are not actually increasing. In this regard, they convince people that the proponents of climate change being real might be mistaken.
However, this view does not provide original research or scientific information to show that climate change does not exist. They only show the weaknesses of their opposing sides but they do not give their own reasoning for global warming being not being real. The mere fact that some arguments for climate change being real have weaknesses does not mean that they are wrong (Easterbrook, 2011). Those who suggest that climate change is not real have relied on the weaknesses and ignored the strengths of those who argue that climate change is real.
One of the arguments provided by those who suggest that climate change is real is that the sea level has risen over the past few decades. The rise in sea level is a clear indication that global warming is real (Adam, 2007). They provide enough scientific evidence to show that the sea level is actually rising in many parts of the world. The reasons for this rise could be partially attributed to the melting of glaciers or ice caps, and majorly to the changes of gases in the sea due to emission of greenhouse gases from the earth. The sea levels have doubled globally since the past century. Scientists predict that the global sea levels rise at the rate of 1.6 mm per year based on past trends (Conserve Energy Future, 2014). In the last century alone, the global sea levels increased by 6.7 inches.
The supporters of the view that global warming is real also argue that the average earth’s temperatures and ocean temperatures are rising every year. Those who support this argument use the scientific findings which show that average temperatures have risen since 1800s. The temperatures reached their peak between 1970s and 1990s (Pielke, 2010). The increasing number of industries and vehicles has also caused greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. Gases trapped in the atmosphere are absorbed by oceans, causing increased ocean temperatures.
Shrinking glaciers are also the evidence of global warming being real. Scientists argue that the glaciers on mountain rangers, especially in Antarctica and the Greenland, are reducing in size (Eilperin, 2005). This decrease in the size of glaziers is caused by the decrease in gases that would help keep temperatures low (Eilperin, 2005). Another related argument is the acidification of oceans. This argument suggests that pollution from human activities has led to increased acids in the world oceans.
The strength of these arguments is that they use scientific data that show how global warming has been manifested. Although some predictions are not accurate, the arguments for global warming being real show consistent results about the increase and effects of temperatures on both land and the sea (Monbiot, 2009). This view provides convincing evidence about the disappearance of glaciers and the rise of sea levels; both of which have not been disputed by the opposing points of view.
In conclusion, it is clear that the issue of global warming is real. Some people have given some arguments to show that it is real. They suggest that the data provided to prove global warming is not accurate, and that the global ice is actually increasing rather than melting. On the other hand scientists and environmentalists who suggest that global warming is real support their arguments with clear evidence of changing patterns of temperatures and sizes of glaciers. They argue that glaciers are disappearing and the seal level is increasing due to melting ice and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, global warming is real.
- Adam, D. (2007). Loss of Arctic ice leaves experts stunned. The Guardian, 4 September 2007.
- Conserve Energy Future. (2014). Is Global Warming Real? http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/is-global-warming-real.php.
- Easterbrook, D. J. (2011). Evidence-based climate science: Data opposing CO₂ emissions as the primary source of global warming. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
- Eilperin, J. (2005). GOP Chairmen Face Off on Global Warming. Washington Post, July 18, 2005. Available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/17/AR2005071701056.html.
- Graham, I., & Salariya, D. (2010). Global warming: A very peculiar history : with no added C02. Brighton: Book House.
- Hollingsworth, B. (2013). Wrong: Al Gore Predicted Arctic Summer Ice Could Disappear In 2013. September 13, 2013. http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/barbara-hollingsworth/wrong-al-gore-predicted-arctic-summer-ice-could-disappear-2013.
- Lindzen, R.S. and Giannitsis, C. (2002). Reconciling observations of global temperature change. Geophysical Research Letters, 29 (12): 24–26.
- Monbiot, G. (2009). The Real Climate Scandal. The Guardian, 12 December 2009.
- Philander, S.G. (2012). Encyclopedia of global warming & climate change. Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE Publications.
- Pielke, R.A. (2010). The climate fix: What scientists and politicians won’t tell you about global warming. New York: Basic Books.