Air pollution caused global warming

[This is an APA styled, two pages paper on the application of scientific research methods in investigating the causes of global warming. The paper relies on four sources to propose a scientific research methodology to explain the main causes of global warming.]

Introduction Research Hypothesis: Air pollution is the main cause of global warming Air pollution is a main cause of global warming; it changes the planets climate. However, not all types of global warming change the global climate in the same way. Some types of air pollution speed up global warming, while other slows it down by creating a cooling effect of a number of days. According to (Speth, 2004), pollutants that slow down global warming are tiny particles (known as aerosols) released by vehicles and smokestacks. These particles consist of sulfates, sea-salt, mineral dust or carbon. They are mostly in the form of dust that are naturally lifted up into the atmosphere from deserts, vapors evaporating from oceans and smoke from wildfires and erupting volcanoes. Aerosols cooling effect lasts only for a few days in the atmosphere, while greenhouse gases (GHGs) last for years. Researchers have proved that aerosols cause only as much as half the cooling as GHGs cause global warming (Pearce, 2008).

Discussion

A more plausible and authoritative method of analyzing air quality and pollutants related to air pollution is critical to ensuring successful stakeholders compliance and formulation of voluntary methods to protect air quality and mitigate the effects of air pollution. This paper proposes a scientific methodology for air quality research based on the objective of; developing, improving and validating sampling and analytical tools for the measurement of chemical pollutants in the atmosphere. This research will also measure and/or monitor contaminants released into the environment that are highlighted as priority substances of concern.

This research will measure air pollution by looking at how the pollution levels impact on peoples day-to-day life on Earth. Currently there are 6-criteria contaminants and 187 air toxics

regulated under the Clean Air Act. Air pollutants are a risk to public health and the environment. Therefore, reducing ambient concentrations of these contaminants will lower the associated risks. First, this research will establish the acceptable levels of pollutants, based on their epidemiological and health effects research. The research will rely on air quality measurement data to analyze information related to exposure. Monitoring in the longer term will produce data to find out whether abatement strategies are effective and successful in developing and evaluating the emissions inventories used by regulatory authorities (Goodwin et al. 2009). In addition, measurement data will be compared to the predictor in the air quality model, as a form of assessing the plausibility of the model performance. The main variables under investigation in this methodology include ultra-fine particles, particle concentration and ozone production rate (Dutta et al. 2009). The measurement systems are robustly designed, are stable as well as sustainable for long-term use.

Conclusion It is clear that innovative tools and methods being explored through the proposed scientific methods aim to improve on the existing sampling and testing procedures, making them more efficient and cost-effective for the assessing of compliance by private industry. This research will involve enhancing of sample preparation, data clean-up and analytical detection, specification, and quantification.

References Goodwin, B., D. Deojay, K. Cowen, T. Kelly, Z. Willenberg, A. Dindal, J. L. McKernan, M. Henderson (2009). Applikon MARGA semi-continuous ambient air monitoring system. Environmental Technology Verification Report, ETV Advanced Monitoring Systems Center. Columbus, OH: Battelle.

Keil, A.; H. Hernandez-Soto, R. J. Noll, M. Fico, L. Gao, Z. Ouyang, R. G. Cooks (2008). Monitoring of Toxic Compounds in Air Using a Handheld Rectilinear Ion trap Mass Spectrometer. Anal. Chem. 80: 734-741.

Pearce, F. (2008). With Speed and Violence: Why Scientists Fear Tipping Points in Climate Change, Beacon Press, Boston.

Speth, J. G. (2004). Red Sky at Morning; America and the Crisis of the Global Environment, Yale University Press, New Haven.