What is Alternative Energy?

Alternative energy refers to the energies generated from sources other than fossil fuels, viz, coal, oil and natural gas. Sometimes it is also called alternative renewable energy since almost all types of it can be generated from renewable sources as opposed to fossil fuels which is non-renewable and cannot be replenished once consumed.

Types of alternative Energy and sources thereof

Several types are available in the world. Most common and popular ones along with their sources are:

1. Solar energy- Sun ray;

2. Wind energy- blowing wind;

3. Wave Energy- ocean waves;

4. Bio-Energy- Biogas or Bio-diesel;

5. Geo-thermal energy- Heat under the earth;

6. Tidal energy- High and low tides.

Why alternative energy?

Massive usage of conventional energy sourced from fossil fuels during the entire second half of the twentieth century has severely endangered the environment. Millions of tons of carbon- di-oxide-a greenhouse gas, discharged to environment through burning of fossil fuels are causing global warming by trapping solar heat on the earth’s surface. Rise in temperature of the earth’s surface leading to climate change is a matter of concern not only environmentalists but also to all the governments of the world. Due to increase in temperature, sea level will rise and inundate a very large portion of coastal areas causing huge devastation since coastal areas are generally highly populated. Melting of ice caps and glaciers due to rise in temperature in earth’s surface will cause flooding of the rivers and its basins at first instance and drying up of the rivers thereafter with consequential economic disaster. Million of hectares of fertile land will become barren. To combat this ensuing devastation due to climate change world leaders are emphasizing on the use of alternative energy. Usage of more and more alternative energy will lessen dependence of fossil fuels and consequently will reduce generation of carbon di-oxide. As a result chance of devastation due to global warming will be minimized.

Moreover, fossil fuels being non-renewable ones will exhaust today or tomorrow. Hence people are thinking over alternative renewable sources of power for sustaining the development and growth.

Benefits of alternative Energy

1. It is environment friendly, it helps reduce global warming.

2. It is renewable.It’s sources are not exhaustible.

3. It helps reduce geo-political tension arising out due to availability of fossil fuels only in limited countries contrarily every country is endowed with some kind of alternative energy sources.

Disadvantages

In spite of several technological breakthrough still production cost is very high which restricts it’s use. Till date the consumption of alternative power has not reached to desired level.

Conclusion

Alternative energy is the energy of the future. Scientists all over the world must augment their research for further technological breakthrough so that adequate quantity of alternative power is available in affordable price.

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Global warming is not a 20th century phenomenon. It has, in fact, occurred in the past more than once, along with periods of extreme cold known as the ice ages. With so much written and reported about global warming, sometimes it’s difficult to detect which is fact and which is just part of scientific scare tactics. Here are some facts about global warming that might help:

What exactly is global warming?

Global warming is basically the increase in the temperatures of the Earth’s atmosphere, land masses and oceans. The Earth’s surface temperature is at an average of 59F and over the last hundred years, this figure has risen to about 1F. By the year 2100, the average change in the temperature of the Earth could range from 2.5F to about 10F, enough to melt glaciers and polar ice caps.

The cause of global warming

Global warming has and will always occur naturally. Why it has become such a concern in our lifetime is due to the fact that human activities and practices have contributed significantly to its occurrence and severity. With the advent of industrialization and careless environmental practices, we have caused the increase in the average global temperatures by contributing negatively to the greenhouse effect.

This began about 240 years ago, when the Industrial Revolution was born. As more and more fossil fuels in the form of oil were mined and burned, gases as the by-product of that process began to be released in the atmosphere. Currently, it is estimated that 75% of the increase in the carbon dioxide content of the Earth’s atmosphere is caused by the burning of these fossil fuels.

Global warming and the greenhouse effect

Global warming is related to changes in the Earth’s greenhouse effect. Gases naturally occur in the Earth’s atmosphere and act both to protect and retain heat. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapor. Of these, water vapor is the most dominant and abundant greenhouse gas.

Global warming and the greenhouse effect are not the same thing. The greenhouse effect refers to a natural process that occurs in the Earth’s atmosphere. If this process is disrupted, then it could contribute to global warming.

As the sun’s rays hit the Earth, heat is bounced back to the atmosphere where these gases contain the heat and keep it there to warm the planet. This is an important natural process and allows life forms to flourish and survive. Problems only occur when these gases multiply and build-up, containing heat too efficiently and thus warming the Earth’s atmosphere.

As the Earth’s average temperature rises, effects in its landmasses and sea water level become apparent. Polar ice caps melt along with glaciers, contributing to higher and warmer sea levels. By the end of the century, it is estimated that sea levels can increase from 4 inches to a high of about 40 inches if global warming continues unabated.

Global warming can also affect the behavior of the winds and can also contribute to a harsher and drier climate, with frequent visitings of strong hurricanes. Water from heavier rainfall will not stay long to irrigate the land, however because with a warmer climate, water on the Earth’s surface will evaporate quickly. This has a significant effect on agricultural practices not only in the US but also for the rest of the world.

Another phenomenon that is equated with global warming is the El Nino. The El Nino phenomenon has occurred for possibly thousands of years and is not caused directly by global warming. However, changes in the average temperature of the planet can contribute to its severity and frequency.

Other human practices that contribute to global warming

The agricultural revolution has also contributed to global warming. As more and more communities need lands converted from forests to residential and commercial areas, biomass is reduced, contributing to the increase in the presence of carbon dioxide in those regions. Since carbon dioxide is processed by plants and trees, their absence contributes to its increase.

It is estimated that about 25% of the annual increase in the carbon dioxide found in the Earth’s atmosphere is caused by extreme changes and usage of the Earth’s natural resources. Other practices also include deforestation, salinization, desertification and overgrazing also contribute to global warming. However, many scientists surmise and agree that the contribution is slight and indirect.

Facing the facts of global warming

Countries all over the world have just begun to acknowledge the negative effects of global warming not only to the world’s politics and economy but also to humankind in general. Many of the world’s governments have encouraged implementation of measures to try to counteract the problem of global warming through careful measures and practices designed to protect and respect the environment.

How these measures will fare and contribute to the long-term maintenance of our planet, though, remains to be seen.

For more information now go to: http://www.solutionstoearthdestruction.com http://www.stopearthdestruction.com/index.html

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