2012's film depicting the end of human civilization is pretty horrible. Film story based on Mayan prediction that the tribe lived around 2600 BC about the existence of a large earthquake on December 21th, 2012 invited many predictions about the future of the earth. Apart from these predictions, is it true the earth is now towards its demise? And can we cope? One phenomenon that is taking place now is global warming, this phenomenon is no longer an opinion but a reality that threatens the future of the earth.
Global warming due to greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is the process taking infrared rays in the atmosphere because of the gas greenhouse gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, ozone, CFCs etc. Naturally these gases already exists by itself as the heating of the earth, but along with the beginnings of industrialization of the volume of these gases continue accumulating in the atmosphere without being able to be neutralized by natural processes. In the period before the era of industrialization and still many forest on Earth some CO2 neutralized in the process of plant photosynthesis. On 7th-18th December 2009 by world leaders, environmental activists and related institutions will gather in Copenhagen, Danish to formulate a draft that is expected to limit the effects of global warming. This draft is expected to replace the Kyoto protocol, which ends in 2012. China and America are two countries with the largest CO2 producer today, so the commitment of the two countries will affect the future of planet earth. Reduce CO2 emissions for industrialized countries is like simalakama which will reduce the rate of industrialization and economic growth. As an illustration based on data released U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Lab, China is continuing to develop its industry to produce additional 490 Mega tons of CO2 from 2007 to 2008. In 2007 China produced about 3 Giga tonnes of CO2.
According Gregy Markind since 1982 that have been released carbon dioxide into the atmosphere since industrialization process approximately 715,3 trillion tons. Since the era of industrialization the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere increased from 280 ppm to 387 ppm and global temperature rises to around 20 C. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2100 predicted the earth's temperature will rise about 40 C compared to now. Securities that have been perceived as, among others, continue to thaw the eternal ice in the mountains, and the depletion layer of ice in Antarctica until about 40 percent in the last 40 years and a rise in sea levels three times faster, within the last 100 years. This caused many disasters in the whole earth. So is there any connection between global warming with a big earthquake? This is still a debate, but there is an opinion that states if the polar ice continues to melt, the volume of water in the ocean will be increased, causing water pressure to the bottom surface of the larger ocean. If many hollow earth caused by oil exploration, gas and other minerals, then it will break cavity and cause an earthquake that would trigger another earthquake caused greater intercontinental plate movement.
Some solutions to solve global warming has done. For example, proposals by scientists to store large amounts of sulfurous gases in the stratosphere of the earth, strafosfer is between 10-50 km from the earth's surface. The concept is expected sulfur gases react with water vapor to form sulfuric acid clouds that can later be reflecting sunlight back toward the earth. But this concept has many drawbacks such as sulfuric acid, which endanger life on earth itself. Another solution proposed was the formation of NaCl salt in the troposphere with sea water pouring into the sky. This concept is also addressed to the salt NaCl formed can block some sunlight which leads to the earth. Another concept that is even more radical by placing many small disks outside the space to reduce sunlight to the earth. In addition to reducing the solution to the sun the earth, also developed the technology to absorb the carbon dioxide method, known as CCS, Carbon Capture and Storage. Among the technology of CO2 absorption with amine scrubbing methods that have been developed since 1930. Gary T. Rochelle uses 20% Monoethanolamin to absorb CO2. CO2 is produced in packs and used for geological sequestration, storage in the bowels of the earth in the process of oil and nature gas. One of them major source of CO2 emissions is fossil energy such as oil and coal. Currently about 80% of energy used comes from fossil energy, 25% of them are coal that in fact is a 40% contributor to carbon dioxide emissions. To reduce the use of fossil energy, scientists now are developing a variety of renewable energy such as biosolar, bioethanol, biogas, etc. fuelcell.
In Indonesia the development of biodiesel as a substitute for diesel and bioethanol as a substitute for gasoline is still being developed. Especially for bioethanol made from corn or cassava is not considered a long term solution because it would compete with food needs. Therefore also now being developed bioethanol from cellulose sources such as grasses and wood, known as the generation bioethanol-2. One disadvantage of this energy is quite expensive compared to current fuel prices. Several other alternative energy sources that have abundant resources continue to be developed include a wind energy; water energy is hydroelectric, wave, geothermal and solar energy. Energy sources is expected to replace fossil energy in the long run. Pollution of the earth from human activities is difficult to break and this is what causes our planet in danger if not addressed. After all the processes that have been done to prevent the destruction of the earth is expected to be slowed. In addition to strong commitment from industrialized countries that will define the future of the earth in Copenhagen in December next, we can also give a simple solution is to plant trees. If the approximately 220 million people of Indonesia, 50% of them planted one or two trees will certainly provide a significant impact in the absorption of carbon dioxide and reduce the burden on the earth from further damage.
Opini: UN (Ujian Nasion) Bukan Penentu Kelulusan
