Imagine a world five degrees warmer year round. That means when it used to snow, it might rain, and when it used to be 95 degrees, it might be 100. And these scenarios may happen sooner than you think. Global warming is a serious concern facing us and future generations that we must make an effort against. By learning about the evidence of global warming, the greenhouse effect, and what causes greenhouse gasses, we may be able to slow the unwanted results of heat.
Some skeptics say that global warming is a natural phase; however, there is substantial evidence suggesting that worldwide temperatures have risen at alarming rates. First, over the past century, average temperatures have increased by about .7 to 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit. If this pattern continues, temperatures are expected to rise by about 6 degrees in the next century. Information from coral, trees and ice cores suggests that the 1990s was the hottest decade in a millennium. Also, in oceans, the average water temperature in the past fifty years has gone up by about half a degree. Because of these hotter temperatures, the average glacier has been shrinking by about a foot each year for the past fifty years.
Although many things are attributed to causing global warming, the most widely accepted cause is the greenhouse effect. In a greenhouse, light comes in through the glass to heat it, but less heat can escape because of the insulation of the glass. A similar situation occurs on earth as well. In our atmosphere, gasses such as carbon dioxide and oxides of nitrogen (known as greenhouse gasses) act as an insulator. They allow solar radiation to enter the atmosphere, but when the earth radiates infrared waves back out, come of the radiation is stopped by these gasses and converted to heat. When this happens, the earth keeps more heat than what is given off which causes the overall world temperature to rise.
In our society, there are several ways that unwanted greenhouse gasses are produced. Almost anything that uses fossil fuels gives off carbon dioxide. Most of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels including coal and oil. When these are burned, many pollutants are given off; among those is carbon dioxide. Also, cars and other major forms of transportation burn petroleum products that give off greenhouse gasses. Another major greenhouse gas, methane, is produced from agriculture.
By knowing the evidence of global warming, how the greenhouse effect works, and what causes greenhouse gasses, you can better understand what action can be done against global warming. A hotter climate presents many ecological challenges that would eventually affect humans. It is therefore necessary to take action to slow down global warming and to limit the greenhouse effect. Some species of animals have already migrated north because of a changing climate. Do you want to have to join them?
http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/index.html
http://go.grolier.com/gol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming
http://globalwarmingart.com/
Thank you and good night
Some skeptics say that global warming is a natural phase; however, there is substantial evidence suggesting that worldwide temperatures have risen at alarming rates. First, over the past century, average temperatures have increased by about .7 to 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit. If this pattern continues, temperatures are expected to rise by about 6 degrees in the next century. Information from coral, trees and ice cores suggests that the 1990s was the hottest decade in a millennium. Also, in oceans, the average water temperature in the past fifty years has gone up by about half a degree. Because of these hotter temperatures, the average glacier has been shrinking by about a foot each year for the past fifty years.
Although many things are attributed to causing global warming, the most widely accepted cause is the greenhouse effect. In a greenhouse, light comes in through the glass to heat it, but less heat can escape because of the insulation of the glass. A similar situation occurs on earth as well. In our atmosphere, gasses such as carbon dioxide and oxides of nitrogen (known as greenhouse gasses) act as an insulator. They allow solar radiation to enter the atmosphere, but when the earth radiates infrared waves back out, come of the radiation is stopped by these gasses and converted to heat. When this happens, the earth keeps more heat than what is given off which causes the overall world temperature to rise.
In our society, there are several ways that unwanted greenhouse gasses are produced. Almost anything that uses fossil fuels gives off carbon dioxide. Most of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels including coal and oil. When these are burned, many pollutants are given off; among those is carbon dioxide. Also, cars and other major forms of transportation burn petroleum products that give off greenhouse gasses. Another major greenhouse gas, methane, is produced from agriculture.
By knowing the evidence of global warming, how the greenhouse effect works, and what causes greenhouse gasses, you can better understand what action can be done against global warming. A hotter climate presents many ecological challenges that would eventually affect humans. It is therefore necessary to take action to slow down global warming and to limit the greenhouse effect. Some species of animals have already migrated north because of a changing climate. Do you want to have to join them?
http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/index.html
http://go.grolier.com/gol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming
http://globalwarmingart.com/
Thank you and good night
