An Overview of the Effects of Global Warming

It is important to understand the significance that globaltrend continue. According to scientists, we can with
warming has on not only our earth, but our daily lives"99% confidence conclude that current temperatures
as well. It's also important to understand the effects ofrepresent a real warming trend rather than a chance
global warming that our children and grandchildren willfluctuation over the 30-year period." Most scientists
experience in the years to come if things continue theagree that the planet's temperature has risen 0.5
way they are now. First, it's important to understanddegrees Celsius since 1900, and will continue to
that "Global Warming" is also known as theincrease at an increasing rate. The environment is
"Greenhouse effect". Instead of a plastic or glassresponding to this warming. For instance, a study of
shield, the earth has around it a series of atmosphericmountain plants in the Alps (Europe), shows that some
gases consisting mostly of nitrogen and oxygencold-loving plants are starting to move to higher and
molecules. The earth is about 60 degrees Fahrenheitcooler altitudes. That is a possible response to
warmer than it would be if it didn't have thoseincreasing temperatures. The global effects of the
atmospheric gases surrounding it. They keep the earthgreenhouse effect cannot be directly predicted simply
warm and protected from excess UV (Ultra Violet)because we do not have enough knowledge in the
rays from the sun. Once warmed, their molecules thensubject. However, we have been able to draw direct
radiate a portion of this heat energy back to earth,connections between certain natural phenomenon that
creating more warming on the surface of our planet. Itsupports the idea that something is changing. Global
is this radiation which causes atmospheric gases towarming has great effect on crops and weather
move back to earth that scientists call theconditions around the world. The northern hemisphere
"greenhouse effect". Much debate in the last fivecontains more land area than the southern hemisphere,
years about the greenhouse effect has centered onand conversely, a lower percentage of the world's
interpreting temperature numbers generated atoceans. Since oceans absorb more heat than land
weather stations all over the world. The data fromareas, it is not surprising that most climate models
these thermometers are averaged and plotted inpredict faster heating over the northern hemisphere
attempts to determine just how fast the earth hasthan the global average. In addition, models predict
heated up since the measurements began. There isfaster temperature increases at higher latitudes. If
now no doubt the world is getting warmer. Theglobal warming trends continue, high temperatures
thermometers show that the world is warmer noweverywhere in the US may reduce US agricultural
than at any time since the measurements started. Theproductivity. Northern continental areas are projected
year 1990 was the hottest year in the last century.to have drier summer soils, due in part to earlier snow
Together with 1991, the years of 1983, 1987, 1988, andmelts in the spring, and hotter, more cloudless
1989, have been measured to be the warmest 6summers, causing extensive evaporation of ground
years in the last hundred years. 1991 was the secondmoisture. In addition, if the inland areas of the northern
warmest year of the past century, perhaps due to thehemisphere are expected to receive less moisture,
eruption of Mt. Pinatubo during that year. The ash fromthen, lake and river levels will be lower. Some reports
the volcano in the upper atmosphere blocks somepredict the level of the Great Lakes will drop between
sunlight to earth, and is expected to generate a2 and 8 feet. River flows in the western US may be
temporary two or three year cooling effect. After thatvery vulnerable to increase temperatures expected as
time, most ash particles will have settled back to earth,result of the greenhouse effect.
and most scientists expect to see the global warming