| Global warming is not a 20th century phenomenon. It | | | | efficiently and thus warming the Earth's atmosphere. |
| has, in fact, occurred in the past more than once, along | | | | As the Earth's average temperature rises, effects in |
| with periods of extreme cold known as the ice ages. | | | | its landmasses and sea water level become apparent. |
| With so much written and reported about global | | | | Polar ice caps melt along with glaciers, contributing to |
| warming, sometimes it's difficult to detect which is fact | | | | higher and warmer sea levels. By the end of the |
| and which is just part of scientific scare tactics. Here | | | | century, it is estimated that sea levels can increase |
| are some facts about global warming that might help: | | | | from 4 inches to a high of about 40 inches if global |
| What exactly is global warming? | | | | warming continues unabated. |
| Global warming is basically the increase in the | | | | Global warming can also affect the behavior of the |
| temperatures of the Earth's atmosphere, land masses | | | | winds and can also contribute to a harsher and drier |
| and oceans. The Earth's surface temperature is at an | | | | climate, with frequent visitings of strong hurricanes. |
| average of 59F and over the last hundred years, this | | | | Water from heavier rainfall will not stay long to irrigate |
| figure has risen to about 1F. By the year 2100, the | | | | the land, however because with a warmer climate, |
| average change in the temperature of the Earth could | | | | water on the Earth's surface will evaporate quickly. |
| range from 2.5F to about 10F, enough to melt glaciers | | | | This has a significant effect on agricultural practices |
| and polar ice caps. | | | | not only in the US but also for the rest of the world. |
| The cause of global warming | | | | Another phenomenon that is equated with global |
| Global warming has and will always occur naturally. | | | | warming is the El Nino. The El Nino phenomenon has |
| Why it has become such a concern in our lifetime is | | | | occurred for possibly thousands of years and is not |
| due to the fact that human activities and practices | | | | caused directly by global warming. However, changes |
| have contributed significantly to its occurrence and | | | | in the average temperature of the planet can |
| severity. With the advent of industrialization and | | | | contribute to its severity and frequency. |
| careless environmental practices, we have caused the | | | | Other human practices that contribute to global |
| increase in the average global temperatures by | | | | warming |
| contributing negatively to the greenhouse effect. | | | | The agricultural revolution has also contributed to global |
| This began about 240 years ago, when the Industrial | | | | warming. As more and more communities need lands |
| Revolution was born. As more and more fossil fuels in | | | | converted from forests to residential and commercial |
| the form of oil were mined and burned, gases as the | | | | areas, biomass is reduced, contributing to the increase |
| by-product of that process began to be released in | | | | in the presence of carbon dioxide in those regions. |
| the atmosphere. Currently, it is estimated that 75% of | | | | Since carbon dioxide is processed by plants and trees, |
| the increase in the carbon dioxide content of the | | | | their absence contributes to its increase. |
| Earth's atmosphere is caused by the burning of these | | | | It is estimated that about 25% of the annual increase in |
| fossil fuels. | | | | the carbon dioxide found in the Earth's atmosphere is |
| Global warming and the greenhouse effect | | | | caused by extreme changes and usage of the Earth's |
| Global warming is related to changes in the Earth's | | | | natural resources. Other practices also include |
| greenhouse effect. Gases naturally occur in the Earth's | | | | deforestation, salinization, desertification and |
| atmosphere and act both to protect and retain heat. | | | | overgrazing also contribute to global warming. |
| These gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous | | | | However, many scientists surmise and agree that the |
| oxide and water vapor. Of these, water vapor is the | | | | contribution is slight and indirect. |
| most dominant and abundant greenhouse gas. | | | | Facing the facts of global warming |
| Global warming and the greenhouse effect are not the | | | | Countries all over the world have just begun to |
| same thing. The greenhouse effect refers to a natural | | | | acknowledge the negative effects of global warming |
| process that occurs in the Earth's atmosphere. If this | | | | not only to the world's politics and economy but also to |
| process is disrupted, then it could contribute to global | | | | humankind in general. Many of the world's |
| warming. | | | | governments have encouraged implementation of |
| As the sun's rays hit the Earth, heat is bounced back | | | | measures to try to counteract the problem of global |
| to the atmosphere where these gases contain the | | | | warming through careful measures and practices |
| heat and keep it there to warm the planet. This is an | | | | designed to protect and respect the environment. |
| important natural process and allows life forms to | | | | How these measures will fare and contribute to the |
| flourish and survive. Problems only occur when these | | | | long-term maintenance of our planet, though, remains |
| gases multiply and build-up, containing heat too | | | | to be seen. |