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