An Overview of the Effects of Global Warming

It is important to understand the significance thatcontinue.
global warming has on not only our earth, but ourAccording to scientists, we can with "99%
daily lives as well. It's also important to understandconfidence conclude that current temperatures
the effects of global warming that our childrenrepresent a real warming trend rather than a
and grandchildren will experience in the years tochance fluctuation over the 30-year period." Most
come if things continue the way they are now.scientists agree that the planet's temperature has
First, it's important to understand that "Globalrisen 0.5 degrees Celsius since 1900, and will
Warming" is also known as the "Greenhousecontinue to increase at an increasing rate. The
effect". Instead of a plastic or glass shield, theenvironment is responding to this warming. For
earth has around it a series of atmospheric gasesinstance, a study of mountain plants in the Alps
consisting mostly of nitrogen and oxygen(Europe), shows that some cold-loving plants are
molecules. The earth is about 60 degreesstarting to move to higher and cooler altitudes.
Fahrenheit warmer than it would be if it didn'tThat is a possible response to increasing
have those atmospheric gases surrounding it.temperatures.
They keep the earth warm and protected fromThe global effects of the greenhouse effect
excess UV (Ultra Violet) rays from the sun. Oncecannot be directly predicted simply because we
warmed, their molecules then radiate a portion ofdo not have enough knowledge in the subject.
this heat energy back to earth, creating moreHowever, we have been able to draw direct
warming on the surface of our planet. It is thisconnections between certain natural phenomenon
radiation which causes atmospheric gases tothat supports the idea that something is changing.
move back to earth that scientists call theGlobal warming has great effect on crops and
"greenhouse effect".weather conditions around the world. The
Much debate in the last five years about thenorthern hemisphere contains more land area than
greenhouse effect has centered on interpretingthe southern hemisphere, and conversely, a lower
temperature numbers generated at weatherpercentage of the world's oceans. Since oceans
stations all over the world. The data from theseabsorb more heat than land areas, it is not
thermometers are averaged and plotted insurprising that most climate models predict faster
attempts to determine just how fast the earthheating over the northern hemisphere than the
has heated up since the measurements began.global average. In addition, models predict faster
There is now no doubt the world is gettingtemperature increases at higher latitudes. If global
warmer. The thermometers show that the worldwarming trends continue, high temperatures
is warmer now than at any time since theeverywhere in the US may reduce US agricultural
measurements started. The year 1990 was theproductivity.
hottest year in the last century. Together withNorthern continental areas are projected to have
1991, the years of 1983, 1987, 1988, and 1989,drier summer soils, due in part to earlier snow
have been measured to be the warmest 6 yearsmelts in the spring, and hotter, more cloudless
in the last hundred years. 1991 was the secondsummers, causing extensive evaporation of
warmest year of the past century, perhaps dueground moisture. In addition, if the inland areas of
to the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo during that year.the northern hemisphere are expected to receive
The ash from the volcano in the upperless moisture, then, lake and river levels will be
atmosphere blocks some sunlight to earth, and islower. Some reports predict the level of the
expected to generate a temporary two or threeGreat Lakes will drop between 2 and 8 feet. River
year cooling effect. After that time, most ashflows in the western US may be very vulnerable
particles will have settled back to earth, and mostto increase temperatures expected as result of
scientists expect to see the global warming trendthe greenhouse effect.