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