| Global warming refers to the untoward rise of | | | | ultraviolet rays from the sun. With the advent of |
| temperature near the earth's surface due in | | | | industries, particularly the indiscriminate use of |
| effect to the accumulation of greenhouse gases. | | | | fossil fuels; chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons |
| This phenomenon was observed as early as the | | | | (CFC for air-conditioners, aerosol propellants, etc.); |
| 18th to mid 19th century in view of the rapid | | | | grass fires during the dry season; oil-field fires |
| industrialization in developed countries. This | | | | during the Iraq war in the 90's; rapid |
| activity, which employed heavy machinery and | | | | deforestations from Asia to South America or |
| compounded by the use of fossil fuels all | | | | even methane derived from rice fields in |
| contributed to the massive build-up of the | | | | Southeast Asia are all instrumental to the increase |
| atmosphere's greenhouse gases. In an ideal setting | | | | of greenhouse gases. This scenario will raise global |
| (just before the industrial revolution) short wave | | | | temperature from 1.44 to 6.3 degrees Fahrenheit |
| light from the sun enters thru the thermal blanket | | | | by year 2100, as reported by the World's |
| (greenhouse gases) which is a compound of | | | | Inter-government Panel on Climate Change. Some |
| water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous | | | | concerted global effort will have to be initiated in |
| oxide and ozone. The short wave light is reflected | | | | order to avert the ill effects of global warming or |
| by the earth as infrared radiation back to the | | | | Mother Earth will experience a continued rise in |
| atmosphere; but only a fraction is retained by the | | | | temperature thereby causing the polar ice caps to |
| thermal blanket and is returned to the surface to | | | | melt; sea water to rise considerably inundating the |
| sustain an environment where plants can grow, | | | | lowland worldwide and erasing some of the |
| man and beast can live and tame our climatic | | | | habitable islands. This could lead to the extinction |
| patterns. Because of man's neglect, the | | | | of species due to the loss of natural habitats and |
| accumulation of greenhouse gases eventually | | | | the erratic climatic behavior. In fact polar ice cap |
| reached irreversible proportions to damage the | | | | melting has already begun; 30 years ahead of the |
| ozone layer, the earth's shield against harmful | | | | projections made by experts in the field. |