| Highly increase in the average temperature of the | | | | Kansas, and floods caused hundreds of millions of |
| Earth's near-surface air and oceans in recent | | | | dollars in damage in Texas, Montana and North |
| decades and its projected continuation is called | | | | Dakota. Since the early 1950s, snow accumulation |
| Global Warming. | | | | has declined 60 percent and winter seasons have |
| Global warming is a phenomenon that has been | | | | shortened in some areas of the Cascade Range in |
| discussed widely nowadays and global warming | | | | Oregon and Washington. |
| causes are one of the most studied subjects | | | | Of course, the impacts of global warming are not |
| presently in the world. Through out the world | | | | limited to the United States. In 2003, extreme |
| many governments, institutes and universities are | | | | heat waves caused more than 20,000 deaths in |
| trying to find out what are the causes for global | | | | Europe and more than 1,500 deaths in India. And |
| warming. As the effects of global warming is | | | | in what scientists regard as an alarming sign of |
| becoming more and more evident, many of us | | | | events to come, the area of the Arctic's perennial |
| have started to realize that steps have to be | | | | polar ice cap is declining at the rate of 9 percent |
| taken to control Global warming at the earliest | | | | per decade. |
| and various countries and people have started | | | | Is global warming making hurricanes worse? |
| working towards it. For this we know exactly | | | | Global warming doesn't create hurricanes, but it |
| what is global warming, causes of global warming | | | | does make them stronger and more dangerous. |
| and effects of global warming. | | | | Because the ocean is getting warmer, tropical |
| What causes global warming? | | | | storms can pick up more energy and become |
| Carbon dioxide and other air pollution that is | | | | more powerful. So global warming could turn, say, |
| collecting in the atmosphere like a thickening | | | | a category 3 storm into a much more dangerous |
| blanket, trapping the sun's heat and causing the | | | | category 4 storm. In fact, scientists have found |
| planet to warm up. Coal-burning power plants are | | | | that the destructive potential of hurricanes has |
| the largest U.S. source of carbon dioxide pollution | | | | greatly increased along with ocean temperature |
| -- they produce 2.5 billion tons every year. | | | | over the past 35 years. |
| Automobiles, the second largest source, create | | | | What can I do to help fight global warming? |
| nearly 1.5 billion tons of CO2 annually. | | | | There are many simple steps you can take right |
| Here's the good news: technologies exist today to | | | | now to cut global warming pollution. Make |
| make cars that run cleaner and burn less gas, | | | | conserving energy a part of your daily routine. |
| modernize power plants and generate electricity | | | | Each time you choose a compact fluorescent light |
| from nonpolluting sources, and cut our electricity | | | | bulb over an incandescent bulb, for example, you'll |
| use through energy efficiency. The challenge is to | | | | lower your energy bill and keep nearly 700 pounds |
| be sure these solutions are put to use. | | | | of carbon dioxide out of the air over the bulb's |
| Are warmer temperatures causing bad things to | | | | lifetime. By opting for a refrigerator with the |
| happen? | | | | Energy Star label -- indicating it uses at least 15 |
| Global warming is already causing damage in many | | | | percent less energy than the federal requirement |
| parts of the United States. In 2002, Colorado, | | | | -- over a less energy-efficient model, you can |
| Arizona and Oregon endured their worst wildfire | | | | reduce carbon dioxide pollution by nearly a ton in |
| seasons ever. The same year, drought created | | | | total. Join NRDC in our campaign against global |
| severe dust storms in Montana, Colorado and | | | | warming. |