| It is important to understand the significance that | | | | confidence conclude that current temperatures |
| global warming has on not only our earth, but our | | | | represent a real warming trend rather than a |
| daily lives as well. It's also important to understand | | | | chance fluctuation over the 30-year period." Most |
| the effects of global warming that our children | | | | scientists agree that the planet's temperature has |
| and grandchildren will experience in the years to | | | | risen 0.5 degrees Celsius since 1900, and will |
| come if things continue the way they are now. | | | | continue to increase at an increasing rate. The |
| First, it's important to understand that ?Global | | | | environment is responding to this warming. For |
| Warming? is also known as the ?Greenhouse | | | | instance, a study of mountain plants in the Alps |
| effect?. Instead of a plastic or glass shield, the | | | | (Europe), shows that some cold-loving plants are |
| earth has around it a series of atmospheric gases | | | | starting to move to higher and cooler altitudes. |
| consisting mostly of nitrogen and oxygen | | | | That is a possible response to increasing |
| molecules. The earth is about 60 degrees | | | | temperatures. |
| Fahrenheit warmer than it would be if it didn't | | | | The global effects of the greenhouse effect |
| have those atmospheric gases surrounding it. | | | | cannot be directly predicted simply because we |
| They keep the earth warm and protected from | | | | do not have enough knowledge in the subject. |
| excess UV (Ultra Violet) rays from the sun. Once | | | | However, we have been able to draw direct |
| warmed, their molecules then radiate a portion of | | | | connections between certain natural phenomenon |
| this heat energy back to earth, creating more | | | | that supports the idea that something is changing. |
| warming on the surface of our planet. It is this | | | | Global warming has great effect on crops and |
| radiation which causes atmospheric gases to | | | | weather conditions around the world. The |
| move back to earth that scientists call the | | | | northern hemisphere contains more land area than |
| "greenhouse effect". | | | | the southern hemisphere, and conversely, a lower |
| Much debate in the last five years about the | | | | percentage of the world's oceans. Since oceans |
| greenhouse effect has centered on interpreting | | | | absorb more heat than land areas, it is not |
| temperature numbers generated at weather | | | | surprising that most climate models predict faster |
| stations all over the world. The data from these | | | | heating over the northern hemisphere than the |
| thermometers are averaged and plotted in | | | | global average. In addition, models predict faster |
| attempts to determine just how fast the earth | | | | temperature increases at higher latitudes. If global |
| has heated up since the measurements began. | | | | warming trends continue, high temperatures |
| There is now no doubt the world is getting | | | | everywhere in the US may reduce US agricultural |
| warmer. The thermometers show that the world | | | | productivity. |
| is warmer now than at any time since the | | | | Northern continental areas are projected to have |
| measurements started. The year 1990 was the | | | | drier summer soils, due in part to earlier snow |
| hottest year in the last century. Together with | | | | melts in the spring, and hotter, more cloudless |
| 1991, the years of 1983, 1987, 1988, and 1989, | | | | summers, causing extensive evaporation of |
| have been measured to be the warmest 6 years | | | | ground moisture. In addition, if the inland areas of |
| in the last hundred years. 1991 was the second | | | | the northern hemisphere are expected to receive |
| warmest year of the past century, perhaps due | | | | less moisture, then, lake and river levels will be |
| to the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo during that year. | | | | lower. Some reports predict the level of the |
| The ash from the volcano in the upper | | | | Great Lakes will drop between 2 and 8 feet. River |
| atmosphere blocks some sunlight to earth, and is | | | | flows in the western US may be very vulnerable |
| expected to generate a temporary two or three | | | | to increase temperatures expected as result of |
| year cooling effect. After that time, most ash | | | | the greenhouse effect. |
| particles will have settled back to earth, and most | | | | Scott Byers is the owner of Global Warming Info, |
| scientists expect to see the global warming trend | | | | a complete global warming resource with articles |
| continue. | | | | on global warming that you need to read. |
| According to scientists, we can with "99% | | | | |