Global warming vs global dimming

The first 200 words of this essay...

Global Warming vs. Global dimming

Global warming is the rise in temperature of the earth's atmosphere. Global dimming is the gradual reduction in the amount of hemispherical irradiance (solar energy) at the earth's surface. Is global warming still a major threat or does global dimming balance it out? Global warming has been a large issue in the media lately; many have just began to understand what it is and what its effects are. Global warming is caused by the Greenhouse effect, which is how, gases such as Carbon dioxide, Methane and a few other gases known as Greenhouse gases, prevent an essential amount of heat energy escaping from the earths atmosphere. This effect is what makes our planet suitable for life; therefore from this point of view Global warming seems like its good and beneficial.

Diagram (1)

However, the levels of greenhouse gases are slowly increasing and this is of great concern as this causes the overall temperature of earth to rise (global warming). Just a few degrees celcius rise in the temperature can lead to: significant climate changes and a rise in the sea level. The levels of greenhouse gases are rising because of