Until the Iron Industrial Revolution and the world population expanded, the amount of Carbon Dioxide in the air atmosphere stayed the same. During the last 200 years the amount of Carbon Dioxide has increased and is still increasing.
Energy from the sun drives the earth’s weather and climate, and heats the earth’s surface. Atmospheric greenhouse gases like water vapour, carbon dioxide, and other gases trap some of the outgoing energy, retaining heat somewhat like the glass panels of a greenhouse.
Without this natural “greenhouse effect,” temperatures would be much lower than they are now, and life as known today would not be possible. Instead, thanks to greenhouse gases, the earth’s average temperature is a more than 60°F. However; problems may arise when of greenhouse gases increases.
Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have increased nearly 30%, methane has more than doubled, and nitrous oxide concentrations have risen by about 15%
Why are greenhouse gas concentrations increasing? Scientists generally believe that the combustion of fossil fuels and other human activities are the primary reason for the increased concentration of carbon dioxide
Transportation
Virtually all-human activities have an impact on our environment, and transportation is no exception. While transportation is crucial to our economy and our personal lives, the environmental impacts of transportation are equally significant and wide-ranging.
Transportation specifically contributes to global warming through the burning of gasoline and diesel fuel. Any process that burns fossil fuel releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the air.
Changing Climate
Global means surface temperatures have increased 0.5-1.0°F since the late 19th century. The 20th century's 10 warmest years all occurred in the last 15 years of the century. Of these, 1998 was the warmest year on record. The snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere and floating ice in the Arctic Ocean has decreased. Globally, sea level has risen 4-8 inches over the past century.
Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases are likely to accelerate the rate of climate change. Scientists expect that the average global surface temperature could rise 1-4.5°F in the next fifty years and 2.2-10°F in the next century.
Impacts
Rising global temperatures are expected to raise sea level, and change precipitation and other local climate conditions. Changing regional climate could alter forests, crop yields, and water supplies. It could also affect human health, animals, and many types of ecosystems. Deserts may expand into existing rangelands, and features of some of our National Parks may be permanently altered.
Actions
Today, action is occurring at every level to reduce Carbon Dioxide, to avoid, and to better understand the risks associated with climate change. Many cities and states across the country have prepared greenhouse gas inventories; and many are actively pursuing programs and policies that will result in greenhouse gas emission reductions.
Waist
Everyone knows that reducing waste is good for the environment. What most don’t know is that solid waste reduction and recycling help stop global climate change. How? By decreasing the amount of heat trapping greenhouse gases that are linked to everyday trash.
The manufacture, distribution, and use of products – as well as management of the resulting waste – all result in greenhouse gas emissions. Waste prevention and recycling reduce greenhouse gases associated with these activities by reducing methane emissions, saving energy, and increasing forest carbon sequestration.
What will Global Warming do to the…
Clouds
Clouds can affect climate in two ways: Low clouds tend to reflect sunlight and have a cooling effect. High clouds tend to trap heat and have a warming effect.
Droughts
Climate models predict that summer droughts might result from more evaporation and shifting rainfall patterns. In some areas of the world global warming could also cause snow and ice to melt early, reducing summer water supplies
Sea Level Rising
Global warming is expected to cause sea level rise and many miles of low lying coastal land could be lost to flooding.
Heavy Rains
Global warming may lead to more frequent periods of intense rain in some areas. In the United States, the frequency of heavy rains has already begun to increase.
Sea Ice
The white surface of sea ice reflects sunlight and cools the earth. As sea ice melts with global warming, the ice-free ocean could absorb sunlight, warming Earth even more.
Heat Waves
Climate models predict that global warming will cause more heat waves. The number of extremely hot days each year in temperate regions could double over the next century.
What has happened?
Levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere have increased by 30% over the last century. Extreme changes in weather have become more common than ever. Some areas of the world have already become as much as 5 degrees warmer. Most scientists believe that global warming may be the cause of increased infectious diseases, skin cancer and heat related deaths.
Global warming and the ozone layer are separate but related threats. Global warming and the greenhouse effect refer to the warming of the lower part of the atmosphere due to increasing concentrations of heat-trapping gases. By contrast, the ozone hole refers to the loss of ozone in the upper part of the atmosphere, the stratosphere. This is of serious concern because stratospheric ozone blocks incoming ultraviolet radiation from the sun, some of which is harmful to plants, animals and humans.
Global Warming of the Earth
By George Murray (c)
