What is global warming?Global warming is the increase in the average Earth's temperature. This phenomenon

dates from mid-twentieth century and has since then showed trend of constant increase.

Despite this there are still many people that believe how global warming phenomenon is

nothing more than some scary myth invented by environmentalists and ecologists.

During the last 100 years Earth's temperature increased by about 0,8 °C due to the

higher concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere such as CO2 (carbon

dioxide). Different climate model projections predict how average global surface

temperature will likely rise a further 1.2 to 6.5 °C(2.0 to 11.5 °F) in the next 100 years if

current trend continues.

Global warming has many negative side effects: warmer temperatures will cause sea

level to rise, and this will increase intensity of extreme weather events known as climate

change. Climate and weather will become totally unpredictable which will have

tremendous effect on not only ecology, but also on economy. There are other problems

such as endangered species and the possible range of new diseases that will be caused

because of climate change. These changes will not effect all corners of Earth equally

and the most vulnerable areas will be around North and South Pole and Africa, due to

their extreme sensibility to increased temperatures.

Global warming is direct result of human activity as because of the excessive fossil fuels

use high amounts of greenhouse gases (most notably carbon dioxide) are being

released to atmosphere every day since the start of industrial era. Fossil fuel combustion

has produced about three-quarters of the increase in CO2 from human activity over the

past 20 years and future CO2 levels are expected to rise further due to ongoing burning

of fossil fuels.

Many people are still unaware that global warming is already happening and the first

signs of possible future disaster are already there: heat waves and unusually hot

weather, sea levels rising, flooding of coastal waters, glaciers melting on Arctic and

Antarctica, extinction of many species while many other are being listed as endangered,

downpours, heavy snowfalls, and flooding as well as droughts and fires, diseases

spreading, etc. And this is only a start of something that will only increase its horrible

impact if we don't do something about it. But can something be done to stop global

warming?

This is very difficult question but there are some answers - we need to cut down our

dependence on fossil fuels and turn to renewable energy sector, and we have to make

this change as soon as possible. Current levels of CO2 in atmosphere are way to big

and if we continue our current energy trend we'll only make already bad situation even

worse. Though there are same positive movements towards renewable energy sector

this is still negligible compared to fossil fuels and bigger change aren't expected in next

20 years or so. And time is very relevant factor in fight against global warming so 20 or

more years could be case of "too little too late". It is also important to prevent excessive

deforestation of our forests, especially tropical rainforests (Amazon rainforest) because

they store and absorb carbon dioxide from the air, and release fresh, and clean oxygen,

keeping planet as cool and possible.

Posted by Ned Haluzan ,   0 comments

Labels: global warming

http://climatechangearticles.blogspot.com/2008/04/what-is-global-warming.html

What Causes Global Warming?

Global Warming is a major issue due to the industrialization and progress by humankind

since the past few years. There has been a hue and cry about Global Warming ever

since the idea was first put forward. There are many articles on Global Warming on the

internet as well print media which give further details about the causes of Global

Warming. Here is some further information on global warming.

Global warming has been and is being caused due to a various number of factors.

Global warming is basically a change in the climatic conditions of the earth. These

climatic conditions vary due to various reason, external and internal. Changes to climatic

conditions and therefore Global Warming can be caused to to natural or man-made

circumstances also. Some of the factors causing global warming are volcanic emissions

and solar activity. 

According to the solar variation theory,the sun has been gaining strength and is at it's

strongest since a sixty years. Therefore, it may now be acting as a cause of global

warming. Sunspots are also said to be a cause or catalyst for Global Warming. Recent

reports suggest that the number of sunspots in an area directly affects the amount of

time the nearby earth takes to cool. The sun is the main source of energy to the earth.

The earth absorbs about seventy percent of the earth's solar flux. This solar flux

increases the temperature of the earth's atmosphere, land and oceans. 

Orbital forcing is also said to be one of the natural causes of Global Warming. The

reports show the effect of the slow tilting of the earth's axis on the climate of the

earth.The greenhouse effect is said to be the most important factor regarding global

warming. When infrared radiation from the atmosphere increases the temperature of the

earth's surface, it is termed as the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect has

increased the earth's temperature by about twenty four percent. 

Carbon dioxide contributes about twelve percent of the greenhouse effect, while water

vapor contributes thirty six percent of the greenhouse effect. Methane causes five to ten

percent of Global Warming, while Ozone makes around three to seven percent of the

greenhouse effect possible. 

Solar variation is said to be another reason of Global Warming. The changes in the

amount of radiant energy emitted by the Sun are known as solar variation. This solar

variation has been correlated with the changes in the Earth's climate and temperature. 

Along with the natural causes of Global Warming, scientists have also contributed rapid

industrialization to the increase of Global Warming today.Humans had first affected

global warming some eight thousand years ago, with the start of agriculture. Due to the

clearing of the forests for agriculture, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

increased drastically. 

Scientists are of the opinion that industrialization releases various gases like carbon-

dioxide and methane which are known to contribute to Global Warming. Deforestation is

also said to increase global warming. Trees contain a high level of carbon, and therefore

their cutting creates an increase of carbon in the atmosphere. Humankind also

contributes to the increase of carbon dioxide by the burning of fossil fuels. The

contribution of humankind to global warming due to the burning of fossil fuels has

increased by about eighty percent in the past twenty years. 

If the greenhouse effect didn't exist, the temperature of the earth would be around

twenty seven Celsius less. Some scientists are of the opinion that human life would be

impossible on planet earth if the temperature would be so less.

By Roy D'Silva 2000

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-causes-global-warming.html

Effects Of Global Warming - Affecting EveryoneThe effects of global warming are many and are interrelated. Global warming affects the

environment and therefore human health also. After all, although it seems this truth has

been largely forgotten, people doform a part of nature.

Effects of global warming – Summary

There is no doubt that the effects of global warming are felt in many ways now and this

will worsen. Effects are, and will, be increasingly noticeable in these areas

Extreme weather

Rising oceans

Food and water resources

Human health

Economic

War and conflicts and

Further global warming

Today’s average surface temperature is up by about 0.5C since 1890. It is expected that

global mean temperature will increase by between 1.4 and 5.8°C, or 2.5 to 10°F.

Of course it is difficult to link global warming with specific events. But we do know such

events have increased while carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and temperatures have risen

at the same time.

For example, between 1950 and 1959 there were 20 great natural disasters worldwide.

Between 1990 and 1989, 89 were counted - wildfires, cyclones, flooding, drought and

mudslides among them.

There are many, many factors that combine in their effects of global warming, and many

of them are not predictable with certainty. Here are some that most scientists think are

now happening or are likely to happen

Effects of global warming – weather

More extreme weather is already occurring. Cyclones have gained in strength since

1970. Rainfall associated with such weather has increased by 7% in the USA for

example.

Heavily populated, low-lying coastal areas in cyclone-prone areas are particularly

vulnerable. "Hurricane Katrina" which hit New Orleans was a case in point. Cyclone

Nargis in Burma is another among demonstrations of the devastating nature of some

effects of global warming. Also a case in point in who would suffer first and most from

climate change: the poor, elderly and disabled.

Up till 2004 hurricanes were strictly a North-Atlantic affair. Until Hurricane Catarina

struck Brazil that year from the South Atlantic.

Already, in some African countries droughts and floods occur more frequently, and

outside of previously known cycles. Higher evaporation rates will cause more rainfall in

some areas, causing soil erosion and desertification of areas. In the future, Africa, the

poorest continent, will be particularly hard hit by droughts and floods while having few

resources to combat these.

Transport will be affected by cracking road surfaces, rupturing pipelines, railway lines

and runways. Melting permafrost presents risks of road and railtrack subsidence. The

new Beijing – Tibet railway across the Himalayas was built to account of this.

Permafrost in Alaska, Russia and Canada is already melting. Billions of tonnes of

methane gasses, now locked in huge frozen peat bogs in Siberia will be released in this

thaw.

Imagine if you can, the size of this frozen peatbog. It is the size of France and Germany

combined!

Can you? No, it’s hard isn’t it.

And methane gas is a 22 times more potent, if shorter-lived, greenhouse gas than is

CO2.

Effects of global warming - oceans

Between 1880 and 2000 a 20cm rise in ocean levels has been recorded – now occurring

at 0.2mm per year. This is due to ocean water expansion through its warming and water

from melting glaciers and polar ice. However only land-based polar ice can be blamed

for this as floating ice takes up the same volume as melted water.

Oceans have absorbed about half the human-made CO2 emissions since 1800. A

higher CO2 content makes the oceans more acid. This has adverse effects on coral, fish

and plankton.

Warmer ocean water and volumes of fresh water from melting glaciers could disrupt the

Gulfstream which influences Northern European weather. A cooling effect could occur.

Rising oceans could swallow low-lying islands and coastal areas. My homeland, the

Netherlands is such a vulnerable country as much of it lies below sea level. But the

Dutch have plans, including for floating cities.

Effects of global warming - ecosystems

All ecosystems are affected by global warming.

The UN Environment Program predicts that by 2075 few locally endemic species will

survive. Twenty five percent of the Earth’s mammals and 12% of bird species will be

extinct within the next 30 years.

In a Triffid-like appearance, grass has established itself on Antarctica for the first time in

millions of years. Polar bears are stressed through loss of habitat. Many species are

steadily moving their ranges towards higher northern and southern latitudes, including

butterflies, frogs, and birds. They breed earlier and plants flower earlier in the season.

Aha! So that’s what’s happening with my fruit trees!

Yep, could well be.

The IPCC's summary of part of its 2007 report (p.5) states that "eleven of the last twelve

years (1995 -2006) rank among the 12 warmest years in the instrumental record of

global surface temperature (since 1850)."

And

"The linear warming trend over the last 50 years (0.13 [0.10 to 0.16]°C per decade) is

nearly twice that for the last 100 years." Look into the future NOW here...

Effects of global warming - polar ice and glaciers

Since 1900 global glacier surface area has decreased by half and glacial retreat is

occurring on every continent.

The effects include landslides, glacial lake overflow and flash floods as regular, seasonal

patterns of snowfall and some melting are destroyed.

Less glacier meltwater in summer means the drying up of rivers and streams, needed for

drinking water, irrigation and many other processes. Just imagine the effects from an

accelerated melting of Himalayan glaciers. The Ganges and other major rivers are the

lifeblood for the huge populations of India, China and other parts of Asia.

After the initial floods there will be no more meltwater...

What then?

The icesheets of Greenland and the West Antarctic are also melting at rapid rates. Since

99% of ice resides in polar regions, these huge amounts of fresh water will have

noticeable impacts, contributing to rising ocean levels and disruption of the Gulfstream

mechanism. Fisheries will be affected, including of wild salmon, trout and ocean fish, as

many rely on the cold water for breeding and food.

Effects of global warming - water availability

Reduced rainfall, droughts, and vanishing glaciers will severely reduce the availability of

drinking water.

Of course there are hi-tech band-aides, desalination being one. You may be interested

in reading about one approach that conjures water from air. Through condensation or by

using salt! Yes indeed...

Effects of global warming - human health

Human health will suffer as a result of climate change. The 2003 European heat wave

killed some 30,000 people. But warmer winters may reduce deaths from cold weather.

Some infectious, vector-borne diseases will spread as malaria already has. There are

many other health effects too including effects of food shortages.

Effects of global warming - further global warming

Melting glaciers and permafrost may be at a stage where there is no turning back. As

they contribute their fresh water to the oceans and as methane gas is released these

events will further accelerate global warming. This is called the positive feedback effect.

It is a scenario climate scientists have feared since first identifying "tipping points" -

delicate thresholds where a slight rise in the Earth's temperature can cause a dramatic

change in the environment that itself triggers a far greater increase in global

temperatures.

Huge deposits of methane are trapped in ice crystals under the oceans. If these would

be released the atmosphere would experience sudden and significant further warming.

Effects of global warming – war and conflict

Dwindling resources will increase competition between nations in order to survive.

The US Pentagon, not known for its Green credentials, warned of global conflict in a

leaked secret report, in 2004. It predicts nuclear war and conflicts over water, energy

and food resources on a scale that eclipses its concerns over international terrorism. If

that’s the most conservative assessment we’re in real trouble…

Mass migration of environmental refugees, up to 150 million of them by 2050, will also

increase risks of violent conflicts.

Obviously among alternate energy sources that of our genuine care and goodwill

towards others and our environments is crucial.

Effects of global warming - economic effects

The insurance industry is already facing increased costs from global warming. By 1992

this industry knew that since 1960 economic losses from disasters worldwide had grown

three-fold and insured losses four-fold. One study suggests that of these about 35–40%

are related to climate change. In 2001 the UN estimated the cost of increased disasters

due to global warming at more than US$300 Billion per year by 2050.

You can keep an eye on some of the many effects here yourself as they occur and you

can also locate harbingers and local effects of global warming.

Effects of global warming include a wide range, not all strictly bad in themselves. There

will be economic opportunities among the losses. Both are hard to quantify.

And part of estimating economic costs depends on what is regarded to have a monetary

value, and how much. For example, can we cost extinct species, and loss of human life

as easily as we can cost land and agricultural crop losses?

Of course the alternate energy sector is already booming in terms of activity and

investment. But so is oil, being more deserving of its "black gold" tag as it defies

traditional economic wisdom that price determines demand. Oil demand is still growing

including its environmental cost.

Perhaps oil running out is a far greater economic threat than global warming is in itself,

but that’s another story.

As northern permafrost melts it may be possible to open shipping lanes thus far blocked

between Europe and Asia. This would shorten the existing trade route by 9000km and

this may present economic opportunities.

Erik Leipoldt2006

http://www.alternate-energy-sources.com/effects-of-global-warming.html

Top 10 Things You Can Do to Reduce Global WarmingBy Larry West, About.com Guide

You can help to reduce the demand for fossil fuels, which in turn reduces global

warming, by using energy more wisely. Here are 10 simple actions you can take to help

reduce global warming.

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Do your part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables.

Buying products with minimal packaging (including the economy size when that makes

sense for you) will help to reduce waste. And whenever you can, recycle paper, plastic,

newspaper, glass and aluminum cans. If there isn't a recycling program at your

workplace, school, or in your community, ask about starting one. By recycling half of

your household waste, you can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

2. Use Less Heat and Air Conditioning

Adding insulation to your walls and attic, and installing weather stripping or caulking

around doors and windows can lower your heating costs more than 25 percent, by

reducing the amount of energy you need to heat and cool your home.

Turn down the heat while you're sleeping at night or away during the day, and keep

temperatures moderate at all times. Setting your thermostat just 2 degrees lower in

winter and higher in summer could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each

year.

3. Change a Light Bulb

Wherever practical, replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL)

bulbs. Replacing just one 60-watt incandescent light bulb with a CFL will save you $30

over the life of the bulb. CFLs also last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, use

two-thirds less energy, and give off 70 percent less heat.

If every U.S. family replaced one regular light bulb with a CFL, it would eliminate 90

billion pounds of greenhouse gases, the same as taking 7.5 million cars off the road.

4. Drive Less and Drive Smart

Less driving means fewer emissions. Besides saving gasoline, walking and biking are

great forms of exercise. Explore your community mass transit system, and check out

options for carpooling to work or school.

When you do drive, make sure your car is running efficiently. For example, keeping

yourtires properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent. Every

gallon of gas you save not only helps your budget, it also keeps 20 pounds of carbon

dioxide out of the atmosphere.

5. Buy Energy-Efficient Products

When it's time to buy a new car, choose one that offers good gas mileage. Home

appliances now come in a range of energy-efficient models, and compact florescent

bulbs are designed to provide more natural-looking light while using far less energy than

standard light bulbs.

Avoid products that come with excess packaging, especially molded plastic and other

packaging that can't be recycled. If you reduce your household garbage by 10 percent,

you can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

6. Use Less Hot Water

Set your water heater at 120 degrees to save energy, and wrap it in an insulating blanket

if it is more than 5 years old. Buy low-flow showerheads to save hot water and about 350

pounds of carbon dioxide yearly. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water to reduce

your use of hot water and the energy required to produce it. That change alone can save

at least 500 pounds of carbon dioxide annually in most households. Use the energy-

saving settings on your dishwasher and let the dishes air-dry.

7. Use the "Off" Switch

Save electricity and reduce global warming by turning off lights when you leave a room,

and using only as much light as you need. And remember to turn off your television,

video player, stereo and computer when you're not using them.

It's also a good idea to turn off the water when you're not using it. While brushing your

teeth, shampooing the dog or washing your car, turn off the water until you actually need

it for rinsing. You'll reduce your water bill and help to conserve a vital resource.

8. Plant a Tree

If you have the means to plant a tree, start digging. During photosynthesis, trees and

other plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. They are an integral part of the

natural atmospheric exchange cycle here on Earth, but there are too few of them to fully

counter the increases in carbon dioxide caused by automobile traffic, manufacturing and

other human activities. A single tree will absorb approximately one ton of carbon dioxide

during its lifetime.

9. Get a Report Card from Your Utility Company

Many utility companies provide free home energy audits to help consumers identify

areas in their homes that may not be energy efficient. In addition, many utility companies

offer rebate programs to help pay for the cost of energy-efficient upgrades.

10. Encourage Others to Conserve

Share information about recycling and energy conservation with your friends, neighbors

and co-workers, and take opportunities to encourage public officials to establish

programs and policies that are good for the environment.

These 10 steps will take you a long way toward reducing your energy use and your

monthly budget. And less energy use means less dependence on the fossil fuels that

create greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming.

http://environment.about.com/od/globalwarming/tp/globalwarmtips.htm