Yes they are 2 different things……!

Our earth is surrounded by a layer of gases called greenhouse gases which are naturally occurring (in

other words they are meant to be there and would be there whether humans were on the planet or not!)

There job is to keep the planet at a nice warm temperature - in fact without them there would be no little life on our planet as the temperature would be 33 c colder and far too cold for plants and animals to survive. The main gases that make us this layer are

carbon dioxide, methane, CFC and nitrous oxide. This layer of gas acts like the roof of a greenhouse and that is why it is called the greenhouse effect. They

allow the suns heat to pass through easily and warm the planet but they do not allow much to escape back

into space thus keeping us all warm and able to survive.

The greenhouse effect is NATURAL! It is supposed to

happen! It would happen even if there was not a

human being on the planet! In fact if there was no

greenhouse effect then humans could not live here as the planet would be 33c colder and would look like and be as cold as Mars!

But HOW!?!?!

Think about the greenhouse as if it was the planet and this is….

Unfortunately human activity is adding more gas to the layer than there should be. It is therefore getting

thicker and thicker. It is still able to let the sun’s heat through but even less

heat is escaping back into the atmosphere. This means that the

earth’s temperature is rising.

As you can see the main culprit is

Spend 5 minutes in 2’s listing all the ways that you have contributed to global warming in the last 24 hours!

So where are these gases coming from?

Power stations release huge amounts of carbon dioxide as they burn coal (a fossil fuel)

in order to produce electricity.

Just think for a moment about how much electricity we all

use…..!

It’s many LEDC’s

They are currently experiencing their industrial revolution and are becoming

the greatest users and producers of electricity and are burning huge

quantities of fossil fuels to keep their booming industries going. This is creating masses of pollution and

contributing greatly to global warming. China and India are particular bad contributors to global warming.

Picture above: Beijing's smog

China is currently the world's second largest

energy consumer and producer and will overtake the USA by 2009

Lanzhou

This country is hooked on coal. With 21,000 coal mines across the

country, it is cheaper and more easily available than any other

form of energy in China. It is the lifeblood of its booming economy,

producing 70 per cent of the energy that fuels its dramatic

growth.

6 of the 10 most polluted cities in the world are in China!

Engines burn oil which is another fossil fuel. They also add carbon

back into the atmosphere and thicken the layer. Just think a

moment about how many vehicles there are around……

But what are the real consequences of global warming for us all?

ICE CAPS MELTING AND SEA LEVEL

RISE

Global warming causes the polar ice sheets melt. It increases the sea-level. It will possibly rise 18 cm by

2030 and 58 cm by 2090. Flooding will probably occur in lowlands. Many cities along the coast may be under

sea water.

The loss of polar ice will have a profound effect on nature in particular animal

habitats.

Many of the world’s islands are already disappearing beneath the sea.

The tiny island nation of the Maldives is in trouble. If global warming continues, say scientists, the country could sink

beneath the ocean within 100 years. The average height of the islands above sea level is 1.5 metres and the rate of sea level

rise is currently 59cm per century.

Tuvalu is found in the ocean near Australia. Most of Tuvalu is less than one metre above

seal level.

A Tuvalu Poem 

TUVALU AND GLOBAL WARMINGJane Resture

 I hear the waves on our island shore

They sound much louder than they did beforeA rising swell flecked with foam

Threatens the existence of our island home.  

A strong wind blows in from a distant place The palm trees bend like never before

Our crops are lost to the rising seaAnd water covers our humble floor.

 Our people are leaving for a distant shore

And soon Tuvalu may be no moreHolding on to the things they know are true

Tuvalu my Tuvalu, I cry for you. 

And as our people are forced to roamTo another land to call their homeAnd as you go to that place so new

Take a little piece of Tuvalu with you.  

Tuvalu culture is rare and uniqueAnd holds a message we all should seek

Hold our culture way up highAnd our beloved Tuvalu will never die

There will also be an increase in

COASTAL FLOODING

And Hurricanes will become

more frequent, intense and will

happen in places that

currently do not suffer them!

And drought and crop failure which leads to

Some places will suffer far more rain….

And therefore flooding will become more

frequent and severe.