What is global warming?

Global Warming is defined as the increase of the average

temperature on Earth. As the Earth is getting hotter, disasters
like hurricanes, droughts and floods are getting more
frequent.Global warming is when the earth heats up (the
temperature rises). It happens when greenhouse gases
(carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane)
trap heat and light from the sun in the earth’s atmosphere,
which increases the temperature. This hurts many people,
animals, and plants. Many cannot take the change, so they
die.
While some would call global warming a theory, others would
call it a proven set of facts. Opinions differ vehemently. Let us
consider global warming to be both a premise that the
environment of the world as we know it is slowly, but very
surely increasing in overall air and water temperature, and a
promise that if whatever is causing this trend is not
interrupted or challenged life on earth will dynamically be
affected.
The prevailing counter opinion is that all that is presently
perceived to be global warming is simply the result of a
normal climactic swing in the direction of increased
temperature. Many proponents of this global warming
ideology have definitive social and financial interests in these
claims.

Global warming and climate change are aspects of our

environment that cannot be easily or quickly discounted.
Many factions still strongly feel that the changes our Earth is
seeing are the result of a natural climatic adjustment.
Regardless of one’s perspective the effects of global warming
are a quantifiable set of environmental results that are in
addition to any normal changes in climate. That is why the
effects of global warming have catastrophic potential. Global
warming may well be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
It could turn out to be the difference between a category three
hurricane and a category four. Global warming as caused by
greenhouse gas emissions can lead us to a definite
imbalance of nature.

The premise of global warming as an issue of debate is that

industrial growth coupled with non-structured methods we as
humans use to sustain ourselves has created a situation
where our planet is getting progressively hotter. We have
seemingly negatively effected our environment by a cycle of
harmful processes that now seem to be feeding upon
themselves to exponentially increase the damage to our
ecosystem.
EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING
The effects of global warming and climate change are of
concern both for the environment and human life. Evidence of
observed climate change includes the instrumental
temperature record, rising sea levels, and decreased snow
cover in the Northern Hemisphere. According to the IPCC
Fourth Assessment Report, "most of the observed increase in
global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is
very likely due to the observed increase in [human
greenhouse gas] concentrations". It is predicted that future
climate changes will include further global warming (i.e., an
upward trend in global mean temperature), sea level rise, and
a probable increase in the frequency of some extreme
weather events. Ecosystems are seen as being particularly
vulnerable to climate change. Human systems are seen as
being variable in their capacity to adapt to future climate
change. To reduce the risk of large changes in future climate,
many countries have implemented policies designed to
reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases.

Several effects of global warming, including steady sea level

rise, increased cyclonic activity, and changes in ambient
temperature and precipitation patterns, have affected or are
projected to affect India. Ongoing sea level rises have
submerged several low-lying islands in the Sundarbans,
displacing thousands of people.[3] Temperature rises on the
Tibetan Plateau, which are causing Himalayan glaciers to
retreat.
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.

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.

The IPCC's summary of part of its 2007 report 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).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.
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.
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!

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.

 Effects of Global Warming - Environment

Global warming is affecting many parts of the world. Global warming

makes the sea rise, and when the sea rises, the water covers many
low land islands. This is a big problem for many of the plants,
animals, and people on islands. The water covers the plants and
causes some of them to die. When they die, the animals lose a
source of food, along with their habitat. Although animals have a
better ability to adapt to what happens than plants do, they may die
also. When the plants and animals die, people lose two sources of
food, plant food and animal food. They may also lose their homes.
As a result, they would also have to leave the area or die. This would
be called a break in the food chain, or a chain reaction, one thing
happening that leads to another and so on.
The oceans are affected by global warming in other ways, as well.
Many things that are happening to the ocean are linked to global
warming. One thing that is happening is warm water, caused from
global warming, is harming and killing algae in the ocean.

Algae is a producer that you can see floating on the top of the water.
(A producer is something that makes food for other animals through
photosynthesis, like grass.)

This floating green algae is food to many consumers in the ocean. (A

consumer is something that eats the producers.) One kind of a
consumer is small fish. There are many others like crabs, some
whales, and many other animals.

Fewer algae is a problem because there is less food for us and many
animals in the sea.

Global warming is doing many things to people as well as animals and

plants. It is killing algae, but it is also destroying many huge forests.
The pollution that causes global warming is linked to acid rain. Acid
rain gradually destroys almost everything it touches. Global warming
is also causing many more fires that wipe out whole forests. This
happens because global warming can make the earth very hot. In
forests, some plants and trees leaves can be so dry that they catch on
fire.
Causes of Global Warming
Many things cause global warming. One thing that causes global
warming is electrical pollution. Electricity causes pollution in many
ways, some worse than others. In most cases, fossil fuels are burned
to create electricity. Fossil fuels are made of dead plants and animals.
Some examples of fossil fuels are oil and petroleum. Many pollutants
(chemicals that pollute the air, water, and land) are sent into the air
when fossil fuels are burned. Some of these chemicals are called
greenhouse gasses.

We use these sources of energy much more than the sources that
give off less pollution. Petroleum, one of the sources of energy, is
used a lot. It is used for transportation, making electricity, and making
many other things. Although this source of energy gives off a lot of
pollution, it is used for 38% of the United States’ energy.

Some other examples of using energy and polluting the air are:

• Turning on a light
• Watching T.V.
• Listening to a stereo
• Washing or drying clothes
• Using a hair dryer
• Riding in a car
• Heating a meal in the microwave
• Using an air conditioner
• Playing a video game
• Using a dish washer
When you do these things, you are causing more greenhouse gasses
to be sent into the air. Greenhouse gasses are sent into the air
because creating the electricity you use to do these things causes
pollution. If you think of how many times a day you do these things,
it’s a lot. You even have to add in how many other people do these
things! That turns out to be a lot of pollutants going into the air a day
because of people like us using electricity. The least amount of
electricity you use, the better.

When we throw our garbage away, the garbage goes to

landfills. Landfills are those big hills that you go by on
an expressway that stink. They are full of garbage. The
garbage is then sometimes burned. This sends an
enormous amount of greenhouse gasses into the air and
makes global warming worse.
Another thing that makes global warming worse is when people cut
down trees. Trees and other plants collect carbon dioxide (CO2),
which is a greenhouse gas.

Carbon dioxide is the air that our body lets out when we breathe. With
fewer trees, it is harder for people to breathe because there is more
CO2 in the air, and we don’t breathe CO2, we breathe oxygen. Plants
collect the CO2 that we breathe out, and they give back oxygen that
we breathe in. With less trees and other plants, such as algae, there
is less air for us, and more greenhouse gases are sent into the air.
This means that it is very important to protect our trees to stop the
greenhouse effect, and also so we can breathe and live.

This gas, CO2, collects light and heat (radiant energy), produced by
the sun, and this makes the earth warmer. The heat and light from the
sun is produced in the center of the sun. (The sun has layers just like
the earth.)
This layer is called the core. Just like a core of an apple, it is in the
middle. Here there is a very high temperature, about 27,000,000°F.
This heat escapes out of this layer to the next layer, the radiative
zone. This layer is cooler, about 4,500,000°F. Gradually, the heat
and light will pass through the convection zone at a temperature of
around 2,000,000°F. When it gets to the surface, the temperature is
about 10,000°F. Finally, the heat and light is sent into space. This is
called radiant energy (heat and light). The radiant energy reaches the
earth’s atmosphere. As a result of this process we get light and heat.
When you pollute, you send chemicals into the air that destroy our
atmosphere, so more heat and light cannot escape from the earth’s
atmosphere.
Steps To Reduce Global Warming

Reduce

The amount of energy you consume and start using

renewable energy sources, such as wind power and solar
power. Sign up for Green Energy with your local power
provider. If they don't have it, then tell them to get it.

Reuse

By using products made with recycled materials. Make or

buy a compost bin to use your organic waste as fertilizer for
your trees, shrubs, and garden.

Recycle

All materials to your best ability in your local area.

HELP BRING BACK THE ELECTRIC CAR and personally

PLANT SOME TREES

For years our governments have been pretending Global

Warming doesn't exist. This is due to money and influence
from certain coal and oil companies. Only recently have we
seen a change in this and it is because of people like you.
People like you have started to stop Climate Change on a
local level in their communities and they have demanded that
their governments take this seriously.
How to help stop Global Warming on an individual level?
Use eco-friendly products, environmental services, and
renewable energy sources to reduce greenhouse emissions
that cause Global Warming. Campaign to bring back the
electric car, which was killed by Oil Industry influence in 2003
with the help of the Bush Administration. Imagine how much
cleaner our air would be if the majority of our cars were
powered by renewable energy.

With the current economic crisis it is a "no brainer" for us to

invest in the infrastructure for renewable energy. The supply
and demand for fossil fuels dictate that we cannot go on the
way we have before. We have finite resources of coal, oil,
and natural gas and they are rapidly being consumed. With
population growth as it is, do you think we can build a stable
world economy on energy sources that are disappearing?
Economically is doesn't make sense. Environmentally it
doesn't make sense. The consumption of fossil fuels is what
caused the greenhouse effect in the first place.

Why is it important for you to do your part to stop Global

Warming If you have seen Al Gore's documentary, An
Inconvenient Truth, you can see that the most populated
areas of the world will be affected enormously if we don't act.
As a shower starts with one raindrop, you too can make a
difference to help our environment with your individual
actions, Let's pretend nothing has been proved and the
pictures of the polar caps are in question. Do we really have
the luxury to wait and see if the doubters are correct? There
is no quick fix when the ice melts with climate change; only
effects, such as Sea Level Rise. So why not change the way
you consume energy and the products you use? At the very
least, you will be helping make a better planet for the future.
Global Warming Solutions
Obviously there is no one magic solution to the problem of
global warming. There are instead hundreds of questions that
need to be asked and addressed so as to create an overall
Earth plan that will develop our planet wisely. The changes
we can make, both large and small when combined will
curtail global warming for the better. In this section we
discuss the latest green designs, products and ideas as yet
undeveloped that will reduce environmental damage overall.

We plan to offer honest value comparisons of products such

as hybrid cars. If the carbon footprint made from producing a
hybrid is ten times larger than that it erases it is news that
should be shared. Compact florescent lights are great energy
savers but are all of these exactly what they claim to be? And
furthermore will light emitting diodes render CFLs obsolete
before they are universally adapted.

As always the future holds a newer and possibly better

design. We will be bringing you articles examining what will
come and those products that are already available but await
widespread acceptance. Developments in mass renewable
energy production in such areas as solar and wind power are
of interest to all. We will also be looking back at past
successful use of these energy choices. Zenith sold tiny
windmills in the late 1930s that would charge a car battery
that in turn would run a radio for days. Has the technological
upgrad been utilized
We will find solutions to the problem of global warming by
asking countless questions about the processes we rely upon
to live. We answer these questions on a personal level by
changing the habits, which build each of our carbon footprints
and on a global level by insisting that social and
governmental structure acknowledge the need for
environmental protection.

Stop pollution! - Cutting down pollution from car emissions

and power plants will decrease the rate of global warming to
a great extent. Varied technologies for use of alternative
energy have already been developed. And, more technology
is being developed regularly. We need to continue to make
use of current alternative energy resources like wind power
and solar power, and we can adopt new technologies as they
aredeveloped.

Changes to the legal system - With public support on the rise,

laws must be imposed worldwide to cap emissions of carbon
dioxide and other green house gasses from industrial and
power plants. Tighter standards for appliances such as air
conditioners and heat pumps will also strengthen the efforts
toreduceemissions.

Make it YOUR problem. - Energy conservation should be

addressed in a right way. Reduce your energy bills by opting
for little changes such as fluorescent lights and
environmentally friendly refrigerators. Make an effort in every
little way you can to sustain the planet for future generations.
Let us embrace sustainable development.
 People doing to stop Global Warming
People are doing many things to try to stop global warming. One thing
people are doing is carpooling. Carpooling is driving with someone to
a place that you are both going to. This minimizes the amount of
greenhouse gases put into the air by a car.

Another thing that people are doing is being more careful about
leaving things turned on like the television, computer, and the lights.
A lot of people are taking time away from the television, and instead,
they are spending more time outdoors. This helps our planet out a lot.
Now, more people are even riding busses, walking to school, and
riding their bikes to lower the amount of greenhouse gases in the air.
Planting trees and recycling also helps. If you recycle, less trash goes
to the dump, and less trash gets burned. As a result, there are fewer
greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere.

Watch what you buy. Many things, such as hairspray and deodorant,
now are made to have less of an impact on the atmosphere. Less
greenhouse gasses will rise into the air, and global warming will slow
down.
 Government doing to stop Global Warming?
The government is doing many things to help stop global warming.
The government made a law called The Clean Air Act so there is less
air pollution. Global warming is making people get very bad illnesses
that could make them disabled, very sick, and sometimes even die.
The Clean Air Act is making many companies change their products to
decrease these problems. Part of the law says that you may not put a
certain amount of pollutants in the air. Hairspray and some other
products, like foam cups, had this problem. Making and using these
products let out too much volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), ozone-
destroying chemicals (chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s), and related
chemicals (such as CO2) into the air. Now, almost all of these
products have a label on them telling people what this product can do
to the environment and many people. By 2015 all products listed on
the Clean Air Act will have this label on them:

WARNING: contains or manufactured with (the chemical

would go here. For example chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s), a
substance which harms public health and the environment by
destroying ozone in the upper atmosphere.
Almost all of the other chemicals that could be harmful will have this
label on them hopefully by this time (2015) as well.

The Clean Air Act has also made car companies change some of the
things inside of the cars. Cars pollute a lot. While cars make more
than half of the world’s smog (visible pollution in the air), many things
that cars need to move and heat up make even more pollution. Some
things that are inside of cars, buses, trucks, and motorcycles, like
gasoline, pollute the air when the fuel is burned. It comes out as a
chemical and when mixed in the air, forms smog. Smog is a kind of
pollution that you see in the form of a cloud. If you have ever been to
California you can see a lot of smog in some places. Sometimes the
smog gets so bad that you cannot see at all! Smog forms when car
exhaust, pollution from homes, and pollution from factories mixes in
the air and has a chemical reaction. The sun’s heat and light add to
the reaction.

Cars, buses, and trucks are also responsible for over 50% of
dangerous chemicals let into the air. Some of these chemicals can
cause cancer, birth defects, trouble breathing, brain and nerve
damage, lung injures, and burning eyes. Some of the pollutants are
so harmful that they can even cause death.