Global Warming- A Research.

Introduction to Global Warming
Health Concerns.
Sierra Club
Hybrid
Top 10 bad items
My Links
View of Earth from Gemini XII

Global Warming: is the increase in average temperature of the atmosphere, oceans, and landmasses of Earth. The planet has warmed during 4.65 billions of years. Right now Earth appears to be facing a rapid warming. The cause is : the burning of fossil fuels , such as coal, oil and natural gas which releases into the atmosphere carbon dioxide and other substances known as greenhouse gases. As the atmosphere becomes richer in these gases it becomes a better insulator, retaining more of the heat provided by the Sun. The average surface temperature of the Earth is about 15 C and over the last century this average has risen by about .6 CV. This temperature rise is expected to melt polar ice caps and glaciers as well as warm the oceans, which will expand ocean volume and raise sea level by 9 to 100 cm. This will for sure flood some islands and some coastal regions. Some areas in warmer climates will recieve more rainfall and soils will dry out faster between storms. This may damage food crops, disrupt food supplies in some parts of the world. Plant and animal species will relocate towards the north and to higher elevations to seek cooler temperatures. Some species may become extinct because of this shift.

Greenhouse Effect:
The energy that lights and warms Earth comes from the Sun. Most of the energy that floods onto our planet is short-wave radiation, including visible light. When this energy hits Earth it becomes heat and warms the Earth. Earth's surface releases some of this heat as long-wave infrared radiation. Much of this long-wave infrared radiation makes it all the way back out to space, but some of it remains trapped in Earth's atmosphere. Some gases in the atmosphere including water vapor, carbon dioxide and methane provide the trap. These gases conserve heat as the glass in a greenhouse does and are then known as greenhouse gases. As these greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increase, more heat energy remains trapped below. All life on Earth depends on this effect, and the planet would be much colder without it. But, a growing excess of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere threatens to tip the balance in the other direction, toward continual warming.

People shouting at the world over megaphones; Size

To see pictures of how Global Warming is affecting the world everyday please click on the above picture.

Mr. V-
I did the best I could. I did not argue the other group's point but instead I did most of the assignments that other groups' individual people did.
-Olivia

Olivia's Global Warming Site!