What Is Global Warming?Global warming is the rise in the average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans since the late 19th century.Global Warming is caused by the increase in levels of CO2 and other greenhouse gases into the earths atmosphere, these gases act as a blanket over the earth, and trap heat from the sun inside the atmosphere, which would normally be allowed to escape .Since the early 20th century, Earth's average surface temperature has increased by about 0.8 °C , with about two-thirds of the increase occurring since 1980. And scientists predict that it will only get worse. With the increasing number of greenhouse gas producing things being built (such as cars, and coal burning power stations) the levels of gas continue to rise.
How Does Global Warming Affect Us?Food
Food prices are rising as climate change makes it harder to maintain the specific conditions crops need to grow. As the climate warms, the air holds more moisture and rainstorms become larger, damaging crops. Overall rain patterns are also changing, bringing droughts to some areas of the world and floods to others. Fresh Water Water Fresh water is becoming scarcer in some regions. Many mountainous states rely on snow melt to replenish their water sources, and snow is declining as well as melting earlier in the season. Severe droughts, increased evaporation and changes in rain patterns are impacting water levels in streams, rivers and lakes. Nearly 18% of the world's fresh water is found in the Great Lakes, which supply drinking water to a large region. Scientists expect lake levels to drop as the climate continues to warm up. Fire More wildfires are breaking out as droughts become increasingly common. Fires that go through drought-stricken land spread more quickly and burn longer, destroying forests and homes, public recreation spaces and grasslands. The University of Arizona reported that from 1987 to 2003, seven times more forested land burned in the western United states than during the last 17 years, and large fires were four times as frequent. |
What Is The Difference Between Global Warming And Climate Change?Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the distribution of weather patterns over a period. It may be a change in average weather conditions, or in the distribution of weather patterns around the average conditions (i.e., more or fewer extreme weather events). Whereas Global warming is only a part of Climate Change as a wider topic.
What Can We Do About Global Warming?The goal is to bring global warming under control by reducing the release of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
We can contribute to this global cause with personal actions. Our individual efforts are especially significant in countries like the US and Canada, where individuals release over 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per person every year. We can help immediately by becoming more energy efficient. Reducing our use of oil, gasoline and coal also sets an example for others to follow. |