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> Global Warming
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Global Warming
An average increase in the Earth's temperature takes place coping with the pace of human-civilization's advancement which in turn causes dreadful impact on ecology. A warmer Earth may lead to changes in rainfall patterns, a rise in sea level, and a wide range of impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans. When scientists talk about the issue of climate change, their concern is about global warming caused by human activities. Earth has warmed by about 1ºF over the past 100 years. Since the beginning of the 20th century, Earth's mean surface temperature has increased by about 1.1°F (0.6°C).
Over the last 40 years the temperature increased by about 0.5°F
about to0.2-0.3°C. Seven of the 10 warmest years in the 20th century occurred in the 1990.Practically, the hottest year since reliable instrumental temperature measurements began was 1998, on account of the strongest El Niños global temperatures spiked. Scientists say that unless global warming emissions are reduced, average temperatures could rise another 3 to 9 degrees by the end of the century -- with far-reaching effects. Sea levels will rise, flooding coastal areas. Heat waves will be more frequent and more intense. Droughts and wildfires will occur more often. Disease-carrying
mosquitoes will expand their range. And species will be pushed to extinction. Warmer temperatures could also increase the probability of drought. Greater evaporation, particularly during summer and fall, could exacerbate drought conditions and increase the risk of
wildfires. More frequent and more intensive heat waves could result in more heat-related deaths. These conditions could also aggravate local air quality
problems. Global warming is expected to increase the potential geographic range and virulence of tropical diseases as well. If climatic trends continue unabated, global warming will threaten our health, cities, farms and forests, beaches and wetlands, and other natural
habitats. Fortunately, we can take action to slow global warming. Global warming results primarily from human activities that release heat-trapping gases and particles into the air. The most important of these activities are the burning of fossil fuels (coal, gas, oil) and deforestation. To reduce the emission of heat-trapping gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides, we can curb our consumption of fossil fuels, use technologies that reduce emissions wherever possible, and protect the world’s
forests. We can also do things to lessen the impact of global warming and adapt to those consequences most likely to
occur. Some rare plants will suffer as a result of global warming; others may benefit from it. The rare lizard orchid occurs mainly in chalk and limestone grasslands and in dunes. Its northern limit is in England and its distribution is controlled by climate. Predictions that our climate will become warmer and wetter suggest that this orchid will become more common in the south and will spread northwards. This process may already have started. In 1992 there were only 10 populations in England and by 1999 there were 19.
The gases in the atmosphere can help Earth retain the sun's heat and can also cause the sun's heat to be reflected away into the solar system. The atmospheric gases that help the Earth retain heat are called the greenhouse gases; these gases include carbon
dioxide. Carbon dioxide is not just a waste gas that we release during cellular respiration-- it is a gas that is created
every time something burns. Organisms don't release enough CO2 from cellular respiration to cause any sort of buildup of it... certainly nothing that isn't compensated for by plant photosynthesis. But, when we run our cars and burn gas, and when we run other machines (for example, sending off smoke through smokestacks), we release lots of excess CO2. It is now understood that this excess CO2 remains in our atmosphere, increasing the atmospheric greenhouse
gases. Global warming is the measured phenomenon that our Earth is getting warmer. Our Earth seems about a degree warmer now than when we first started measuring carefully, about 100 years ago. The greenhouse effect is only one possible explanation for global
warming, it is a potential cause, whereas global warming is the
effect. We have to reduce the amount of materials we burn... many companies are currently constructing electric or partially-electric cars to try to shift us away from burning fossil fuels. We have to reduce the amount of energy we waste by making machinery more efficient and ourselves more careful. I'm sure that if we can become certain whether the greenhouse gases are significantly causing global warming, we will end up coming up with many plans to reduce our consumption of
fuels. Clearly, global warming is a dreadful problem. It needs each and everyone-governments, industry, communities, and
individuals, working together to make a real difference; working to bring sound scientific information to policy makers and the public to educate them about global warming, its consequences, and practical, available solutions. We’re raising awareness of the need for action and working to create congressional support for sound
solutions. But we should n’t stop there. We’re also advocating policies that will combat global warming over the long term. Things like clean cars that run on alternative fuels, environmentally responsible renewable energy technologies, and a stop to the
deforestation of valuable forests.
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