Greenhouse Gases

This results in global warming. This in turn causes a set of changes to the Earth's climate, or long-term weather patterns, that varies from place to place.

Each day the Earth spins, the new heat swirls with it, picking up moisture over the oceans as it goes, rising here, settling there. It's changing the rhythms of climate that all living things have come to rely upon.

So what can we do about it? How can we reverse the changes we've already set into motion?

While our scientists and politicians argue amongst themselves, trying to figure it all out, the Earth as we know it — coastlines, forests, plains and snow-capped mountains — hangs in the balance.

Greenhouse effect

The "greenhouse effect" is the warming up of certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere. These gases let in light but keep heat from escaping, like the glass walls of a greenhouse. Cue global warming.

First, sunlight shines onto the Earth's surface, where it is absorbed and then radiates back into the atmosphere as heat. In the atmosphere, greenhouse gases trap some of this heat, and the rest escapes into space. The more greenhouse gases are in the atmosphere, the more heat gets trapped.

Now, the greenhouse effect has its purpose. The Earth would be much colder if it had no atmosphere. This is what keeps the Earth's climate livable.

Without it, the Earth's surface would be around 60 degrees Fahrenheit cooler according to scientists.

In 1895, the Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius discovered that humans could enhance the greenhouse effect by making carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.

He basically started the whole discussion on climate research 100 years ago, that has given us a deeper understanding of global warming and its consequences.

Levels of pollution and worldwide average temperatures have been fairly constant for the past few thousand years.

But recently, with the burning of fossil fuels and other carbon emissions, all this has changed and the search for alternative sources of energy has quickened.

Scientists often use the term "climate change" instead of global warming.

This is because as the Earth's average temperature rises, winds and ocean currents move heat around the globe in ways that can cool some areas, warm others, and change the amount of rain and snow falling.

As a result, the climate changes differently in different areas.

Great articles and web sites

Ice cream makers Ben & Jerrys have a great web site highlighting the effects of climate change. Their Climate Change College exists to inspire grass-roots practical action on climate change.

Click on solar photovoltaic energy for information on solar for electricity.

Click on diy solar heating for information on solar water heating. Click on our solar power gadgets for great gift ideas.

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For more information go to greenhouse gases