    |
What is Global Warming?
It seems 'what is global warming' is one the most talked about questions in the news right now. It's becoming clear that humans have caused most of global warming by releasing greenhouse gases as we consume energy to power our frantic, modern lives. And this is why we are turning to renewable energy such as solar power.
Well, the average global temperature and concentrations of carbon dioxide (one of the major greenhouse gases) have fluctuated on in cycles of hundreds of thousands of years as the Earth's position moves relative to the sun. This variation of movement has meant ice ages have come and gone. However, for thousands of years now, emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) to the atmosphere have been balanced out by GHGs that are naturally absorbed. Therefore, GHG concentrations and temperature have been fairly stable. This stability has allowed life on earth to develop within a fairly consistent climate. But since the industrial revolution, humans have managed to increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by more than a third. Yes, that's right, a third! When people ask me what is global warming, this is the explanation I tell them. Usually, changes this large take thousands of years, but are now happening over the course of decades. Scientists are already seeing some of these changes occurring faster than they had expected. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, eleven of the twelve hottest years since thermometer readings became available occurred between 1995 and 2006. Global warming is happening! It seems the only debate in the science community about climate change is about how much and how fast warming will continue as a result of heat-trapping emissions. Scientists have given a clear warning about global warming, and we have more than enough facts — about causes and fixes — to implement solutions right away. Are we as developed countries doing enough to prevent global warming? Wind turbines and solar energy are just 2 things we as individuals should be looking at. To return to our solar energy home page.
|
