The Basics of Global Warming
The basic theory behind global warming, including causes of climate change.
Global warming is the term generally used to refer to the heating of earth caused by humans. In the past, there have been warm and cold periods, but the difference inbetween them and now is the speed at which the earth has changed temperatures. The average surface temperature of the earth has risen 0.74 degrees centigrade in the 100 years ending in 2005.
Global warming caused by humans releasing “greenhouse gasses” into the atmosphere. The most prolific of all greenhouse gasses is carbon dioxide, but others include methane and ozone. Greenhouse gasses are released by burning fossil fuels and various other forms of pollution.
Greenhouse gasses are released into the atmosphere, where they trap heat made by the sun. The sunlight penetrates the atmosphere, and then bounces back into space. However, the more greenhouse gasses there are, the more sunlight can’t get out and remains trapped next to the surface of the earth, thus warming the average temperature.
The existence of the greenhouse effect is not arguable. Natural greenhouse gasses such as ozone have existed for a long time, and had they not existed, earth would have been uninhabitable. Indeed, carbon dioxide is natural. The catch comes in how much of it there is.
At this point in time, the vast majority of scientists believe that humans have created substantial increases in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and need to help address the problem before it further damages earth as we know it.
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