Global Warming 2020

Author: James Nash

Many people in the media (and elsewhere) use the terms “climate change” and “global warming” interchangeably, as if they were the same thing. But there are differences between the meanings of the two terms.

Getting a better handle on the definitions of and differences between “global warming” and “climate change” will help us understand why the threat caused by continued warming of the planet is so serious.

Planet Earth’s current warming trend is based largely on natural warming and cooling cycles that have been happening for eons; as well as human-caused additions to greenhouse gases, which are boosting the atmosphere’s ability to trap heat in the biosphere. Minor factors like an overall increase in the sun’s solar intensity play a smaller role.

While greenhouse gases are an essential component of a livable planet – they’re what keep Earth from being a lifeless ball of ice – humans are causing greenhouse gas levels to increase so quickly that it’s causing the average global temperature to rise much faster than it would naturally. This warming is predicted to lead to a variety of negative effects, including:

1) Melting (and possible disappearance) of glaciers and mountain snow caps that feed the world’s rivers and supply a large portion of the fresh water used for drinking and irrigation.

2) A rise in sea levels due to the melting of the land-based ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica, with many islands and coastal areas ending up more exposed to storm damage or even underwater.

3) Increasingly costly “bad weather” events such as heat waves, droughts, floods, and severe storms.

4) Lowered agricultural productivity due to less favorable weather conditions, less available irrigation water, increased heat stress to plants, and an increase in pest activity due to warmer temperatures.

5) Increases in vector-borne infectious diseases like malaria and Lyme Disease.

6) Large numbers of extinctions of higher-level species due to their inability to adapt to rapidly changing climate and habitat conditions.

The first two of these effects are mostly related to increasing average temperatures. Items 3-6 are related to heat too, but also playing a role are non-temperature factors – i.e. “climate-change factors.”

Climate change is about much more than how warm or cool our temperatures are. Whereas “global warming” refers to increasing global temperatures, “climate change” refers to regional conditions. Climate is defined by a number of factors, including:

1) Average regional temperature as well as day/night temperature patterns and seasonal temperature patterns.

2) Humidity.

3) Precipitation (average amounts and seasonal patterns).

4) Average amount of sunshine and level of cloudiness.

5) Air pressure and winds.

6) Storm events (type, average number per year, and seasonal patterns).

To a great extent, this is what we think of as “weather.” Indeed, weather patterns are predicted to change in response to global warming:

1) Some areas will become drier, some will become wetter.

2) Many areas will experience an increase in severe weather events like killer heat waves, hurricanes, flood-level rains, and hail storms.

It’s tempting to think that all of these changes to the world’s climate regions will average out over time and geography and things will be fine. In fact, colder climates like Canada may even see improved agricultural yields as their seasonal temperatures rise. But overall, humanity has made a huge investment in “things as they are now, where they are now.”

Gone are the days of millennia ago when an unfavorable change in climate might cause a village to pack up their relatively few belongings and move to a better area. We have massive societal and industrial infrastructure in place, and it cannot be easily moved. Climate-change effects will generally not be geographically escapable in the timeframe over which they happen, at least not for the majority of humans and species.

About the Author:

James Nash is a climate scientist with Greatest Planet (www.greatestplanet.org). Greatest Planet is a non-profit environmental organization specialising in carbon offset investments.

James Nash is solely responsible for the contents of this article.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Important Differences Between “Climate Change” and “Global Warming”

Author: Enviro Saver

The meaning of global warming can often be lost when someone does not fully understand what the terms of global warming means. The four main terms are global warming, climate change, carbon offset and carbon neutral. Global warming is where the average temperature of the entire planet, or globe, rises. This rise causes major changes in the planet’s climate affecting every form of life on it. Global warming is thought to be caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases, which are composed of particles that contribute to the warming of the globe. Most of the particles are carbon that is often created by human activity on the surface, either from factories or forms of transportation.

Climate change is where there is any kind of major change in the overall climate of a specific area, or of the entire planet. It has been found that all through Earth’s history so far, there has been evidence found that the planet has gone through both subtle and major climate changes that are thought to have contributed to the extinction of many species, leaving room for new species to grow and evolve. Today, climate change is taken more seriously because it is believed that recent human activity has contributed greatly to the rising temperature of the Earth, which in turn is encouraging climate change all over the planet.

Carbon offset refers to a solution where greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere are offset by purchasing carbon offsets which put money into emission reduction plans and projects. There are many methods that have been used in order to offset the emissions put into the atmosphere. One popular on is planting trees and this has been done for years. Other carbon offset solutions include making use of renewable energy sources, such as the sun or the wind. Another is using less energy that requires carbon to be put into the air. There is also the act of companies paying for the emissions they put into the air, which is meant to encourage them to emit less carbons that contribute to global warming. The money is usually put into programs working to find better ways to create energy in an environmentally friendly way.

Carbon neutral means that there are no carbons being emitted into the atmosphere. Being carbon neutral means that there is no contributing to the greenhouse gases, or that compensation (usually in the form of purchased offsets) for the carbon put into the air is made.

These four terms, global warming, greenhouse gases, carbon offsets and carbon neutral are all really self-explanatory, though it can often help to have a definition to refer to when trying to understand why all these programs are being put into place to find new ways of creating energy.

About the Author:

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Global Warming Terms Explained

Author: Anna

These days, there seems to be a lot of controversy about Global Warming.

Some say that Global Warming is a fact, others say it’s not. But regardless of whether or not Global Warming is a fact, let’s step aside from the arguments on the subject, and take a common-sense approach.

In this article we will take a look at some of the issues involved.

What is Global Warming?

We can take a look at the definition of global warming – without taking sides or getting into vested interests, political motivations, reasons, or causes.

The definition of global warming in its purity is “an overall increase in world temperatures.” As you can see, whether this has to do with greenhouse emissions, or whether it is caused by a natural phenomena, has no bearing on whether there is an average temperature increase.

Is There an Overall Increase in World Temperatures?

Alright, now we can take a look at what scientists say about world temperatures.

Again, we are going to leave out the reasons why, and simply look at whether or not the Earth’s general temperature is rising.

According to NASA scientists, the average temperature of the earth rose by one degree Celsius, over the last century. This is based on actual measurements taken with exact measuring instruments.

Another report, compiled and submitted by 600 scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, issued the following statement:

“Warming of the climate system is unequivocal.”

These 600 scientists sifted through thousands of studies and reports, in order to come to the above conclusion.

Even scientists who are “opposed” to the global warming theory are not contradicting the fact that the earth’s temperature is rising. These scientists are only saying that global warming is a natural phenomena, and is not caused by man.

The Causes of Global Warming There are several factors that could contribute to or influence global warming.

Greenhouse gases are gases that prevent heat from escaping from the Earth’s atmosphere. A few examples of greenhouse gases are:

• Carbon Dioxide – A minor but important part of the Earth’s atmosphere. Carbon dioxide prevents heat from escaping the earth, by blocking the infrared radiation reflected off the Earth’s surface from leaving the atmosphere.
• Methane – A gas produced through the decomposition of waste (in landfills, animal waste, and decomposition of food in human and animal digestive systems). It is created by the production and distribution of natural gas, oil and coal. It is also is produced by incomplete fossil-fuel combustion.
• Nitrous Oxide – Another gas produced through the use of commercial fertilizers, natural fertilizers, and fossil fuel combustion (cars, airplanes, and conventional power plants, to name a few).
• Chlorofluorocarbons – Commonly referred to as CFC gases, these are produced primarily by our industries, and are used for products such as, styrofoam, spray-can propellants, refrigerants, electronic circuit boards, and many more.
• Water Vapor – This is a completely natural gas, caused by the sun evaporating water from our oceans.

As you can see, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are produced mainly by human resources, whereas chlorofluorocarbons are exclusively produced by industrial installations.

Out of all the above, interestingly enough, the greenhouse gases which have the largest effect on global warming are water vapors. This fact will no doubt please all critics of the “global warming theory”.

You have to keep in mind, however, the cyclic effect of global warming. A slight increase in temperature will increase the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere, which in turn will increase the temperature, and so on. Thus, a slight effect created by other greenhouse gases has a much larger impact, due to the creation of additional water vapor in the atmosphere.

Greenhouse Gases: Facts and Figures

let’s go over some facts and figures here. Again, keep in mind that these are measurements taken by scientific tools. They are not statements for or against global warming.

• The amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has increased by 25 percent since the early 1800s. Ten percent of this increase has occurred between 1958 and the present day.
• There are two main factors that responsible for the increase of carbon dioxide. The leading cause is the burning of fossil fuels. Next in line is deforestation.
• Methane content in the world’s atmosphere increases at a rate of 0.6 percent per year, by current measurements. The atmospheric methane content is now more than twice as high as it was before the Industrial Age, which started in the early 1800s.

The Effects of Global Warming

I am not the doom-and-gloom sort of person, so I am going to spare you the details here. But I do have an opinion on this subject, so I will share it with you.

Regardless of whether the globe is warming or not, it is simply common sense to take care of the environment you live in.

The plain truth of the matter is that carbon monoxide is unhealthy, methane makes for unpleasant breathing, and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere is no laughing matter.

While the lack of ozone might make for faster tanning at the beach, the long term effects are not as desirable.

What You Can do About Global Warming

Believe it or not, you are important – what you do and say is listened to by others, and does make a difference. It doesn’t require a lot of effort to do something about conditions in the environment. A little extra care will go quite a long way. Many are already doing it, and all of us need to get aboard.

It starts as simply as recycling your waste, saving energy where you can, or even planting a tree.

About the Author:

A great way to reduce pollution is the use of solar power. 75% of the average home’s energy consumption is for hot water and heating. The most economical, effective, and inexpensive way of using solar power is through the use of solar heating, and solar hot water heaters. To find out how you can take action against Global Warming (as well as save considerably on your energy bills) visit Solar Hot Water and Home Solar Panels.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Global Warming Facts