Global Warming

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Global Warming
by
Julia Schofield
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Introduction
Which of the following things support Global
Warming a) Winters becoming more and more
milder b) Drought in the last 3 years
c) Melting of the Arctic ice cap d) All of
the above All of the above. Is that your final
answer?
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Global warming refers to the rise in the
earth's temperature resulting from an increase in
heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere. These
rising temperatures across the planet are caused
by a growth of the "greenhouse effect." Before
recent scientific investigation into this
phenomenon, the greenhouse effect simply referred
to the natural process by which the earth's
atmosphere traps heat and warms the planet to a
livable temperature. Without our planets natural
greenhouse effect much of the suns warmth would
be reflected back into space, and much of the
Earth would be too cold for plants and animals to
survive.
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Global warming has been thought to be a myth
until some of the worlds leading scientists
concluded Global warming is very real and
already underway. The evidence they used to
prove this was 1. The glaciers are melting and
snow cover is disappearing on 5 continents. 2.
Melting ice and warming oceans have contributed
to a rise in sea levels. They have risen almost 1
Foot in the last century, destroying beaches and
wetlands all over. 3. Studies around the world
have found shifting populations and altered
migration behavior as animals attempt to adapt to
a changing climate. Many of these species which
cant adapt are now in decline. 4. The average
temperature of the entire planet has risen about
1 degree Fahrenheit in the last 100 years. And
some areas of the world have warmed by as much as
4.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
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If the average temperature of our planet
were to warm by 6 degrees Fahrenheit then it
would set off massive changes. Sea levels would
rise by 2 feet or more causing massive flooding.
Storms would become more severe, and infectious
diseases would spread into new areas.
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The Greenhouse gases are gases that keep the
heat that enters the atmosphere, from returning
and creating a build up of heat. The sun can
enter these gases, but unfortunately cant escape
them as easily. The suns rays initially are
absorbed by the atmosphere molecules, and then
are trapped by the gases. Without these gases,
the world would be seventy-two degrees Fahrenheit
cooler, which is way too cold to support any kind
of life. So, as the amount of greenhouse gases in
the atmosphere increases, the earth will
eventually become too hot for habitation.
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This heat trapping, however, has begun to
expand to possibly dangerous levels. Scientists
have attributed this expanded greenhouse effect
to the collection of many factors of pollution.
Carbon dioxide emissions from our cars,
factories, homes, and power plants are thickening
the blanket of greenhouse gasses around the
Earth. Gas-guzzling cars, and light trucks such
as mini-vans and sport utility vehicles, are
major sources of this pollution. Over its
lifetime, the average car on the road today will
gush out about 50 tons of carbon dioxide
pollution into our air. Raising miles per gallon
standards to 45 miles per gallon for cars would
cut that number in half to 23 tons. The
burning of coal, oil and natural gas in our power
plants, also contribute to global warming. Coal
is especially "dirty," producing twice as much
carbon dioxide per unit of heat produced as
natural gas, and a third more than oil.
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Power plants produce electricity to power our
homes and offices. The inefficient use of
electricity contributes to global warming by
forcing more fuel to be burned in power plants.
Our homes also produce global warming pollution
through the burning of natural gas and other
fuels in our furnaces and hot water heaters.
Deforestation also contributes to global warming.
Trees "breath in" carbon dioxide, and can work to
clean part of the pollution we release from the
air. But when trees are cut down or burned they
release their carbon dioxide back into the air.
Over harvesting of the world's forest is a
significant contributor to global warming
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It is a serious problem and the results of
global warming are serious. Levels of carbon
dioxide in our atmosphere have increased by 30
over the last century. Over the same period,
atmospheric methane has risen by 145 percent,
mostly from agricultural activities like growing
rice and raising cattle. Extreme changes in
weather have become more common than ever. Some
areas of the world have already become as much as
5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer. Most scientists and
physicians believe that global warming may be the
cause of increased infectious diseases, skin
cancer and heat related deaths.
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There are things that we can do to help slow
down and eventually stop global warming, but we
must begin by starting these things today. The
most important step we can take to change global
warming is to improve our nation's energy
efficiency. Our cars and light trucks, lighting,
home appliances, and power plants could be made
much more efficient by simply installing the best
currently available technology. Energy
efficiency is the cleanest, safest, most
economical way we can begin to deal with global
warming. No global warming solution will succeed
unless we reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions from
cars and trucks. There is more Carbon Dioxide
pollution coming from cars and trucks in some
places than from all sources of other places. If
we are to make any progress in slowing global
warming, we must make our cars go further on a
gallon of gas, and make greater use of
alternative forms of transportation.
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There are also just little things a person
can do to save energy around their house like 1.
Wash clothes in warm or cold water. 2. Lower your
thermostat 3. Buy energy-efficient compact
fluorescent bulbs for your most-used lights. 4.
Whenever possible, walk or bike. 5. Buy a car
with god gas mileage. 6. Paint your house a light
color if you live in a warm climate or dark if
you live in a warm climate. 7. Work in
your community to set up recycling
programs.
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Conclusion
There is no longer any question about Global
Warming being a fact.We have already seen the
effects of this phenomena and in order for this
process to slow down, people need to be
aggressive about slowing down the process by
reducing the Carbon Dioxide accounts in the world
today.
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Bibliography
1. Http//www.geocities.com/Rainforest/Andes/9520
causes.html 2. http//coolmotherearth.com/ 3.
http//explorezone.com/news/globalwarm.htm