Learn both sides of the global warming argument. Is global warming real? If global warming exists, is it caused by humans or nature?
Learn both sides of the global warming argument. Is global warming real? If global warming exists, is it caused by humans or nature?
Global warming is the next big impact that will bring about a change in the weather patterns. By definition, Global Warming is the increase in average temperature that gradually warms the Earth’s atmosphere. It is a phenomenon, which has been on the rise but in the last century, the increase in the levels have been alarming.
The average temperature of the atmosphere has risen by 0.74 - 0.18 degrees during the last century. According to the study by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), it is observed that the increase in global average temperature has been caused due to an increase in greenhouse gas concentrations. This has led to an unprecedented warming of the Earth’s surface.
The other phenomenas responsible for global warming include volcanoes and solar variations. Base on some of the models by the IPCC, the prediction is that the global temperature is likely to rise by 1.1 to 6.4 degrees between 1990 and 2100. This increase in temperature will cause climatic changes and extreme weather conditions like rising sea level, change in the amount of precipitation, above average rainfall, melting of polar ice caps and glaciers, storms and hurricanes.
On the worse side, it will also affect yield of crops as well as plants and animals leading to extinction of different species. Global warming will increase the spread of diseases and there will be droughts and flooding, coral reef bleaching, forest fires etc. Global warming is no more a myth but a fast approaching reality, which in the long term will bring the much feared ice age that will wipe out all living organism on Earth.
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May 7th, 2007 at 12:44 am
The Issue of Global warming is probably the greatest threat to humanity today. It has overcome the threat of war and terrorism on a global scale, as far as news goes. Millions of people face the imminent threat of displacement from low lying Island nations, Bangladesh, etc. Coupled with the water and food shortages bound to accompany these problems. Neighbouring countries will face economic and social struggles to accommodate these population displacements and undoubtedly, all the issues of assimilation and adjustment to new environments will be fraught with difficulties and huge expense. In Australia we are facing direct effects of global warming, with reduced rainfall and droughts and soaring summer temperatures. I live in NTHN NSW, which is the best address in Australia as far as agreeable Climate goes. But I am sitting here today, 3 weeks away from Winter proper and it’s 24 degrees celcius!!
How anyone can deny the evidence of Global warming effects is beyond me. As your glacial pictures show, it is alarming how much they have receded and indeed in some cases, disappeared altogether. Iceland is losing the equivalent of 200 billion tonnes of ice per year and whole towns are under threat of melting into the ocean! This drama in turn creates the threat of shut down of mid ocean currents fueled by the Gulf stream and may lead us ironically into a new Ice Age! What are your thoughts on this?
The other issue that seems to have popped up all over the planet, adding fuel to the debate, is the claim that the Sun is warming up, as well as Mars and some science boffins are claiming that Global Warming is being caused by this and not mankind’s activity. I find that argument while possible,it maybe contributing, pretty hard to swallow. Are they driven by the Multinational Oil corporations and economic industrial giants of the world to attempt to play down the Global Warming issue so that there continued rape of the planet is justifiable? How can anyone with an ounce of intelligence deny the effect we are having upon our environment? Your thoughts?