Definitions

What is Global Warming?

By admin ⋅ July 16, 2007 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ 723 views

The Earth’s climate underwent many changes, from the coldest ice age to very hot periods. This has several causes, including changes in our planet’s orbit, volcanic eruptions or the energy released by the Sun.

Consequently, the Earth’s atmosphere has gathered carbon dioxide and other air pollutants, capturing the Sun’s heat that is responsible for the ever-growing temperatures. Power plants produce 2.5 billion tons carbon dioxide every year while cars almost 1.5 billion tons.

If these levels continue to grow, the average temperature at the Earth’s surface could increase 3 to 9 degrees by the end of the century. Scientists have even found that the hurricanes in the past 35 years had their destructive potential greatly increased.

Global warming is a complex phenomenon, not yet fully understood by scientists. Some of the effects of this process are rising sea levels mainly caused by melting glaciers, warmer temperatures at the sea surface that can amplify hurricanes or disruption of several habitats that causes the extinction of several animal species.

More info @
National Geographic - What is Global Warming?
The Intergovernmental Group on Climate Change - UNEP
Nature Reports - Climate Change