Is global warming something to really be concerned about or is it just political hype?

Answer 1

Pamela, Global warming is no political jazz. This is a call for corcern. In my Geography classes back in the day, I used to say that Global Warming is Global Warning. Due to the depletion of the Ozone layer, and the traping of heat in the atmosphere, we find that several disasters and controversies have taken place. Lets look at Temperatures. Have you noticed that temperatures have been very extreme, yet too warm since the last decade? This is due to global warming, as heat is in the atmosphere. When you find that temperatures have been increased you find that the climate becomes unbearable - wildfires spreading in forestry areas, people dying in the West due to intense heat given the desert conditions, and people are just plain misserable. Don't forget too that there is drought in areas that are truly dependent on water - and you will find that deficiency of accessible water is detremental to any one society. Global waming has caused an increase in hurricanes - now I thought other years were bad, but 2005 was monsterous!! Over 26 storms, the last set named with Greek letters - the first in its history! And you find that these storms become intense - a perfect example was Katrina, which became Cat 5 immediately after Cat 1 (I was in Miami during the Cat 1 - normal rain water, but merciless after it passed us). Now we are seeing that the polar regions are begining to deterorate, and see levels are rising because of this. Many other situations have occured because of global warming, and unless the ozone is "replenished", you will find that things will become a little worse. With room for optimism, scientists have seen that the ozone is gradually being closed up and by 2005, it will be restored fully - this should minize the effects. Otherwise, it is really a cause of concern.

Answer 2

It is of course something that as humans we should know about, only because it impacts our lives. That being said, the cause of global warming is a political hype (for the most part, humans do have some low level impact on the atmosphere, but not nearly as much as once thought, and even less than the political groups would like you to think). Global warming is a cyclical event for the earth, after warming, comes cooling, and vise versa. Want proof look at the earth's history a few ice ages (at least as far as humans can tell), and of course the periods of time in between those ice ages would be global warming. so we are climaxing on the warming side, then it will cool. Will we have another ice age? Of course, but probably not in any life time in the foreseeable future, then it will warm up again. Of course we could all just get hit by a huge meteor and life as we know it will end anyway. Isn't nature fun.

Answer 3

Global warming is definitely happening and there are three possible causes, which may be separate or a mix of the three. The first thing to think of is that we never have completely emerged from the last ice, so if that is the case we are simply returning to our normal planets temp.. Number two is the green house effect (which we all know so there is no reason to explain), though 90% of all emissions from a vehicle come from the manufacturing. Lastly would have to do with the sun and it's increased activity over the last 60 years. This may sound a little off but there is proof that a lack of solar flares and sun spots has caused small ice ages. Adversely an increase should also yield an increase in temp. especially over such a period of time. My personal belief is that the sun activity has something to do with it but i don't believe that it would happen as quickly as recent so we must have a small amount to do with it.

Answer 4

In my opinion it is not political hype but rather scientific hype that includes the ozone hole. Should we be concerned I don't know but I tend to think that it is way to early to worry about it.

Warming and cooling have been going on for millions of years. And that means that we have had "global warming" and ice ages before. As for emitting emission into the atmosphere that cause warming and depletion of the ozone layer that also has been going on for millions of years. That means that even without us humans, automobiles, factories and what have you warming has still occurred.

Data compiled by a professor of mine in college indicated that the ozone layer (hole) has been expanding and contracting ever since records have been kept of such activity. Volcanoes and other natural phenomena have produced more toxic chemicals into the atmosphere than all of the cars, spray cans, and factories combined!

The computer models created by scientists, to show global warming and future warming, are just that, computer models. They are based on corrrect data gathered by them but that doesn't necessarily mean that what the computer program comes up with will actually be what occurs in the future.

One final thing to keep in mind when thinking about global warming and the ozone. Scientists that study global warming and the ozone depend on grants to study those things. Without those grants most of them would be out of a job. What do you think they would rather report, no global warming and problems with the ozone or what they are reporting now?

Answer 5

Political hype from who? Certainly not the current administration.

Global warming is a fact, endorsed by the National Academy of Sciences. If you don't believe them, just ask Pacific Islanders who are having to move to more central regions of their islands because of rising sea levels. Check out the disappearing glaciers all over the world. Also note the rising average global temp.

Answer 6

It's a bunch of crap, errrr Hype. At no time has any person
been able to do anything about the weather or related
phenomenon. We get what we get whether we have car
emmissions or anything else, so sit back and relax and
don't worry about this craziness. Worry about riding in a
car on the highway with all those crazies out there. You
have a better chance of dying than any global warming.

Answer 7

It's not just a political hype. The increasing usage of CFC gases from refrigerators, Air-conditioners etc.. cause a depletion in the ozone layer. Owing to the increasing amounts of harmful gases like carbon di & mono oxides, nitrogen di oxide has caused a overall warming effect called global warming. this type of warming effect could cause sun burns, rashes etcc on your skin and becomes a serious problem on further advancement.

Answer 8

MEGA THREATS
these are some Mega threats that endanger the planet including salination,

over population,erosian(land loss),over pumping of carbon aquifiers(deep wells)
desertification(landloss),rising seas(land loss) deforrestation.excess carbon emissions,mass extinction of species and
GLOBAL WARMING

Clorofluorocarbons and gases that are released into the atmosphere by car exausts, non biodegradable materials
chief causes for global warming are the destruction of the ozone and excessive carbon production ,because we have so many cars and so much land is being deforrested

other reasons are the burning of rubbish especially tires and plastic,and the exessive use of aerosprays which release gasses these gasses built up .and industrial chimneys ,electric power plants

because we are a closed system (an enclosed package drifting in space)the trapped gasses heat up and produce the green house effect.

because of the green house effect and the desertification this planet is heating up.
Each degree rise in temperature signifies 10% crop loss

the trees produce the air that we need to breathe.
deforestation must be stopped before desertification goes out of control and consumes the planet.the trees absorb carbon emisions ,which is poison to us and they produce oxygen which we need to breathe.

the sea does as well but this is limited to winter periods how ever if the waters also heat up ,the seas will absorb less than ususal and we create more and more

DESERTIFICATION
the sahara is growing by 7 kilometres every day.
two major desserts in northern china are growing together making one giant dessert and,causing dust storms so making thousands of people refugees

the planet is drying out at an alarming rate.

in the days of the dinasaurs this planet was under an aquiferus manta ,a mist that covered the entire earth ,and there were no desserts .
Count how many there are today,and all of them are as a result of mans actions.
the sahara used to be forrests
arabia ,irak ,iran used to be fertile lands in biblical times

today
Bad agricultural practises is turning vast teritories into desserts ,because of over grazing and the exessive pumping of carbon aquifiers ,the surface aquifiers already having been depleted.
And the use of fertilisers and heavy machinery that compacts the ground which raises the salt in the soil.

it is a vicious circle of chain effects ,more and more industry,more and more cars so more and more CO2,,

less and less forrests (that utilize co2 )so less and less factors that obsorb
and hotter and hotter.
LESS AND LESS DRINKABLE WATER
each year 70 million more people are consuming water but this is ,but a small part of what agriculture uses.

so our consumption of water is ever increasing and our drinkable water supply is shrinking because of polution ,and the production of potable water is less all the time because of deforestation.
it is predicted that the wars of the future will be for water.

we are living in a bubble economy and when the bubble bursts
food prices will sky rocket,and so will the price of water.

the wars of the future will be for water

RISING SEAS
The northpole is melting ,and we will know it without ice in our life times.
this does not affect the sea level because it is ice that is already in the water.but the melting ice from Green land and the south pole ,which apperantly has a hole in the ozone the size of the usa, above it ,are another matter.

Global warming is in theory reversable,but it will mean global co operation between all countries ,and taking into account human nature and the world politics ,it is unlikely that this will happen,
At least not untill we are all in the middle of planetary disastres and it becomes a battle for the survival of humanity every where

Answer 9

We are in an interglacial period. If you look at the fluxuations of the temperature in geological history you will see similar fluxuations. where the world was very warm and then we went through an ice age. The world is getting warmer not necessarily due to anthropogentic effects. I believe that global warming is a political issue more than an ecological issue.

Answer 10

It is mostly hype. Global warming cycles have been going on for millions of years. People like Al Gore try to scare people with it for political gain.