is global warming a natural process that takes place every 10,000 years or so?or is it indeed caused by man?

Answer 1

Both it is a natural process that was triggered this time by man, like cutting down trees on a mountain and then being surprised when there is a landslide.

Answer 2

Oprah had an interesting show on global warming today with the help of Leonardo Dicaprio, whom is a great activist. Leo explained that America is producing the most damage to the earth, 25%, yet we are the smallest in proportion, making up only 5%. He went on to say that it was due to the damage we cause with our electricity and gasoline. The emissions from cars produces carbons that become dangerous to our earth which are causes ice bergs to melt, coast lines to rise, species and important plant sources to become extinct, as well as unhealthy high temperatures that will produce more viral infectionous diseases and loss of water supplies all over. It was stated that the affects would be detrimental in as little as 30-50 years if we dont start taking precautions now. They are encouraging hybrid vehicles that work with an electric compondent that helps use gas effectively and safely as well as changing to light bulbs in our homes that last longer yet put out and use less current. Just these little things alone would make a huge difference. As well as getting regular tune ups, oil changes, checking air on our tires and even using other forms of transportation. It isnt something that happens only every 10,000 and it will affect the next generation, if not this one also, horrifically. Hope that helps some. Take care

Answer 3

Global warming as we know it today is actually a process caused by man. It began with the industrial revolution of the late 18th and early 19th century when the world saw a dramatic rise in human populations and an increase in the use of fossil fuels. The human population on earth has been growing almost exponentially and as a result rates of consumption and production around the world have shot up. The primary source of energy that has fueled all this growth for the last 200 years has been fossil fuels. The burning of these fossil fuels causes carbon to be emmitted into the atmosphere which in turn leads to the greenhouse effect and that is what has been causing the world to grow warmer.

Global statistics show that the average temperature of the earth has actually increased by about 1.1 degrees over the past 100 years. This may not seem like a lot but the effect is pronounced in places like northern Alaska yearly ice formation on the open ocean has been occuring later and later in the year as of late thus limiting the amount of whale and seal hunting time is available for local people and animals. Researchers have also noted that many glaciers that have existed for thousands of years are now beginning to melt and recede more than normal.

Now while it is true that the last ice age ended about 10,000 years ago it is not to say that global warming was the cause of it. There have been four major ice ages in earth's history and the last one has actually seen periods of increased and decreased glacial activity (sometimes it was cold, sometimes it really really cold) that seemed to fluctuate on a period of about 40,000 to 100,000 year cycles. These major ice ages and the fluctuations in intensity were all caused by a variety of different factors. For example, changes in geologic activity, which led to the tectonic plate movement that eventually broke up the primordial landmass, Pangea, and moved all continents around, could have at times ended up having more above sea-level land being near the polor ice caps. This in turn could have allowed more snow and ice to accumulate over time and cause an ice age. Tectonic plate movement would have also created mountain ranges so large that they could effect climate as well one theory states. As the theory goes, the formation of the Himalayas, led to changes in earth's lower atmosphere near the Asian subcontinent. These changes would have led to a deviation in the path of the jet stream. If the jet stream had changed course then it could have brought colder temperatures to places that otherwise weren't so cold. This in turn could have led to an ice age or at least a period of intense glaciation.

Answer 4

As we may ponder this question, I will let you in on a secret. The Earth is forever changing and is alive as we are. I know that mankind has helped the progressive state of Global Warming with the evolution of machines and especially Cars. Now I also know that the gravitational pull of the Sun is pulling every planet and it's moon(s) closer and closer to it. What happens when you put it all together? A global melt down. My friend look at Mars. A very desolate lifeless planet. The surface temperature of Mars is increasing yearly by as many as 2-6 degrees. That is allot when you consider their are no life forms that we know of on that Red Planet. I hope that gives you something to think about. Thank you.

Answer 5

As was already said, in the 70's people were worried that we were entering an ice age. There is no way to prove that global warming occurs, either way. 10,000 years ago is before recorded time because the earth was created only 6,000 yrs ago.

To Renee, who said everything before creation was destroyed, nothing could be more absurd! A fundamental principle of science is that matter can be neither created nor destroyed.

Finally, I don't believe that an ice age occured; how would life survive? Instead, a theory is that a comet consisting of chunks of ice came close to earth. Frozen ice is slightly magnetic by the meissner (spelling?) effect of superconductors, so it would be drawn to the magnetic poles. This would also explain how mamoths are found frozen with undigested food still in their stomachs. If you put a mamoth in a freezer, the food in its stomach would rot before it froze, so extremely cold temeratures are required, such as are found in icy comets.

Regardless, these and everyone's opinion on global warming are beliefs, based on faith, because there is no evidence to prove either way.

Answer 6

Both. Global warming is part of many larger cycles, similar to seasons, caused by a variety of things (very scientific). However, there are mini events and mini cycles within the greater ones. For example, we are in a warm age as opposed to an ice age. Europe has had at least a couple mini ice ages during this current warm age. At least one of those was caused by a major volcano eruption, or something to that effect. There have also been accelerations of the warm age. For example, have you noticed that all creation myths begin with a deluge? Probably because everything that existed before that was destroyed. I think the warm age began with an accelerated warming trend which eventually calmed down. However, in the mean time there was rapid ice melt and massive flooding. Scientists have found evidence of this all over the world. This also corresponds with the time Atlantis was supposed to have been destroyed, so that event could have triggered the accelerated warm period, or been triggered by it (or at least one of many similar events of that time).
We are now in an accelerated warming period at least partially caused by human behavior.

Answer 7

there is a little that naturally occurs however man kind has caused a vast majority of this through polution some scientist state in roughly 50-60 years temps will spike to high people will die off in the millions. With the tipping point being triggered though may be sooner. ex... alaska wasn't able to run the iditod <--- misspelled sorry a couple years back not enough snow.

Answer 8

well of course we don't know to what extent it happens every ten thousand years, because of course that was before recorded time, but there is evidence of some kind of global warming trapped in the ice of Antarctica, however i believe that the global warming that is taking place right now has been increased to a dangerous if not catastrophic level, because of our technology and careless use of our recourse's, although the planet can heal itself over time our destruction rate is higher than the rate at which it can do that.

Answer 9

Global warming is a natural phenomena, but in the past it has happened over a very long period of time (thousands of years), but now it is happening much faster (decades) because of human harmful effects on the environment.

Answer 10

I believe that man is the largest part of the equation with his never-ending production of garbage and monstrous dependence on fossil fuels. I believe that we all have within our power the ability to cut down on the production of greenhouse gasses that are the primary cause of global warming by buying more fuel efficient or hybrid vehicles, using compact fluorescent light bulbs and recycling all recyclables.