what is global warming??

Question

i know it is something about the earth and the weather, but, i just don't understand...

Answer 1

Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans in recent decades.

The Earth's average near-surface atmospheric temperature rose 0.6 ± 0.2 °Celsius (1.1 ± 0.4 °Fahrenheit) in the 20th century [1]. The prevailing scientific opinion on climate change is that "most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities"[2].

The increased amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) are the primary causes of the human-induced component of warming[3]. They are released by the burning of fossil fuels, land clearing and agriculture, etc. and lead to an increase in the greenhouse effect. The first speculation that a greenhouse effect might occur was by the Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius in 1897, although it did not become a topic of popular debate until some 90 years later. [4]

Climate sensitivity is a measure of the equilibrium response to increased GHGs, and other anthropogenic and natural climate forcings. It is found by observational [5] and model studies. This sensitivity is usually expressed in terms of the temperature response expected from a doubling of CO2 in the atmosphere. The 2001 IPCC report estimates a likelyhood between 66% and 90% for a climate sensitivity in the range 1.5–4.5 °C (2.7–8.1 °F)[6]. This should not be confused with the expected temperature change by a given date, which also includes a dependence on the future GHG emissions and a delayed response due to thermal lag, principally from the oceans. Models referenced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), using a range of SRES scenarios, project that global temperatures will increase between 1.4 and 5.8 °C (2.5 to 10.5 °F) between 1990 and 2100.

An increase in global temperatures can in turn cause other changes, including a rising sea level and changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation. These changes may increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, heat waves, hurricanes, and tornados. Other consequences include higher or lower agricultural yields, glacial retreat, reduced summer stream flows, species extinctions and increases in the ranges of disease vectors. Warming is expected to affect the number and magnitude of these events; however, it is difficult to connect particular events to global warming. Although most studies focus on the period up to 2100, warming (and sea level rise due to thermal expansion) is expected to continue past then, since CO2 has an estimated atmospheric lifetime of 50 to 200 years. [7]. Only a small minority of climate scientists discount the role that humanity's actions have played in recent warming. However, the uncertainty is more significant regarding how much climate change should be expected in the future, and there is a hotly contested political and public debate over implementation of policies that deal with predicted consequences, what, if anything, should be done to reduce or reverse future warming, and how to deal with the predicted consequences.

You could get more information from the link below...

Answer 2

Basically, some of the heat that comes from the sun bounces off the earth and radiates back into space, and some of it stays in the atmosphere and heats up the earth. This heating by trapped radiation is called the "greenhouse effect." It's a little like the way a car with the windows rolled up gets hot; the sun's heat gets into the car through the windows but can't get back out again, so the car heats up.

The reason that global warming is a big topic lately is that certain pollutants called "greenhouse gasses" make this effect worse. They trap more of the sun's heat in the atmosphere, so less heat radiates out into space, and the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere heats up faster than it normally would if there were no pollution.

You really can't tell much about global warming from day-to-day weather, or even year-to-year weather in local regions. But there are places in the world where global warming has measurable, apparently permanent effects--sea life in the Gulf of Mexico, melted glaciers and snow on mountains and near the north and south poles, and so on.

By the way, I think some of the answers above that talk about the ozone layer are incorrect. There are other pollutants, fluorocarbons I think, that get into the upper atmosphere and break down the naturally occurring ozone, especially near the south pole. That "hole in the ozone layer" results in higher than usual ultraviolet radiation in the southern hemisphere, which causes worse than normal sunburns and some other things. But I don't think that the ozone hole is a big contributor to global warming the way that the greenhouse effect is.

Hope this answer was helpful.

Answer 3

Global warming, to put it simply, is the warming of the earth. this is predominantly caused by CO2 and other greenhouse gases, caused mainly from human-induced industries (if that makes sense at all).
The reason why global warming is .... not good for the planet is because it can cause many serious effects to the earth including a rising sea level and changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation. This basically means there would be a higher frequency and intensity of natural disasters like floods, tsunamis, heat waves, droughts etc. Also the reason why global warming is so dramatic is because scientists still doesn't know how much it can impact the earth in the future and how we can reduce/reverse future impact.
International agreements like the kyoto protocol are used to combat climate change. This protocol simply means that when countires ratify with the agreement, they agree to "reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases, or engage in emissions trading if they maintain or increase emissions of these gases". However, there are countries that havent ratify, including two of the most prominent greenhouse gase emitters America and Australia (where i come from).
Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming if you want more info.

Answer 4

It's the general trend of temperature increase on an average. The earth is steadily gaining more heat as time progresses. This is caused by a number of things, though mostly be greenhouse effects, and cloud reflection. As the temperature rises it causes more moisture to reside in the atmosphere, which also helps trap heat and light on the earth's surface. I do believe that we are going to see a gradual climate shift over the next hundred years. This will be accompanied by harsher weather, more extreme seasons, and ecological destruction. We are just as much to blame as the natural forces that are causing it, because we helped speed it up. Do your part, push for hydrogen, and non-pollutant forms of energy. If we reduce emissions we can taper the change, and maybe even reverse it with time. If not we'll see the ice caps melt, the oceanic currents will stop functioning correctly, and we'll probably end up as icecubes.

Answer 5

Global warming is the gradual warming of the AVERAGE earth temperature. The reason you are hearing so much about it is that the majority of scientists now agree that the earth has warmed faster in the past 100-years than it did in the thousands of years before that. There is also reasonable and conclusive evidence that the warming has been sped up by our increasing amounts fossil fuel use (gasoline burnt in your car engine is a significant source). In addition, global warming doesn't necessarily mean that YOU will have sweltering summers or droughts every year, one year could be cooler and one year warmer, however a warming earth creates significant instability in the weather patterns that we rely on (water for irrigating crops, snow runoff, etc.) and could result in more frequent damaging patterns, such as hurrican Katrina

Answer 6

Okay, first of all... anyone who says its not a big deal is just kidding themselves.

Global warming is caused by the release of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, and methane. They are released by the burning of fossil fuels, land clearing and agriculture, etc. and lead to an increase in the greenhouse effect.

The greenhouse effect is very basically saying that the ozone layer is trapping all of these gases in, and the warmth from the sun that would normally just go to the earth is also getting stuck, and trapped there.

Sure its only one degree temperature change (which ends up causing a rising sea level and changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation, which means the rain patterns and weather are getting mucked up) but that's a disturbing change, considering temperature shouldn't change so fast.

Global warming is blown out of proportion sometimes, but it is also very real, and its happening right now. It COULD get worse if people don't know more about it, so thanks for asking.

Answer 7

If you wish to receive grant money for climate research, do you think that you'll get a cheque if you say," I need the grant, as I think that I can prove that the figures that the current paradigm is based upon are wrong" ? The great environmentalist, David Bellamy, has been silenced, and refused airtime. There is still no proven causative link between the amount of Co2 in the atmosphere, and an increase in global temperatures. The WWWF photographs of the polar bears swimming were taken in the Arctic summer; when the ice cap partially melts, as they couldn't get up to photograph in the winter. The ice was too thick! The East-Anglian uni research figures. "Oh! The figures don't match our expectations. Oh well. Keep quiet. Because we know that we are right." When the belief, and the faith is more important than squarely facing the legitimate doubts of a lot of non grant-supported scientists, science has been superceded by religious zealots. As Oliver Cromwell colourfully said." I pray thee, in the bowels of Christ, consider that thou mayest be wrong."

Answer 8

"Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans in recent decades."

Mostly pollution, and dirty air, cause the ozone layer to breakup and become thinner, allowing suns rays to get through, making the earth hotter. If the ozone layer is thicker the sun rays get's trapped, and it's not as hot. Therefore, stopping Global Warming is to decrease pollution. (Such as Recycle, or not drive cars so much) but I don't think cars are the trouble, buses and trucks are MUCH worse.

Global Warming is also bad, because it melts the north and south pole, cause ocean levels to rise, making hurricanes and cyclones much more stronger and vicious. Such as Hurricane Katrina, that was believed to have been influenced due to Global Warming.

Answer 9

There is no such thing as global warming. The scientist and political guys are saying that to get us worried. Plus they try to get money off of us to sell us books about global warming. If there was global warming we wouldnt be on this planet much longer. They say the Pacific Ocean went up 1 degree over the past 100 years. That is not a big deal. They are saying ice caps are melting on the north pole and things like that but not melting enough to do any damage. That is why it rains because it sends down chemicals and all that stuff that pollutes the air to the ground and that is why the sky is blue except when it is humid out. The earth replenishes itself after it rains and snows. Dont worry about global warming. There is no such thing.

Answer 10

The world is warming up, it is a fact, but if it is all man made, or partly man made is debatable.
It is estimated the sea will rise by 4 metres in the next 10 -20 years, so get a ordinance survey map, and check your elevation, to see if you are going to drown!