What is really causing global warming?

Question

I know it is not cars because I am 27 and when I was 10,11 years old, we had winter in Chicago. This rapid warming I am seeing is new. This has just been the past couple years where the four seasons seem to be disappearing. What is the real cause of the warming I am seeing here in Chicago?

Answer 1

It is pollution, the system is not linear, so the response is not as predictable.

CO2 is 30% higher than it has been for 650,000 years. Methane is 130% greater. These are two of the main pollutants humans put into the atmosphere in excess, and they are two of the primary greenhouse gases.

Look at the 'hockeystick', which shows a dramatic warming since 1950 after a fairly stable climate for 1000 years. In fact, the 10 hottest years in recorded history have all happened since 1990, with 2005 being the hottest.
(see links below)

How's that for proof of man's fault in this? There is ample proof, any real scientist will tell you that.

There has NEVER been an article doubting man's influence on global warming published in a peer-reviewed journal. A recent study of almost 1000 proved that.

Yes, the earth naturally heats and cools, but the rate and amount we are warming now is unprecedented in the recent geologic past. We are doing this, and we must stop it. This is not some political statement or rhetoric. This is science trying to educate a crass, ignorant public of the damage they are doing. The magnitude of temperature increase ALREADY is about 10x that of the 'little ice age' of the middle ages, and rate and amount are only going up.

Just to be clear, glacial and interglacial cycles are mainly controlled by astronomical fluctuations, but we have a detailed record of the last 7 cycles, and what the climate and CO2 is doing now is way different and extreme. The rate of increase is much higher than in the past AND the value itself is much higher.

HI CO2:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4467420.stm
HOCKEY STICK:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5109188.stm
General climate stuff:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3897061.stm

Answer 2

Actually, there are at least two causes. First, global temperature is cyclical, with periods of global warming and cooling occurring naturally. Second, air pollution is probably a factor in global warming, although how much is certainly debatable. However, it is a factor that cannot be ignored. In fact, global temperatures have had a sharp increase since the mid-19th century, when industrialization was going "full-steam", if you will pardon the pun.

According the NOAA Paleoclimatology website, "Although each of the proxy temperature records shown below is different, due in part to the diverse statistical methods utilized and sources of the proxy data, they all indicate similar patterns of temperature variability over the last 500 to 2000 years. Most striking is the fact that each record reveals a steep increase in the rate or spatial extent of warming since the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. When compared to the most recent decades of the instrumental record, they indicate the temperatures of the most recent decades are the warmest in the entire record. In addition, warmer than average temperatures are more widespread over the Northern Hemisphere in the 20th century than in any previous time."

Again, while it is difficult to say just how much air pollution is contributing to global warming, that is no reason for some to say that we don't need to worry about air pollution at all.

Answer 3

Don't know the answer. Interesting facts: In 1888 the weather in December was in the 40s in Hartford, Ct.. The winter remained mild, mildest in years until March 11, 1888. That night they had a storm. By morning there was 3 feet of wet snow. It paralyzed the city. It continued to snow. When it was all over New England had been hit with gale force winds, near zero temperatures, and up to 50 inches of snow. Not bad for the warmest winter for 17 years.

Answer 4

I know what you mean! I live in a desert and lately its gotton unusually cold. The temperatures dropped really fast. Its never been this cold!

Well Im no genius on this stuff but global warming is caused by ... Industries(when you burn fuel n all u give out stuff), Air Conditioners(they give out gases that cause global warming), basically pollution, mostly just stuff with Chloro Flouro Carbons....

Answer 5

The human activity cause it but not only with the emission of CO2 because alls energies finish into temperature after using.

Co2 can be recycle by vegetation and the globale warming is good for the climat IF we put water in alls drylands and deserts.
Like that:
http://video.google.fr/videoplay?docid=-6428334944196136906&hl=fr

Answer 6

carbon dioxide. chicago is a large city with many people. trherfore theres mmore cars and cars realees carbon diaoxide not to forget the factories and all other sorces. carbon dioxide traps the suns heat and keeps that heat on earth that increases the heat with more cqarbon dixode we put up in the air and ther u have global warming.

Answer 7

Pollution

Answer 8

all the pollution people put into the air puts holes in the atmosphere and the suns rays hit this whole creating hot spots which can melt glaciers and cause flooding these hot spots can also raise the temperature in water look into nasa.com for more information and links on this topic

Answer 9

Global warming is mainly caused by pollution.

Answer 10

All the hot air emanating from the capitol cities of the world.

And... to a lesser extent, provincial and state capitols.