is global warming fact or fiction?

Question

im a high school student that is despertaly trying to learn about global warming.

Answer 1

Neither fact nor fiction. Global warming is a huge topic representing observations, computer modeling, deductions from proxy information, statistical analysis, hypothesis derived from all of that, the ensuing politicization and polarization, with fear and alarmists on one side and skepticism and obstruction by groups more afraid of immediate financial loss than future problems on the other.

A true scientist would never claim that conclusions are facts; they are far too cautious for that. However, it is fair to say that science's best guess as to what's happening with the climate change is that it is getting warmer, primarily due to human activity. International scientists are in virtual agreement. I just watched some video clips for a 60-minute segment about it. Here's the URL. http://60minutes.yahoo.com/segment/26/global_warming

The last clip was particularly telling. There was Dr. Robert Correll, one of the world's top authorities on climate change on prime time TV , telling us that,
"The planet is out of balance. ... We now have really unchallenged science, in my opinion. ... And you have the preponderance of evidence across the board among all the disciplines, that the warming we're seeing today is substantially coming from human effect. .... What's different today is the rate at which this is occurring. ... (It's) so much more rapid ... than virtually any time we've seen in the history of the planet." -- http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/scp_v3/viewer/index.php?pid=16598&rn=49750&cl=1414771&ch=334515&src=news (Warning - you'll have to watch a 15-sec ad first)

So who is this Dr. Richard Correll? He was the Assistant Director for Geosciences at the National Science Foundation (NSF) from 1987-1999 and chair of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment study completed in 2004, where he coordinated an international team of over 300 scientists, experts and Arctic region natives.

Here's a NASA FAQ on GW: http://globalchange.nasa.gov/Resources/FAQs/glob_warmfaq.html

Here's another site that's not too techical: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Change/ Follow the links in the upper left.

If you want to get more technical, this site is very readable, and will get you immersed in it pretty quickly; http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/globalwarming/paleolast.html

Answer 2

There is certainly something going on with the climate. Whether that counts as "Global warming" in the humans causing sense, or something else I'm not too sure.

But, I do think we are taking liberties with th eplanet and it's resources, and it's in our best interest to do something about it.

Have a look here

Answer 3

First off, it's great to see young people interested in current events and the environment. :) Hopefully you can educate yourself on the subject, think critically, and make your own decision.

For some background on the subject, I would check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming.

Next, I would see if you can rent the DVD "An Inconvenient Truth." It just recently came out and I think you will find it very helpful, yet not overly boring. ;)

Good luck!