It has already started. Global weather patterns, melting ice caps, changes in oceanic currents.
Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation.
Global average air temperature near the Earth's surface rose 0.74 ± 0.18 °C (1.3 ± 0.32 °F) during the past century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes, "most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations," which leads to warming of the surface and lower atmosphere by increasing the greenhouse effect. Natural phenomena such as solar variation combined with volcanoes have probably had a small warming effect from pre-industrial times to 1950, but a small cooling effect since 1950. These basic conclusions have been endorsed by at least 30 scientific societies and academies of science, including all of the national academies of science of the major industrialized countries. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists is the only scientific society that rejects these conclusions. A few individual scientists disagree with some of these conclusions as well.
Climate models referenced by the IPCC project that global surface temperatures are likely to increase by 1.1 to 6.4 °C (2.0 to 11.5 °F) between 1990 and 2100.[1] The range of values reflects the use of differing scenarios of future greenhouse gas emissions and results of models with differences in climate sensitivity. Although most studies focus on the period up to 2100, warming and sea level rise are expected to continue for more than a millennium even if greenhouse gas levels are stabilized. This reflects the large heat capacity of the oceans.
An increase in global temperatures can in turn cause other changes, including sea level rise, and changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation resulting in floods and drought. There may also be changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, though it is difficult to connect specific events to global warming. Other effects may include changes in agricultural yields, glacier retreat, reduced summer streamflows, species extinctions and increases in the ranges of disease vectors.
Remaining scientific uncertainties include the exact degree of climate change expected in the future, and how changes will vary from region to region around the globe. There is ongoing political and public debate regarding what, if any, action should be taken to reduce or reverse future warming or to adapt to its expected consequences. Most national governments have signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol aimed at combating greenhouse gas emissions.
2007-06-24 05:48:05
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answer #1
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answered by jsardi56 7
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Global warming is already affecting us in that sea levels have risen and glaciers have receded, just to name a few. Whether the global warming we see is due to the actions of man is still debated, but the majority of people believe man's development is a factor.
If what you mean by "affect us" is some terrific event or set of events that will end life as we know it, that will not happen from global warming, rather it will happen from a meteorite impact or man's errant use of technology. Although both possible, I don't think I'll be around to see those. I think I will see gradual climate changes, like a few more storms, a few more floods due to global warming in my life.
2007-06-24 05:50:52
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answer #2
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answered by Buckley Valeo 2
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First up, the Ozone layer is a separate concern brought about with the aid of CFC's reacting with the Ozone interior the top ecosystem subsequently thinning the Earth's safeguard against Ultraviolet easy. That has been addressed with the aid of banning using those coolants, and the ozone layer is now greater or much less recovered. The AGW hypothesis is that greater tiers of CO2 generated with the aid of burning fossil fuels has greater the Greenhouse effect and subsequently raised the common international temperature. it relatively is a logical-sounding concept that's theoretically captivating, yet there is only approximately no evidence that the assumption is authentic. Any develop in worldwide temperatures over the final century is so small as to be only approximately unmeasurable - 0.6 tiers C is in the margin of blunders, so isn't statistically significant. in spite of if it have been, the validity of the information has been heavily puzzled through "cherry finding out on" of records to artificially help the assumption. the single authentic degree of a concept isn't how properly it relatively is made to greater healthful previous records (or vice versa) yet how properly it may are awaiting destiny records. The predictions of the IPCC in 1999 for accelerating warming during the 1st decade of the twenty first Century have not been borne out with the aid of remark - it has quite have been given cooler. what's the white belongings you're shovelling off your backyard? Steam? What you could worry approximately isn't warming, yet what your government will do to you interior the call of this fake possibility.
2016-10-03 01:37:30
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answer #3
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answered by ? 4
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True it appears over the last ten years that the earth has warmed somewhat. In the '70's it appeared the earth was cooling somewhat and scientists were cautioning us about the world slipping into an ice age. Fact is the earth has been colder than it is now and it has been warmer than it is now - long before humans knew anything about fossil fuels. Whats causing it is the real question. Is it natural changes in temperature patterns or artificial based on the impact of man? As for how long will it take to effect us? I have yet to see any formula or mathmatical relationship between CO2 content in the atmosphere and temperature. Scientists have trouble predicting the afternoon weather forcast let alone temperature conditions years from now.
2007-06-24 08:43:17
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answer #4
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answered by James W 1
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It affects me all the time. Every day, it seems, I have to hear about it on the TV or radio. Of course we have global warming. When you think about it, we know it has to be happening. We do not explore as much for oil, because of it. We drive smaller cars because of it. We use less energy than we otherwise would, all because of it.
But, I am not saying it is man-made. After all, when is the last time you hear we were still in the ice-age? And, what SUV did those cavemen drive? lol
2007-06-24 05:47:14
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answer #5
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answered by MasterMmmm 5
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