GLOBAL WARMING.
Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation.
The global average air temperature near the Earth's surface rose 0.74 ± 0.18 °C (1.33 ± 0.32 °F) during the twentieth 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" via 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 officially rejects these conclusions. A few individual scientists disagree with some of the main conclusions of the IPCC.
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 results from the use of differing scenarios of future greenhouse gas emissions as well as models with differing 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 is expected to cause other changes, including sea level rise, increased intensity of extreme weather events, and changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation. Other effects include changes in agricultural yields, glacier retreat, 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 on a world scale 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 reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
CAUSES-
Earth's climate changes in response to external forcing, including variations in its orbit around the sun (orbital forcing), volcanic eruptions, and atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. The detailed causes of the recent warming remain an active field of research, but the scientific consensus identifies elevated levels of greenhouse gases due to human activity as the main influence. This attribution is clearest for the most recent 50 years, for which the most detailed data are available. In contrast to the scientific consensus that recent warming is mainly attributable to elevated levels of greenhouse gases, other hypotheses have been suggested to explain the observed increase in mean global temperature. One such hypothesis proposes that warming may be the result of increased solar radiation associated with greater numbers of sunspots.
None of the effects of forcing are instantaneous. The thermal inertia of the Earth's oceans and slow responses of other indirect effects mean that the Earth's current climate is not in equilibrium with the forcing imposed. Climate commitment studies indicate that even if greenhouse gases were stabilized at 2000 levels, a further warming of about 0.5 °C (0.9 °F) would still occur.
Hope u liked it...........................
2007-08-21 00:06:03
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Here is truth about global warming:
Global warming is one-half of the climatic cycle of warming and cooling.
The earth's mean temperature cycles around the freezing point of water.
This is a completely natural phenomenon which has been going on since there has been water on this planet. It is driven by the sun.
Our planet is currently emerging from a 'mini ice age', so is
becoming warmer and may return to the point at which Greenland is again usable as farmland (as it has been in recorded history).
As the polar ice caps decrease, the amount of fresh water mixing with oceanic water will slow and perhaps stop the thermohaline cycle (the oceanic heat 'conveyor' which, among other things, keeps the U.S. east coast warm).
When this cycle slows/stops, the planet will cool again and begin to enter another ice age.
It's been happening for millions of years.
The worrisome and brutal predictions of drastic climate effects are based on computer models, NOT CLIMATE HISTORY.
As you probably know, computer models are not the most reliable of sources, especially when used to 'predict' chaotic systems such as weather.
Global warming/cooling, AKA 'climate change':
Humans did not cause it.
Humans cannot stop it.
2007-08-21 01:59:33
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answer #2
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answered by credo quia est absurdum 7
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The best single solution would be to create a carbon cap and trade system. Under this system we would determine how much we need to reduce our carbon emissions to avoid the worst effects of global climate change, and this would be the 'carbon cap'. Then you divide up those total emissions into industry and individual allotments.
Basically everyone would get something like a carbon credit card. Everything you buy would have a carbon cost which was required to produce and transport it to you. If you have extra carbon credits (most likely poor people) you can sell them to people who need more carbon credits (most likely richer people), so in addition to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions we'd also narrow the gap between rich and poor.
2007-08-21 05:18:51
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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Global warming does not have one single remedy but requires many approaches. Perhaps the most successful single remedy in recent years has been the development of wind power but it can never be the total solution.
2007-08-20 22:18:38
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answer #4
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answered by Robert A 5
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Since over 50% of all green house gasses are created during power generation, Nuclear Power is the best cure for global warming.
2007-08-20 23:30:19
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answer #5
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answered by Dr Jello 7
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Wait a few thousand years for the next Ice Age to begin. Happens every time.
2007-08-21 01:28:00
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answer #6
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answered by evans_michael_ya 6
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Build alternative energy supplies; nuclear, solar, wind. Conserve energy. Build vehicles not powered by fossil fuels.
More details here:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,481085,00.html
http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM040507.pdf
2007-08-21 02:13:15
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answer #7
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answered by Bob 7
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Don't worry about it. It's a myth.
2007-08-21 01:18:50
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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