0
Approximately 4 billion years, give or take a few million years. Since the beginning, the earth has gone through continuous warming and cooling periods. For instance, about 200 million years ago dinsoaurs were roaming around the jungles of Colorado. Global cooling might have been their downfall. More recently, glaciers covered most of Wisconsin about 700,000 years or so ago. Since then there have been as many as 10-12 glacial advances and retreats. The most recent major glacial advance peaked out about 20,000 years ago, then global warming set in and glaciers retreated for about 10,000 years after which there was a slight glacial advance. The earth warmed again and peaked around 5,000 years ago. The warming period since the last major glacial advance was when man started developing agriculture, and have more time to invent stuff. About 2000 years ago there was a minor glacial advance in some areas, then warming. About 500-600 years ago the "little ice age" began with cooling temps that lasted to the mid 1800's. Since then it has been warming except for a cool down from about 1940-1970 when some scientists thought we were going into another "ice age". Since the mid 70's things have been warming rapidly. This warming has been a great opportunity for some folks to blame all global warming on human activities. So far I don't think anyone really knows for sure, but whatever the cause, it could have profound effects on all life on earth, just as it always has.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What is global warming activity?
Global warming refers to the long term increase of the earths temperature. It is directly linked to climate change but is not an interchangeable term for it.
Has global warming helped the earth?
Global warming will raise the temperature of the earth and cause great changes to the climate. The earth will cope with this. All living things on earth, however, may die if global warming continues.
How long has global warming taken place?
Since the industrial revolution from about 1800 man has been releasing enormous amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere causing the green-house effect and leading to global warming. The process has accelerated as the population of the Earth grows and more countries get industrialised.
When will there be no more ice caps?
If global warming continues, not that long from now.
How does Carbon Dioxide make the planet heat up?
CO2 is one of the greenhouse gases which contributes to global warming. Scientists consider that these gases go into the upper atmosphere, and trap the reflected sun light rays. This is a bit simplistic explanation, but I've included a link which describes global warming in more detail. I think this link, although a bit long, gives good background information and the current understanding of greenhouse gases and global warming.
Rainfall effected by global warming?
Scientists have long said that global warming is bound to interfere with snow and rainfall patterns, because air and sea temperatures and sea-level atmospheric pressure -- the underlying forces behind these patterns -- are already changing.
Reasons against humans causing global warming?
The earth has a long history of warming and cooling. Ever heard of the Ice Ages? Other planets are currently showing evidence of warming.
How long has global warming hit Earth?
We know now that global warming started in the Industrial Revolution, more than 200 years ago, when we discovered and started to burn fossil fuels, which released carbon dioxide (CO2). This is one of the greenhouse gases that are causing global warming.
How long as global warming been here?
Global Warming, that is the warming of the earth since the beginning of the Industrial Age, began when man discovered fossil fuels some 250 years ago. There were commercial coal mines in the US state of Virginia in 1740.
What is global warming activity?
Global warming refers to the long term increase of the earths temperature. It is directly linked to climate change but is not an interchangeable term for it.
What do you wonder about global warming?
1. How long will it stays? 2. How can we be able to succeed over global warming? 3. What can we do to stop it totally?
What is global warming and what are you doing on earth to influence global warming?
Global warming is the long-term increase in the Earth's average temperature. Right now human greenhouse gases, mainly from burning fossil fuels, are causing global warming by increasing the greenhouse effect. The way to slow global warming is to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. On an individual level, people can accomplish this by using less energy at home (almost half of the energy in the USA is produced by burning coal), and by driving less. On a larger level, people can support efforts to put a price on carbon emissions.
Why does the APC say that it is impossible to predict that something like global warming can happen so long from now?
The American Policy Center (APC) say this because they are global warming skeptics. They believe that global warming is not happening.
Has global warming helped the earth?
Global warming will raise the temperature of the earth and cause great changes to the climate. The earth will cope with this. All living things on earth, however, may die if global warming continues.
How does global warming cause long-term changes in the global temperature?
Global warming is long term changes - increases - in the global temperature.The increases in the global temperature are being caused by the accelerated greenhouse effect. That is, more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (methane, but largely carbon dioxide from our burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas) capture more of the sun's heat and warm the atmosphere. This extra warming is global warming.
How long has global warming taken place?
Since the industrial revolution from about 1800 man has been releasing enormous amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere causing the green-house effect and leading to global warming. The process has accelerated as the population of the Earth grows and more countries get industrialised.
Is Kyoto a possible solution to global warming?
No because the Kyoto protocol assumes human beings are responsible for global warming. This is unlikely to be the case because the earth has gone through numerous cycles of warming and cooling going back long before human beings were a significant presence on this planet. Ever heard of the Ice Ages? There were several. Global warming and cooling are a function of solar activity and people can't control the sun.
