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Global Warming
Global Warming is the century-scale rise in the average temperature of the Earth's surface, oceans, and atmosphere due to an increase in the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels or from deforestation trap heat that would otherwise escape from Earth. This warming is causing climate patterns to change.
11,528 Questions
Which human activities are responsible for melting our polar ice caps?
Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, leading to global warming and the melting of polar ice caps. Other contributing factors include pollution of the environment and improper waste disposal, which can accelerate the melting of ice caps through various mechanisms.
Why water need conservation even though large oceans are surrounded by land masses?
While the Earth is indeed covered mostly by water, only about 1% of that water is readily available for human consumption as freshwater. This limited freshwater supply is unevenly distributed across the globe, making water conservation crucial to ensure sustainable access to this vital resource. Additionally, population growth, climate change, and pollution are putting pressure on freshwater sources, further underscoring the importance of conserving water.
Which greenhouse gas has increased as a direct result of burning fossil fuels and deforestation?
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the greenhouse gas that has increased as a direct result of burning fossil fuels and deforestation. The burning of fossil fuels releases large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere, while deforestation reduces the Earth's capacity to absorb CO2 through trees and vegetation.
Why have we herd so much about global warming in the past few years?
Because wasting fuel is thickening the ozone layer and keeping more heat in the atmosphere. Melting polar ice caps. Which will eventually then flood the earth killing us. Maybe turn the news on once in a while.
Do sunspots warm up the earth?
Although solar activity is associated with sunspots, there is no associated increase in solar output. Historically sunspot activity waxed and waned on an 11 year cycle, which maps to no identifiable earthly weather pattern of matching period.
Which greenhouse gas is the most powerful absorber of radition emitted by earth?
In terms of total absorbtion, it is water vapor. It absorbs around 75 to 80% of all the heat the atmosphere absorbs in total. Second place is CO2 which takes in around 5% of all warmth.
If all the rainforests were destroyed then global warming will continue unchecked. Even if we changed over to renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro, tidal and wave, geothermal and biofuel) there would still be enough carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere to continue warming for many years.
Can alternative energy make a difference to global warming?
Yes, if we changed to alternative, renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro, tidal and wave, geothermal and biofuel) we would stop the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that are causing global warming. Our remaining forests would gradually remove the additional CO2 from the atmosphere and the earth would cool again.
Man-made solutions are products, technologies, or methods that are created by humans to address specific problems or needs. These solutions can range from physical objects like tools or machines to intangible solutions like processes or systems designed to improve efficiency or quality of life.
What is thought to cause ozone depletion including gases involved?
Ozone depletion is mainly caused by human-made chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, and other ozone-depleting substances (ODS). These gases release chlorine and bromine atoms in the stratosphere, which then break down ozone molecules. This leads to a reduction in the protective ozone layer in the Earth's atmosphere.
What will the continued depletion of the ozone layer most likely cause?
Continued depletion of the ozone layer is likely to cause increased exposure to harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can result in higher rates of skin cancer, cataracts, and weakened immune systems in humans. It can also lead to harmful effects on marine life, plant ecosystems, and the overall balance of Earth's climate.
How much greenhouse gas is each Canadian responsible for in a year?
Each Canadian is responsible for about 18 tonnes of greenhouse gas in a year.
Like most industrialized nations Canada develops inventories of all pollutants each year through Stats Canada, Environment Canada and the NPRI. These indicate GHGs as well as other pollutants. The data at the links indicates values of slightly over 650 tonne per year. With a population of about 34,482,779, the per capita Canadian GHG production from human activities would be about 18 tonnes per year.
What does biotic and climate change mean?
Biotic refers to living organisms, such as plants and animals, in an ecosystem. Climate change refers to long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric factors that are attributed to human activity, leading to global warming and its impacts on the environment.
How have humans or natural changes created greenhouse gases?
Humans create greenhouse gases by burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) in industry, transport and the generation of electricity, which releases carbon dioxide (CO2). Cattle rearing and rice paddy fields release methane (CH4), another greenhouse gas.
Natural causes of greenhouse gases are volcano eruptions, and the rotting of any organic matter (trees, plants and animals).
What is a warm air mass advancing under a cold air mass called?
A warm air mass advancing under a cold air mass is called an occluded front. This occurs when a fast-moving cold front catches up to a slow-moving warm front, lifting the warm air off the ground. The mixing of air masses can lead to cloud formation and precipitation.
What causes carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to increase?
Carbon dioxide is known to help keep our planet warm and is a minor contributor to the overall warming of the planet. Current levels are around 0.037% which is questionably up from a 1000 year low in 1850 of 0.028%. This change has been consistent with past records of warming trends. CO2 follows temperature rises by 20 to 800 years. These increases help plant life.
A:Increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes Global Warming.Does global warming affect crops?
Yes, global warming can affect crops in several ways. Increased temperatures can alter growing seasons and shift suitable growing regions for crops. Extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves, can also damage crops and reduce yields. Changes in precipitation patterns and increased pests and diseases due to warmer temperatures can further impact crop production.
Is anthropogenic climate change a scam?
No, it is real. There may very well be people hoping to make money off it, just as lots of people profit by war.
Most of the research scientists involved in the study of the climate stand to gain nothing regardless of the result they obtain. Research scientists generally don't make enough money to profit off long term investment schemes, beyond typical pension funds or employer supported 401(k) plans.
A small handful of climate scientists, however, are financed by the fossil fuel industry, largely off the basis of their results. This activity is not considered to be a scam, as it is designed to protect the status quo.
What are the 3 main theories that help explain global warming?
There are competing theories in every branch of science, but typically one theory tends to win the majority of the support. This is the case with global warming. Most scientists hold to the theory humans are the cause of most of it, with 5% or less attributed to other causes. Tertiary theories are that it is the result of some as yet unidentified solar cycle, or cosmic rays, or some other unknown natural cycle yet to be identified. Yet one more hypothesis is that the earth really isn't undergoing warming at all, we're just deceiving ourselves about that somehow.
Do wind energy contribute to climate change?
No, wind turbines are pollution free, and make no contribution to climate change. (Apart from carbon dioxide emissions from manufacture and installation, which are counterbalanced by the electricity of a few months of energy production.)
Why are greenhouse gases such a problem for our environment?
Greenhouse gases cause problems only when there is too much of them. Greenhouse gases keep the earth naturally warm, and have done so for millions of years. The carbon cycle moves carbon dioxide, the main movable gas, in and out of the atmosphere, keeping it balanced.
Man has been adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels (and by deforestation) since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. But we have not removed any of this gas, as the carbon cycle does. This extra gas is warming more, and causing global warming. This is the problem.
Answer:Global warming has been identified as a major issue for the global community. This is causing "Global Climate Change" as some areas may be warmer, some cooler, some wetter, some drier...Background:
The contention of the larger number of climatologists is that human activities since the industrial revolution have increased the content of CO2, methane and other gases in the atmosphere that trap solar heat. At the same time human activities have reduced the forest cover that had traditionally absorbed these same materials. They state that an increasing level of these atmospheric constituents has lead to a chain of chemical and physical changes that have increased the world's average temperature.
Observations of atmospheric gas composition, average sea water temperatures, atmospheric temperatures etc. confirm the trends and support the proposition.
Potential Impacts:
1. The sea levels may rise. Technically this may be caused by melting ice from the polar ice caps or an increase in sea height as the less dense water is less compressed. Low lying land like many Pacific Islands and Miami will be under water.
2. Serious climate changes may result from diverted ocean currents. As an example, the Gulf Stream keeps Europe warm. If the Stream is not running Europe may be much cooler and drier. Crops may not grow.
3. Ecology changes on the land could include species of animals and plants extending their range to the polar regions. Local flora and fauna may become extinct. A good example is the spread of Africanized bees and Fire Ants. Sea life may also be impacted both through the introduction of competitive species presently kept in other areas by water temperature changes, and by failure to adapt to less saline water.
4. Human society may be disrupted if changes in rainfall and temperature cause crop failure. Famine refugees may require significant humanitarian attention by the "lucky" nations.
Conflicting opinions?
Yes indeed, some people don't agree!
However, the problem breaks down into two potential scenarios. Either there is a basis for fear about climate change, or, there isn't.
If Climate Change isn't real and we do nothing - good! Except of course many of the problems that science has identified and blamed as causing Climate Change are just plain wastes of resources, and inefficient and uneconomical practices that should be addressed anyway. A polluted, climatically steady world with no fish and no oil will be no fun at all.
If Climate Change is not real and we do all the things that we should - reduce emissions, cut fuel use, re-establish forests - we're out money (maybe) but in general the world is a better and more sustainable place.
If Climate Change is real and we do nothing - we are dead or at least very miserable.
If Climate Change is real and we work to correct all our bad habits we might still be in trouble ... if it's too little and too late, but we'll go down fighting. If we succeed we live.
Answer:Greenhouse gases can become a big problem with global warming. They are basically carbon dioxide in our atmosphere that takes in heat in the daylight and release it at night.Due to global warming and the ongoing pollution in our atmosphere, there has been an increase of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. This causes more heat to be retained.
How much energy is saved when Steel is recycled instead of mined?
Recycling steel and iron saves 75% of the energy needed to make it from iron ore. Every year America saves enough from recycling steel to provide Los Angeles with electricity for ten years! Or 18 million households for one year!
In 1996 US Steelmakers remelted almost 19 billion steel cans (58% of all cans sold)! That's about 600 steel cans every second.
What did Charles David Keeling discover by measuring carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Charles David Keeling discovered that:
- the concentration of carbon dioxide in atmosphere has an important seasonal variation
- after 1960 he discovered that the concentration of carbon dioxide in atmosphere increase year after year, caused very probable by anthropogenic activities
How much carbon is released by a thermostat?
A thermostat is a device that controls the temperature of an operation / device e.g. in an electric iron the thermostat disconnects the electric supply to the heating coilwhen the set temperature is reached , thus saving electrical energy. The thermostat itself does not emit any CO2 , though you could say that in its own manufacture energy was spent and hence some CO2 was emitted . This is called embedded CO2 and is generally not considered to be significant.
How does global warming affect bamboo?
Global warming may cause increased droughts, which could dry up the bamboo forests. It might also bring increased rainfall and temperatures. In short, it is impossible to say with any certainty.
