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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
What are 2 natural processes that release carbon into the atmosphere?
- Respiration by living organisms, such as plants and animals, releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
- Decomposition of organic matter by bacteria and fungi also releases carbon into the atmosphere.
What is the relationship between carbon dioxide and earth's temperature?
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas; that is it is a gas that allows short wavelengths from the sun to pass through to the Earth's surface, but blocks some of the longer wave radiation going from Earth to space. The law of conservation of energy says that by blocking this outgoing radiation, the Earth must be warmer than it would otherwise be. In fact, if the Earth had no CO2, its temperature would be below freezing. Water vapor would not help, because it would be frozen solid.
Other factors other than CO2 affect the Earth's temperature. Solar activity has an effect, but it has not shown a trend over the past thirty years which could explain the warming.
1998 was a very warm year because of an el Niño which was far stronger than any subsequent el Niño. The reason why the records set in 1998 have yet to be decisively beaten is because the CO2 added since then has barely matched the effects of the 1998 el Niño. Do not be deceived when people say that it is not warmer than last year and therefore, global warming is not happening. It is the same natural cycles which denialists love to point out has always happened. Global warming is happening. And we are causing it.
What gas is 20 times better at collecting heat than carbon dioxide?
Methane blocks heat radiation twenty times more effectively per molecule than does carbon dioxide. Fortunately, atmospheric methane concentrations are very much lower than carbon dioxide.
What type of combustion fuels produces the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide?
All carbon based fuels produce carbon dioxide when burned. These include:
- fossil fuels (coal. oil, natural gas)
- alcohols
- bio-fuels (wood, charcoal, waste burning including cremation)
- specialty industrial fuels (acetylene etc.)
- carbon monoxide
Coal and petroleum are the two primary fossil fuels. Oxidizing methane also releases CO2, but that is 25 times better than releasing methane, itself an even more potent greenhouse gas.
Where can one get greenhouse kits?
Greenhouse kits can be purchased from gardening stores, online retailers, and home improvement stores. They typically come in various sizes and designs to suit different needs and preferences. It's important to consider factors such as size, material, and budget when selecting a greenhouse kit.
How could climate change affect the ecosystems of the island nation of Samoa?
Climate change could lead to rising sea levels and increased frequency of extreme weather events in Samoa, which may cause coastal erosion, flooding, and damage to habitats. This could disrupt ecosystems, especially coastal ecosystems like coral reefs and mangroves, which are important for biodiversity and provide protection from storm surges. Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns could also affect the distribution and abundance of plant and animal species on the islands.
How does agriculture affect global warming?
We might guess that when crops are plowed, or leaves emit moisture, that the amount of water vapor in the air goes up.
A:Climate scientists, as a group, are in no doubt that average global temperatures are rising, and that human activity is the principal cause of that rise. Farming, including agriculture, is a contributor to the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels that cause enhanced global warming, although not the the extent that burning fossil fuels and cement manufacture are.Agriculture often leads to removal of forests. Since forests sequester carbon, deforestation releases this carbon into the air as carbon dioxide, adding significantly to atmospheric levels.
Ruminants, such as cattle and sheep, release methane gas when they belch. Since methane is a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, this is another important source of global warming.
What can you do to fix the greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect is not broken. It allows life to exist on this planet. Without the greenhouse effect it is unlikely we would be alive.
What you may be asking about is if man can do anything about the concept of the enhanced greenhouse effect that some believe is caused by man.
This issue is far more complex. Remember that man produces almost none of the annually produced greenhouse gases. Water vapor makes up almost all of our greenhouse gas in every conceivable way. It even accounts for up to 80% of all the energy trapped by gas.
The primary greenhouse gas that man produces is CO2. We produce around 3% of this gas. Over half is to power our homes and companies. If we are to believe the alarmists about when man started to contribute we are looking at a start date of about 1850 or earlier. Man produced no electric power to speak of, we had no cars and only minimal use of any fuels outside of natural fuels like wood.
To follow this logic would require the planet to reduce to levels lower then we had in 1850. This would require mass extinction of a large portion of our planet. High efficiency lamps and other such "feel goo" devices simply will not do the job for us. Additionally, no plan is in place to allow any meaningful reductions to occur. The only real attempt is the Kyoto Protocol which asks for a handful of countries to try to reduce and none to actually reduce.
A:Sometimes apparently insurmountable problems lead to despair, with people concluding that solutions are beyond us, so why even try. Although the Kyoto Protocol has led to only limited achievements, largely as a result of a lack of political will, there is much you can do as an individual to help reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, simply by helping reduce our use of coal and oil.In the United States alone, there are over three hundred million people, so it only requires each person to use a little less electricity: by replacing incandescent light globes by high efficiency one, by turning off appliances when not in use, by using air-conditioning less, by installing insulation in their homes, by driving fuel-efficient cars and using public transport more, to achieve a real reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Yes, in the end, only the governments can achieve the big savings that will begin to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, but by seeing the resolve of our citizens to contribute to this solution, governments will be compelled to act more decisively.
How much have carbon dioxide and methane levels increased in recent years?
Over the course of the twentieth century, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have increased by about 35 per cent, from the long-term average of 260-280 ppm to more than 380 ppm, with much of this increase occurring since the 1970s.
Atmospheric methane concentrations have increased from about 1650 ppb in 1985, to around 1775 ppb and seems to be stabilising near this higher level. Long term atmospheric measurements of methane show that the build up of methane has slowed dramatically after nearly tripling since pre-industrial times. Although scientists have yet to pinpoint the exact reason(s) for this sudden drop in growth rates, it is thought that this reduction is due to reduced industrial emissions and drought in wetland areas. A spike in 1991 is believed to have come from the volcanic eruption of Mount Pinatubo in that year.Answers.com
Who is responsible for carbon tax?
Carbon tax is normally paid by industries that emit carbon dioxide. It is designed to reduce the amount of CO2 emissions, because industries will try to become greener so as to avoid paying the tax.
What effects does combustion have on global warming leading to adverse effects on crops?
Combustion (burning) of anything releases carbon dioxide, because just about everything contains large amounts of carbon. If what is burnt was recently grown, then it is only a minor problem, but when we burn fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), we release carbon that has been hidden away for 300 million years. This extra carbon dioxide is causing global warming. Global warming is causing climate change, which will cause adverse effects to crops, changing rainfall patterns, raising temperatures, causing desertification, droughts and famine, and putting coastal croplands under sea water permanently.
How can things change the greenhouse effect in the future?
We could change the greenhouse effect in the future by planting billions of fast-growing trees. This would remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and the enhanced greenhouse effect that we have now would slow down.
Which process do plants obtain carbon from the atmosphere?
Plants obtain carbon from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air and use it to produce glucose, which they can then use for energy and growth.
The term for gases produced by aerosols and manufacturing that destroy the Earth's ozone layer is "ozone-depleting substances." Examples include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and halons. These substances break down ozone molecules in the stratosphere, leading to the thinning of the ozone layer.
Does the greenhouse effect occur on the moon or the earth?
The greenhouse effect comes about when greenhouse gases in the atmosphere capture heat rising from the surface of the planet. As the moon has no atmosphere, it could not have a greenhouse effect. So the answer is: The earth.
Does earth radiating mostly infrared light cause the greenhouse effect?
Yes, the Earth's surface absorbs sunlight and then emits much of it as infrared radiation. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap some of this infrared radiation, preventing it from escaping to space, which warms the planet overall.
Why is it difficult to deal with climate change?
There are two levels of difficulty in dealing with climate change caused by human activity. The fiirst is political, the second involves practical and technology issues.
Politicians usually prefer to take the safe option. If the majority of the public is not clearly aware of the consequences of climate changes, politicians can regard it as in their short term interests to avoid action to minimise climate change. And you can be sure that there are those in business who wish to spread misinformation and keep the public as uninformed as possible, to avoid regulatory changes that could require action on their parts. The difficulty is that there is simply not the political will to address the problem, and in some areas this may not exist until disaster is upon us.
A practical issue is that there is nothing we can do to stop immediately our contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Our lifestyle simply requires the use of electricity, which is largely produced by burning coal and oil. Our lifestyle also requires quick and convenient transportation, which mainly requires us to use oil. So we need to to be more frugal, getting more consumer benefit out each unit of electricity. We also need to introduce better ways to produce electricity and to move around without heavy reliance on fossil fuels. And even then, we can not replace billions of dollars worth of infrastructure overnight. But the sooner we begin to plan and address these issues, the sooner we can move down that road.
Do scientists agree about the causes of global warming?
The scientific consensus on global warming developed in the 1980s, when it became clear that human activity was primarily driving earth's rapid temperature change.
The scientific consensus has strengthened in the intervening 30 years, though political opposition to the findings has also, almost incongruously, increased.
The heat wave in Europe, including the deaths in France, was exacerbated by a persistent high-pressure system that trapped warm air over the region for an extended period. This led to prolonged exposure to high temperatures, which contributed to heat-related illnesses and fatalities.
Which processes in the carbon cycle decreases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Photosynthesis is the main process in the carbon cycle that decreases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide from the air and convert it into carbohydrates and oxygen. This helps to store carbon and reduce the overall concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
What heats the lower atmosphere?
The lower atmosphere is primarily heated by the sun's radiation. As sunlight enters the atmosphere, it warms the Earth's surface, which then emits heat energy back into the atmosphere. This process creates a temperature gradient, with warmer air near the surface and cooler air at higher altitudes.
What is the artificial greenhouse effect?
If you mean the man-made one, it is the accelerated, or enhanced greenhouse effect, caused by man's burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) in industry, transport and the generation of electricity, which releases carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas which is causing global warming and climate change.
What are two different viewpoints about global warming?
One view is that global warming is a serious problem that is happening because man is adding extra greenhouse gases to the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels and by cutting down forests.
Another view is that the world has also already been through these stages long before and it is nature taking its course. It is also that the world is aging rapidly. It is just the way of the world.
Answer:
To be honest, there are so many views on the subject that this hard drive would be full just mentioning all of them. The bulk of the world seems to believe that man is adding to the global warming that is occurring naturally. Over fifty percent believe this, although more and more people are starting to realize that they are not being given all of the facts. here is a typical view of a skeptic:
"Many realize that the Antarctic has been growing, not shrinking. Sea Levels are not climbing faster today. They are even starting to recede. 1938 was a record warm year. The 1400's were even warmer it appears.
The opposition's view to man made global warming simply says that the data we see is very minimal and selective.
No recent warming past 1939 levels and no sea level increase spells disaster for those that depend on income from grants. There is no money in pointing out nothing is going wrong. You only get grants to scare people. "
We do not know what is going on with climate, other then it always is changing.
Why are levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases rising?
One argument is because of the human activities:
-By burning fossil fuels, emitting CO2 into the atmosphere.
-By other human activities that releases gases such as Methane CO into the atmosphere
Another is by deforestation which destroys the amount of trees that is there to consume the CO2 emitted.
Why is it harmful to release carbon dioxide in the air?
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a powerful greenhouse gas which traps heat rising from the surface of the earth. When we add extra CO2 (burning fossil fuel releases CO2 that has been hidden away for millions of years) we are causing global warming and climate change which has the potential for destroying the environment for humans and animals.
