wat is global warming?
608068
Global warming refers to the increases in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans that has been observed in recent decades. The scientific opinion on climate change is that the average global temperature has risen 0.6 ± 0.2 °C over the 20th century, and that it is likely that "most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities". The increased volumes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) released by the burning of fossil fuels, land clearing and agriculture, and other human activities, are the primary sources of the human-induced component of warming.\n\nObservational sensitivity studies and climate models referenced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predict that global temperatures may increase by between 1.4 and 5.8 °C between 1990 and 2100. The range of uncertainty results in large part from not knowing the volume of future carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, there is uncertainty about the climate sensitivity.The increase in global temperatures is expected to result in other changes including rises in sea level and changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation. Such changes may increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, heat waves, and hurricanes. This may also cause lower agricultural yields, glacier retreat, reduced summer streamflows, or contribute to biological extinctions. Although warming is expected to affect the number and magnitude of these events, it is difficult to connect any particular event to global warming. Although most studies focus on the period up to 2100, warming (and sea level rise due to thermal expansion) would be expected to continue past then, since CO2 has a long average atmospheric lifetime. [1].\n\nThere are only a few scientists who contest the view that humanity's actions have played a significant role in increasing recent temperatures. However, more significant uncertainties exist regarding how much climate change should be expected in the future, and a hotly-contested political and public debate exists over what, if anything, should be done to reduce or reverse future warming, and how to cope with the consequences.\n\nThe term 'Global warming' is a specific case of the more general term 'climate change' (which can also refer to cooling, such as in Ice ages). Furthermore, the term is in principle neutral as to the causes, but in common usage, 'global warming' generally implies a human influence. Note, however, that the UNFCCC uses 'climate change' for human caused change and 'climate variability' for non-human caused change [2]. Some organizations use the term 'anthropogenic climate change' for human induced changes.
260304
global warming is cause by greenhouse gases being trapped near earths atmosphere, which causes heat to be trapped nearer to earths surface which increases the temperature on earth slightly which melts the polar ice caps which makes water levels rise which means islands will be flooded and shores will advance into the land making living space smaller in an already overpopulated world.
218644
It is because of the Global Warming due to the green house effect.
1115809
Global warming occurs naturally and is essential for life on Earth, but today, 99.5% of green house gases are caused by human energy industries, transportation, and commercial use.
63093
Global warming is an effect in the earth's lower atmosphere that is claimed to exist by many scientists today.  Essentially, the theory claims that carbon monoxide, fluorocarbons and other gases have damaged the ozone layer, the protective layer in the earth's upper atmosphere that protects the planet from the Sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation.  Some man-made causes of these gases are automobile emissions and bovine flattulance.  The supposed increased levels of UV radition are striking the earth in greater incidence, especially in the equatorial oceans. Hence, according to the theory, the warming oceans are changing weather patterns and melting the polar ice caps.   More severe storms and raising of the ocean levels are possible.  Detractors of the theory contend, however, that evidence for diminishment of the ozone layer, warming of the oceans and melting of the polar ice caps is scant due to the lack of longitudinal (long-term) climatological data for the earth.  In sum, it is unclear whether the changing weather patterns that appear to be happening are caused by man-made activities or part of some cycle governed by normal processes.
304041
Exactly none. There is a finite amount of energy stored on the planet in the form of fossil fuels. Burning it releases this energy. You cannot add more. There has been heat RELEASED by the burning of fossil fuels onthe planet, which many people believe causes global warming. The only heat energy added to the planet is solar energy.
1050462
Well, the weather changes very quickly, however global warming has been happening for a while. It is in the past while predicting the weather is in the future. There is data that shows a warming trend on Earth. So, you can trust it, at least as fact that is IS happening. Most people agree on that. However nobody is sure whether or not this heating is natural or caused by humans.
690933
The greenhouse effect is a natural process in which gases in the upper atmosphere trap heat in the planet.  greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide.  Scientists are concerend about this because carbon dioxide is increasing, therefore intensifying the greenhouse effect.  This can lead to global warming, which might melt the ice caps at the poles and submerge coastal cities in up to 100 meters of water.
724297
Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans in recent decades.\n\nThe Earth's average near-surface atmospheric temperature rose 0.6 ± 0.2 °Celsius (1.1 ± 0.4 °Fahrenheit) in the 20th century [1]. The prevailing scientific opinion on climate change is that "most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities"[2].\n\nThe increased amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) are the primary causes of the human-induced component of warming[3]. They are released by the burning of fossil fuels, land clearing and agriculture, etc. and lead to an increase in the greenhouse effect. The first speculation that a greenhouse effect might occur was by the Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius in 1897, although it did not become a topic of popular debate until some 90 years later. [4]\n\nClimate sensitivity is a measure of the equilibrium response to increased GHGs, and other anthropogenic and natural climate forcings. It is found by observational [5] and model studies. This sensitivity is usually expressed in terms of the temperature response expected from a doubling of CO2 in the atmosphere. The 2001 IPCC report estimates a likelyhood between 66% and 90% for a climate sensitivity in the range 1.5–4.5 °C (2.7–8.1 °F)[6]. This should not be confused with the expected temperature change by a given date, which also includes a dependence on the future GHG emissions and a delayed response due to thermal lag, principally from the oceans. Models referenced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), using a range of SRES scenarios, project that global temperatures will increase between 1.4 and 5.8 °C (2.5 to 10.5 °F) between 1990 and 2100.\n\nAn increase in global temperatures can in turn cause other changes, including a rising sea level and changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation. These changes may increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, heat waves, hurricanes, and tornados. Other consequences include higher or lower agricultural yields, glacial retreat, reduced summer stream flows, species extinctions and increases in the ranges of disease vectors. Warming is expected to affect the number and magnitude of these events; however, it is difficult to connect particular events to global warming. Although most studies focus on the period up to 2100, warming (and sea level rise due to thermal expansion) is expected to continue past then, since CO2 has an estimated atmospheric lifetime of 50 to 200 years. [7]. Only a small minority of climate scientists discount the role that humanity's actions have played in recent warming. However, the uncertainty is more significant regarding how much climate change should be expected in the future, and there is a hotly contested political and public debate over implementation of policies that deal with predicted consequences, what, if anything, should be done to reduce or reverse future warming, and how to deal with the predicted consequences.\n\nYou could get more information from the link below...
1169481
As partisan and insulting a statement (not even question) as that is, there are a few aspects to be addressed when discussing global warming.\n\nGlobal warming is the term used to describe how the average temperature of the planet is going up.  No one denies that the temperature is, in fact, going up.  Therefore, no one denies that global warming is a fact.\n\nHowever, according to studies of Antarctic ice, the average temperature of the planet has been rising for 6,000 years, which is well before the Industrial Revolution of 150 years ago.  This proves that global warming is not caused by man.  In that time, however, the rate of temperature rise has increased, which means that the actions of humanity probably has worsened the situation.\n\nThe critical facts about global warming are these:\n\nWhat are the effects of global warming going to be, and how can we prepare for them?  Currently, no model of global atmospheric projection has shown itself to accurately predict to any degree the general weather patterns of the Earth (such as the number and ferocity of hurricanes).  Until we come up with an accurate way of predicting the effects of global warming, preparing for them will be difficult and based upon conjectures, which are a difficult sell to taxpayers.\n\nWhat can be done to limit the effect of humanity on global warming in the future WITHOUT putting a major damper on economic growth and development, especially in developing nations?  For example, all nations could agree to stop driving vehicles that use internal combustion engines, but to do so at once would devastate the economies of many nations.  However, other options, such as diverting tax funds to subsidize the development of alternative-energy propulsion for vehicles, would accelerate the advent of such earth-friendly technology.\n\nAll in all, because of the massive stakes involved when discussing global warming (and the subsequent misinformation flying around about it), many people are confused as to the facts about it.  I was hoping to be as informative and unbiased as possible.\n\nPlease let me know what you think!
1168204
What are you mentally retarded ? Global warming is very much real.
1170026
Global warming started long before the "Industrial Revolution" and the invention of the internal combustion engine. Global warming began 18,000 years ago as the earth started warming its way out of the Pleistocene Ice Age-- a time when much of North America, Europe, and Asia lay buried beneath great sheets of glacial ice.\n\nEarth's climate and the biosphere have been in constant flux, dominated by ice ages and glaciers for the past several million years. We are currently enjoying a temporary reprieve from the deep freeze.\n\nApproximately every 100,000 years Earth's climate warms up temporarily. These warm periods, called interglacial periods, appear to last approximately 15,000 to 20,000 years before regressing back to a cold ice age climate. At year 18,000 and counting our current interglacial vacation from the Ice Age is much nearer it's end than it's beginning.\n\nGlobal warming during Earth's current interglacial warm period has greatly altered our environment and the distribution and diversity of all life. For example:\n\n\n Approximately 15,000 years ago the earth had warmed sufficiently to halt the advance of glaciers, and sea levels worldwide began to rise.\n\n By 8,000 years ago the land bridge across the Bearing Strait was drowned, cutting off the migration of men and animals to North America.\n\n Since the end of the Ice Age, Earth's temperature has risen approximately 16 degrees F and sea levels have risen a total of 300 feet ! Forests have returned where once there was only ice.\n\nDuring ice ages our planet is cold, dry, and inhospitable-- supporting few forests but plenty of glaciers and deserts. Like a spread of collosal bulldozers, glaciers have scraped and pulverized vast stretches of Earth's surface and completely destroyed entire regional ecosystems not once, but several times. During Ice Ages winters were longer and more severe and ice sheets grew to tremendous size, accumulating to thicknesses of up to 8,000 feet!. They moved slowly from higher elevations to lower-- driven by gravity and their tremendous weight. They left in their wake altered river courses, flattened landscapes, and along the margins of their farthest advance, great piles of glacial debris.\n\nDuring the last 3 million years glaciers have at one time or another covered about 29% of Earth's land surface or about 17.14 million square miles (44.38 million sq. km.) . What did not lay beneath ice was a largely cold and desolate desert landscape, due in large part to the colder, less-humid atmospheric conditions that prevailed.\n\nDuring the Ice Age summers were short and winters were brutal. Animal life and especially plant life had a very tough time of it. Thanks to global warming, that has all now changed, at least temporarily.\n\nThje maximum CO2 level was 2% over 2.5 million yrs back, at least scientists say that!!
863668
Global warming is NOT a "natural thing."\nYes, our planet all on its own, for various reasons, does go through cycles of warmer and cooler temperatures.\nHowever, in the last 150 years we have added many billions of tons of carbon in various forms (carbon dioxide in the air is the biggest problem) to the planet's ecosphere -- more than any "natural" cause in the history of the earth.  \nI very much want to leave a habitable planet to my children, so they can do the same for theirs.  That means reducing humans' artificial climate changes which are causing a runaway greenhouse effect -- which is NOT natural.\n\nThe earth isn't going to "die" naturally for another 4.5 BILLION years or so -- why are you so relaxed about moving that deadline up by 4.9999 billion years?\n\n"only" girl -- it's not a theory, it's well proven.  You should keep up with science.
965460
Good...global warming is a very serious issue\n\nhere are few very helpful site that will take you on a tour to contempory issues in global warming, answers all the global warming related questions\n\nyou will love it\nThis is informative site about global warming..\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming\n\nthis one is government's site telling government's actions on Global Warming\n\nhttp://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/globalwarming.html
301188
If you mean global warming, it's the scientific observation that the earth's temperature is rising over a period of time This is resulting in polar melting, raising the ocean level and affecting other weather patterns.
452215
Well Global warming is a great threat, it is damaging planet earth. I was reading in this physics book about the effects of global warming and it stated that the rising levels of harmful chemical gases in the earth's atmosphere could damage the earth forever. It says the with the build up of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen, methane, ammonia and carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere, a giant chemical ring will form around the earth's atmosphere blocking sunlight coming into earth, so therefore the earth turns into "lo" one of jupiter's many moons. I'm not saying that this is true, but that's what i read in my book.
549506
Global warming and it is closer to the equator.