Global Warming Chapter 1 Study Guide

As a result, it is no surprise scientists have estimated that in the last two hundred years the global temperature has risen by 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Maybe that does not sound like much, but consider this: it only took four degrees to bring us out of the last Ice Age. Experts agree that global warming is one of the greatest—if not the greatest—challenge facing all of humanity.

The carbon dioxide levels in the 20th century have been highest in 650,000 years. Till 1950, the levels rose by 11% and recently the levels have risen by 40%. Arctic ice is melting rapidly. It is estimated that by 2040 the region is to have a completely ice free summer, or even earlier. More than 1 million species have become extinct due to disappearing habitats caused due to global warming. Sea levels have risen about 7 inches in the last 100 years, which is more than the previous 2000 years combined. The rising sea levels due to global warming could threaten the lives of people living along the coastal areas. The consumption of fossil fuels in last few decades has contributed much to the destruction of our environment. Global warming, climate

The human race all around the world wonders if the climate is changing due to human activity or if it is just a natural occurrence. At certain parts of the Earth's surface, the climate can be observed much differently than other locations. As the years go by the average temperature of the Earth increases by little intervals. There are several different reasons why people believe the climate is changing every year. However, the increase of worldwide population and production of heat to the atmosphere is due to the increase of human activities that take place on a daily basis. Human activity is the main cause of the global climate change. The human impact on climate exceeds any known changes due to natural processes. The impact of this human activity is often misunderstood when looking at climate change.

Humans are considered to be a big reason for this rise in temperatures over the last forty years. This is due to our extensive use of using fuels for energy that release carbon dioxide, also called the greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Every car driven on the road releases this substance as well as fuels used to heat homes and provide power to our everyday lives. There are also other factors that play a role into this explosion of rising temperatures. The EPA website states, “The majority of greenhouse gases come from burning fossil fuels to produce energy, although deforestation, industrial processes, and some agricultural practices also emit gases into the atmosphere” (EPA.gov, 2014). Trees are the atmospheres filter for carbon dioxide but when we continually dump more and more of this gas into the air and cut down more and more of the forests the balance of the Earth becomes skewed and the temperatures increase.

Greenhouse gases in our atmosphere act almost like a blanket between the earth and frigid space. At lower levels, greenhouse gases trap some heat in our atmosphere

It has been observed through various researches that in the last century, average temperatures across the globe increased by over 1.3°F with an increase of more than two times in the Arctic. (Bates, Kundzewicz, Wu, & Palutikof, June 2008). The results of climate change can also be seen in changing precipitation patterns, increases in ocean temperatures, changes in the sea level, and acidity and melting of glaciers and sea ice (USEPA, 2014).

Climate change is a rising issue of importance in our day and age, and one that is threatening our global society on many levels. In the past few decades, scientists have discovered that our planet’s climate has been changing at an alarming rate. The way in which we have changed the land to

It has reached the point in human evolution, with facts proving a half degree Celcius increase in the past century, with more exponential increases expected for the future. One half degree doesn't sound like an overwhelming amount, but just the sheer magnitude of humans being able to change GLOBAL temperatures is astounding. There are several reasons for this global warming crisis namely the presence of greenhouse gases and the depletion of the Ozone by tricky synthetic chemicals such as CFCs.

We are slowly destroying our climate and environment. The land and ocean surfaces have warmed roughly 1.53 degrees Fahrenheit from 1880-2012 (How much has the global temperature risen since 1880? 1). Land warms faster than the oceans. In the northern hemisphere, 1983 to 2012 were the warmest 30 year period in the last 1,300 years (How much has the global temperature risen since 1880? 1). This is a cause for concern among scientist.

For over a hundred years, scientists have been carefully gathering and verifying data on the earth's temperature. The latest data reveals some striking trends:All 10 of the warmest years on record have occurred in the last 15 years The 1990's have already been warmer than the 1980's- the warmest decade on record The global average surface temperature has risen 0.5 degrees (site source)For the first time ever, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the authoritative international body charged with studying this issue, concluded that the observed increase in global average temperature over the last century "is

In the last 100 years, Earth’s average temperature has risen by 1.4°F. The rising global temperatures have caused changes in weather and climate. Global warming refers to the ongoing rise in the average temperature near Earth’s surface. This is causing a climate change, which refers to any significant change (major change in temperature, precipitation, or wind patterns) in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time (several decades or longer). Due to this, it is projected that the temperature will rise from 2 to 11.5°F in the next hundred years (US EPA, 2014). The “drivers,” which are the principal causes making this occur, are very controversial. It is debated whether a change in temperature is due to the work of

Greenhouse gases ,such as carbon dioxide, is absorb and emits heat into the earths atmosphere, keeping the Earth warm enough to support life. However, human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, are adding large amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Earth must get rid of energy at the same rate it receives energy. More greenhouse gases means that more heat is being held in the atmosphere, which makes the temperatures higher. All the greenhouse gases people have added to the

One of the main reasons that earth’s temperatures are rising are due to greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are created when humans burn fossil fuels such as coals, natural gases, and oils to produce heat or electricity. These gases are then capable of trapping infrared radiation sent by the sun. Once these

So, is the temperature really rising? This simple answer to this question is “Yes.” According to Watson, we now have strong evidences that the climate is changing and that human activities were the primary cause of the changes during the 20th century (24). He asserts that the temperature increase in the 20th century was greater than that for any other century during the last 1000 years and the temperatures now are warmer than at any time during this period (26). Johns acclaim that the rise in CO2 levels from 280 parts per million around 1700s to 380 p.m. Today is the major factor

In addition, human also partake in activities that help destroy the planet. Over the past century global warming trend is also caused by human expansion of the "greenhouse effect"- warming that occurs when the atmosphere traps heat radiating from Earth toward space. Gases in the atmosphere block heat from escaping. This is called the greenhouse effect. However, while greenhouse gases increase, the climate changes and result into effects that is dangerous to human health and ecosystems. The gases that have an influence on the atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide and