Global Warming

Almost 100% of the observed temperature increase over the last 50 years has been due to the increase in the atmosphere of greenhouse gas concentrations like water vapour, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and ozone. Greenhouse gases are those gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect (see below). The largest contributing source of greenhouse gas is the burning of fossil fuels leading to the emission of carbon dioxide.

Global warming causes by greenhouse effect
The Earth's climate changes in response to external forcing, including variations in its orbit around the Sun (orbital forcing), volcanic eruptions, and atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations.

The predicted effects of global warming on the environment and for human life are numerous and varied The effects of global warming are very foremost. The sea level will rise, which means that coasts will move inland and cause floods. There will be more rain, which will cause floods. Storms will be stronger, which will cause damage. There will be more diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, and it is possible that more people will die in disasters.

Effects of global warming
There are two major effects of global warming:
• Increase of temperature on the earth by about 3° to 5° C (34° to 41° Fahrenheit) by the year 2100.
• Rise of sea levels by at least 25 meters (82 feet) by the year 2100.

How to help prevent Global Warming
The most practical way to prevent global warming is not to use as much of the stuff that creates greenhouse gases. On a local level, people can help by using less energy. The electricity that is needed to power our electronics comes from power plants, which burn fossil fuel to produce electricity. Here are a few specific ways that humans can help to lower emissions:
1. Turn off lights when they are not in use. Although the light bulb itself does not emit gases, the power plants that are powering it do.
2. Whenever possible, use a fan instead of air conditioning.
3. Keep a car tuned up. When it is running properly, it emits fewer harmful gases.
4. Walk or ride a bike when it's possible.
5. Recycle. Un-recycled garbage ends up in a landfill, which produces methane. In addition, recycled goods require less energy to produce than products made from scratch.
6. Plant trees and other plant life whenever possible. Plants take carbon dioxide out of the air and release oxygen.
7. Don't burn garbage. This releases carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons into the atmosphere.
8. Whenever possible eat food cold. Heating things up wastes more energy than almost everything else.
9. Improvise whenever possible; it is better than buying a tool you only use once.
10. Don't buy more than one bottle of water in places where the water from the tap cannot be drunk. Instead, buy one bottle, and then boil water, let it cool (but not in the refrigerator) and use the original plastic bottle for your portable water supply. If your tap water is drinkable out of the tap, use this water instead of bottled water.
The most effective way to stem the emission of greenhouse gases is to develop non-fossil fuel energy sources. Hydro-electric power, solar power, hydrogen engines and fuel cells are all ways to cut down emissions. This topic has been edited by (j.c.)from Braddock, and M.E. revised this section again.