I think it is nearly impossible to measure but getting behind it gets you grants and ink. It also fills the space between TV commercials better than 鈥渉ey folks the climate may or may not be changing, we don鈥檛 know, but it probably wont effect you.鈥?
Show me I鈥檓 wrong. It is only a lie if we use the information deceitfully. There are things for it and things against it, but the problem really is how the information is used, and it is often used more for political value than anything else.
We could shut down all the factories and cars tomorrow and if a couple of big volcanos blow their stack, all benefit was lost. We have cows that are a significant source of methane, and central California is discovering their livestock is constantly spoiling their air quality measures no matter what they do with their cars. Forests take in carbon dioxide, but they also emit that as well as other chemicals and substances that cause problems. Algae takes carbon dioxide and returns oxygen, but red tide varieties deplete oxygen from the seas and kill fish, and crowd out the more beneficial algae. We have asphalt shingled building roofs and asphalt streets and parking lots surrounding the weather centers, so, yes, humans are making the air warmer (not to mention those machines that take heat out of the air from inside buildings and dump it outside).
But to use this to vote for a politician? I don't think so. Global warming is a term used to describe the trend of 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, as expressed in the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Third Assessment Report in 2001 and explicitly endorsed by the national science academies of the G8 nations April 2005, is that the average global temperature has risen 0.6 卤 0.2 掳C since the late 19th 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 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. The natural greenhouse effect keeps the Earth about 33 掳C warmer than it otherwise would be; adding carbon dioxide to a planet's atmosphere, with no other changes, will make that planet's surface warmer.
Observational sensitivity studies and climate models referenced by the IPCC predict that global temperatures may increase by 1.4 to 5.8 掳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 accuracy of the underlying climate models.
The increase in global temperatures is expected to result in other climate 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, change agricultural yields, cause 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 would be expected to continue past then, since CO2 has a long average atmospheric lifetime. Also, Climate commitment studies indicate that there is a further warming of perhaps 0.5 掳C to 1.0 掳C 鈥?already committed but not yet realised.
There are only a few scientists who contest the view that humanity's actions have played a significant role in increasing recent temperatures. However, uncertainties do 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.
'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. Some organizations use the term 'anthropogenic climate change' for human induced changes. ofcourse it's not a lie! it's really serious
well u can see by yourself in these websites
www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org/
www.globalwarming.org These tree hugging left wing liberals that are promoting global warming are the same group that was saying we were going into an ice age in the 1970's. No it's not. Global Warming is an event that occurs when part of the Earth's polar ice caps melt and the ocean level rises to 3 meters and over. No, I got up at 9am a in March to about 4 inches of snow. That would normally reflect the heat from the sun - being white and not melt for days if not weeks. It was all gone - melted - 4 hours later. The polar ice caps are melting. Global warming isn't just real - but far worse than we thought it was. It will cause flooding in low lying countries. It will cause the snow to melt quickly on the mountains and rivers to flood. It will cause unstable weather, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes and all that stuff you're already seeing - if you're not blinded by self interest. I agree with wills and myth up there, and I must say I'd have statest the same, but myth pretty much covered it, nicely and thoroughly. To anyone that disagrees, I ask you, have you checked a thermometer lately? I'm from East Texas, its hot and humid now. Back in the early 80s we had 4 seasons, inluding an actual Spring with nice cool weather, and a tolerable summer that never went past 88 or 90f, and averaged at 85f. This ain't comin' fro a 'tree huggin' liberal' this is coming from a person who is hot and sticky and who had to wait 22 years to see a decent Spring. Get your facts straight Ron. Not everyone can live in Colorado mountain areas and other naturally cool environments like I did at one time. You don't even have to go online to find this out, all you have to do is step outside. Like, duh ... Thanks myth and wills, loved your answers, esp. the chem stuff from wills. Brought back fond memories of my pre-teen years ... I hope this helps you with your quest for knowledge ... of course not YOu just created a politacal upheavel. Both Parties agree that the earth is getting warmer. ON one side, people say that CO2 emitions from your car and stuff, is the major reason. On the other it is said that this is a natural process of the planet. Either way Yea,. it does exist. I am one of the evil SUV drivers.... Hey by the way, I saw something about a product called biodiesel... it is supposed to run as good as diesel, better mph and 78% cleaner... Something for the tree huggers to think about... Now you can be a man, and hugg a tree, isnt life swell Lester E Brown is the director and founder of the global institute of Environment in the United states .he has compiled a report based on all the satalite information available from NASA,and all the information that has come from Universities and American embassies WORLD WIDE ,
his little book Plan B has been trans lated into 50 languages and won the best book award in 2003.
so he knows something and i have added a couple of things that i know
CARBON MONOXIDE
chief causes for global warming are the destruction of the ozone and excessive carbon production ,because we have so many cars and so much land is being deforrested.
the trees absorb carbon emisions ,which is poison to us and they produce oxygen which we need to breathe.
the sea does as well but this is limited to winter periods how ever if the waters also heat up ,the seas will absorb less than ususal and we create more and more
the trees produce the air that we need to breathe.
deforestation must be stopped before desertification goes out of control and consumes the planet.
other reasons are the burning of rubbish especially tires and plastic,and the exessive use of aerosprays which release gasses thes gasses built up ,and because we are a closed system (an enclosed package drifting in space)the trapped gasses heat up and produce the green house effect.
because of the green house effect and the desertification this planet is heating up
Each degree rise in temperature signifies 10% crop loss
DESERTIFICATION
the sahara is growing by 7 kilometres every day.
two major desserts in northern china are growing together making one giant dessert and,causing dust storms so making thousands of people refugeese
the trees evaporate a mist which ,which protects us from the strong rays of the sun .
the planet is drying out at an alarming rate.
in the days of the dinasaurs this planet was under an aquiferus manta ,a mist that covered the entire earth ,and there were no desserts .
Count how many there are today,and all of them are as a result of mans actions.
the sahara used to be forrests
arabia ,irak ,iran used to be fertile lands in biblical times
Ghengas Kahn burned all the forrests here and filled the well with water and so turning vast lands into dessert.
Bad agricultural practises is turning vast teritories into desserts ,because of over grazing and the exessive pumping of carbon aquifiers ,the surface aquifiers already having been depleted.
And the use of fertilisers and heavy machinery that compacts the ground which raises the salt in the soil.
Modern agriculture today is doing the same as ghengas kahn but in much bigger territories.
it is a vicious circle of chain effects
more and more CO2,,and less and less factors that obsorb
and hotter and hotter.
AND AS A RESULT WE HAVE LESS AND LESS DRINKABLE WATER
WATERSHORTAGE
each year 70 million more people are consuming water but this is ,but a small part of what agriculture uses.
so our consumption of water is ever increasing and our drinkable water supply is shrinking because of polution ,and the production of potable water is less all the time because of deforestation.
in Tasmania one can already exchange one litre of water for 2 litres of petrol.
it is predicted that the wars of the future will be for water.
the water we got in most populated places must be treated or purified before it is acceptable for human consumption.
in Portugal and soutern Spain ,as in many places, wine is cheaper than water.Which would explain the many drunk people there
we are living in a bubble economy and when the bubble bursts
food prices will sky rocket,and so will the price of water.
the wars of the future will be for water
RISING SEAS
The northpole is melting ,and we will know it without ice in our life times.
this does not affect the sea level because it is ice that is already in the water.
Green land and the south pole ,which apperantly has a hole in the ozone the size of the usa,are another matter.
this is ice above the sea ,on the land, and melted water will return to the sea .and so duely affect sea levels.the sea has been rising for a long time.
in portugal remains of Roman villas have been discovered 3/4 of a mile in the sea,and in one town the locals say that the sea is eating their town ,in recent years the Dona Philipa golf cours has lost the 16th and 17th hole which have fallen of the cliffs unto the beach.
in California and Florida rising seas have flooded arable land that has been lost
so far only a few millions acres in total globaly ,but this will speed up with the increasing global warming.
And in Antartica arms of ice that even had names because the were so permanent have broken of into the sea.
Global warming is in theory reversable,but it will mean global co operation between all countries ,and taking into account human nature and the world politics ,it is unlikely that this will happen,
At least not untill we are all in the middle of planetary disastres and it becomes a battle for the survival of humanity every where.
SOLUTIONS
if you want to help the planet ,plant a tree every week ,if everyone on the planet did we we would be able to reverse the destructive processes
reduce carbon emisions,and they are already working on that by alternative forms of energy and regulations on carbon producing materials,aerosol cans,burning rubbish,industrial chimneys,powerplants etc.
the capture of carbon and the production of water and assist the aquiferous manta.
the world bank pays large subsidies for reforrestation to capture carbon and the best tree for this is the Pawlonia
Waterharvesting projects ,such as millions of small dams.to redirect over ground waterflows from the rains into the ground to supply subteranian water supplies.
the protection of existing forrests.
stop building more highways,urban planning to include vegetation stop building cities encourage people to return to the land to conduct their business from there which now has become possible thanks to the internet.
education to motivate people to auto sufficiency by building more home food gardens.
education on environmental awareness
Agricultural education and improvements to follow the principals or sustainability and soil management.
more environmental or land ,design to prevent bush fires,such as--fire breaks ,more dams.regulations and control for public behaviour
alternative effeciant public transport to discourage the use of the internal conbustion engine
recicling wastes,limit water use |
