Global Warming

Global warming... what is that??? Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation. A phenomenon (otherwise known as ‘climate change’ or ‘the greenhouse effect’) whereby solar radiation that has reflected back off the surface of the earth remains trapped at atmospheric levels, due to the build-up of CO2 and other greenhouse gases, rather than being emitted back into space. The effect of this is a warming of the global atmosphere.

The 2001 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that global average surface temperature had increased by 0.6 degrees Celsius during the twentieth century, largely due to greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere had increased by approximately 30 percent since the late nineteenth century, rising from 280 parts per million (ppm) by volume to 367 ppm in 1998. This are the causes for this problem:

Natural causes

— Release of methane gas from arctic tundra and wetlands.

— By orbital forcing-earth goes through a cycle of climate change

Man-made causes

1. Increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by

— Deforestation for development purposes.

— Burning fossils and fuels like gasolineoil,and coal

— Industrialization

— Transportation

2. Agriculture (farming)

— Increase methane gas

— Fertilizers that releases nitrous oxide

3. Increase in population

— Increase in pollution

4. Greenhouse Effect

— increase in greenhouse gases

— wide usage of CFC-in aerosol cans, refrigerators, some foaming agents in the packaging industry, fire extinguisher chemicals and cleaners used in the electronic industry.

— depletion of ozone layer

Here are some ways that you can do!!

• — Turn off lights, appliances and other items operated by electricity when they aren't in use. (Savings: 1000 pounds of carbon dioxide and $256 per year)

• — Unplug appliances and electric items when not in use - when an item is switched off, some current continues to be pulled by the cords. This is especially true of items that have the large AC adapter units incorporated on their cords. This wastes electricity creating more pollution and costing you more money.

• — Run your washer and dryer for full loads of laundry only - Use cold water whenever possible and consider allowing your clothes to air dry because it will keep them from shrinking too. (Savings: 700 pounds of carbon dioxide and $75 per year)

• — Carpool - To work, school, shopping mall. Share a ride with a friend or co-worker and keep unnecessary cars off the road, maybe traffic will improve as well. (Savings: 750 pounds of carbon dioxide

• — Whenever possible, use a fan instead of air conditioning.

• — Keep a car tuned up. When it is running properly, it emits fewer harmful gases.

• — 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.

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• — Plant trees and other plant life whenever possible. Plants take carbon dioxide out of the air and release oxygen.

• — Don't burn garbage. This releases carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons into the atmosphere.

• — The most effective way to reduce 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