Global Warming Causes

Global warming is primarily a problem of too much carbon dioxide (CO2) in the
atmospherewhich acts as a blanket, trapping heat and warming the planet. As
we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas for energy or cut down and
burn forests to create pastures and plantations, carbon accumulates and
overloads our atmosphere. Certain waste management and agricultural
practices aggravate the problem by releasing other potent global warming
gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide. See the pie chart for a breakdown of
heat-trapping global warming emissions by economic sector.
Global Warming Is Urgent and Can Be Addressed
CO2 survives in the atmosphere for a long timeup to many centuriesso its heat-trapping effects are
compounded over time. Of the many heat-trapping gases, CO2 puts us at the greatest risk of irreversible
changes if it continues to accumulate unabated in the atmosphereas it is likely to do if the global
economy remains dependent on fossil fuels for its energy needs. To put this in perspective, the carbon we
put in the atmosphere today will literally determine not only our climate future but that of future generations
as well.
Substantial scientific evidence indicates that an increase in the global average temperature of more than
3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (or 2 degrees Celsius [C]) above pre-industrial levels poses severe risks to
natural systems and to human health and well-being. The good news is that, because we as humans
caused global warming, we can also do something about it. To avoid this level of warming, large emitters
such as the United States need to greatly reduce heat-trapping gas emissions by mid century. Delay in
taking such action means the prospect of much steeper cuts later if there is any hope of staying below the
3.6F (2C) temperature goal. Delayed action is also likely to make it more difficult and costly to not only
make these reductions, but also address the climate consequences that occur in the meantime.

The Consequences of a Warming World

Over the last century, global average temperature has increased by more than 1F (0.7C). The 2001-2010
decade is the warmest since 1880the earliest year for which comprehensive global temperature records
were available. In fact, nine of the warmest years on record have occurred in just the last 10 years. This
warming has been accompanied by a decrease in very cold days and nights and an increase in extremely
hot days and warm nights. The continental United States, for example, has seen record daily highs twice
as often as record daily lows from 2000 to 2009. While the record shows that some parts of the world are
warming faster than others, the long-term global upward trend is unambiguous.
Of course, land and ocean temperature is only one way to measure the effects of climate change. A
warming world also has the potential to change rainfall and snow patterns, increase droughts and severe
storms, reduce lake ice cover, melt glaciers, increase sea levels, and change plant and animal behavior.

Regional Actions Add Up to Global Solutions

We encourage you to visit the solutions section of this web feature to find out how you can take action
to slow the pace of climate change and help minimize the harmful consequences described in the hot
spots!
Any action to reduce or eliminate the release of heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere helps slow the rate
of warming and, likely, the pace and severity of change at any given hot spot. Local sources of carbon
emissions vary from region to region, suggesting that solutions are often decided at the community level.

The Climate Hot Map points to regional examples of climate-friendly energy, transportation, or adaptation
choices. Some regions, however, must rely upon global solutions such as international agreements to
reduce the carbon overload in the atmosphere that threatens them. Small islands, for example, are a paltry
source of carbon emissions and yet are disproportionately affected by the consequences of global carbon
overload as accelerated sea level rise threatens the very existence of low-lying islands.
Individual, regional, and national actions can all add up to global solutions, slowing and eventually halting
the upward climb of CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere.

What Causes Global Warming?

Scientists Decades was magnificent figuring out what is Causing Global warming. They've Looked at the
Natural cycles and events That Are Known to Influence climate. But the amount and pattern of warming
that's Been Measured Can not Be Explained by These factors alone. The only way to explain the pattern is
to include the effect of greenhouse gases (GHGs) Emitted by humans.
To bring all this information together, the United Nations Formed a group of scientists called
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change , or IPCC. The IPCC meets every few years to review the
latest scientific findings and write a report Summarizing all that is Known acerca Global warming. Each
dealer to report a consensus, or agreement, Among Hundreds of leading scientists.
One of the first things scientists learned Is that there are several greenhouse gases responsible for
warming, and humans emit them in a variety of ways.Most eat from the combustion of fossil fuels in cars,
factories and electricity production. The gas responsible for the Most warming is carbon dioxide, CO2 Also
called. Other contributors include methane released from landfills and agriculture (especially from the
digestive systems of grazing animals), nitrous oxide from fertilizers, gases used for refrigeration and
Industrial Processes, and the loss of forests Otherwise That would store CO2.
Different greenhouse gases have very different heat-trapping abilities. Some of them can even trap more
heat than CO2. A molecule of methane produces more than 20 times the warming of a molecule of
CO2. Nitrous oxide is 300 times more powerful than CO2. Other gases, Such as chlorofluorocarbons
(Which Have Been banned in much of the world Because They Also degrade the ozone layer), Have heattrapping potential Thousands of times Greater than CO2. But Because Their Concentrations are much
lower than CO2, none of these gases adds as much warmth to the atmosphere as CO2 does.
In order to understand the effects of all the gases together, scientists talk to outstretch all greenhouse
gases acerca in terms of the equivalent amount of CO2. Since 1990, yearly Emissions acerca Have Gone
up by 6 billion metric tons of "carbon dioxide equivalent" worldwide, more than a 20 percent increase

Some Impacts from Increasing temperatures are Already happening.

Ice is melting worldwide, Especially at the Earth's poles. This includes mountain glaciers, ice
sheets covering West Antarctica and Greenland, and Arctic sea ice.

Researcher Bill Fraser has tracked the decline of the Adlie penguins on Antarctica, where Their
numbers Have Fallen from 32,000 breeding pairs to 11,000 in 30 years.

Became sea level rise faster over the last century.

Some butterflies, foxes, and alpine plants have moved farther north or to higher, cooler areas.

Precipitation (rain and snowfall) has Increased across the globe, on average.

Spruce bark beetles have boomed in Alaska thanks to 20 years of warm summers. The insects
have chewed up 4 million acres of spruce trees.
Other effects Could Happen This Century later, if warming continues.

Sea levels are expected to rise Between 7 and 23 inches (18 and 59 centimeters) by the end of
the century, and continued melting at the poles Could add Between 4 and 8 inches (10 to 20
centimeters).
Hurricanes and other storms are likely to Become stronger.

Depend on Species That May Become one another out of sync. For example, plants bloom Could
Earlier Than Their pollinating insects Become active.

Floods and Droughts Will Become more common. Rainfall in Ethiopia, where Droughts are
common Already, Could percent decline by 10 over the next 50 years.

Less fresh water will be available. If the Quelccaya ice cap in Peru Continues to melt at its current
rate, it will be gone by 2100, leaving Thousands of people who rely on it for drinking water and
electricity without a source of either.

Some diseases will spread,: such as malaria Carried by mosquitoes.

Ecosystems will change-some species will move farther north or Become more successful; others
will not be able to move and Could become extinct.Wildlife research scientist Martyn Obbard has found
That since the mid-1980s, with Less ice on Which to live and fish for food, polar bears have gotten
skinnier Considerably. Polar bear biologist Ian Stirling has found a similar pattern in a Hudson Bay. He
fears if sea ice disappears That, the polar bears will as well.

Global Warming Solutions

The evidence That humans are Causing Global warming is strong, but the question of what to do about it
Remains controversial. Economics, sociology, and politics are all important factors in planning for the
future.
Even if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases (GHGs) today, the Earth would still warm by another
degree Fahrenheit or so. But what we do from today forward makes a big difference. Depending on our
choices, scientists predict That Could Eventually the Earth warm by as little as 2.5 degrees or as much as
10 degrees Fahrenheit.
A Commonly cited goal is to stabilize GHG Concentrations around 450-550 parts per million (ppm), or
acerca twice pre-industrial levels. This is the point at Which many believe The most damaging Impacts of
climate change can be avoided. Current Concentrations are acerca 380 ppm, que means there is not
much time to lose. ACCORDING to the IPCC, We'd Have to reduce GHG Emissions by 50% to 80% of
what they're on track to be in the next century to reach this level.
Is this possible?
Many people and Governments are Already working hard to cut greenhouse gases, and everyone can
help.
Researchers Stephen Pacala and Robert Socolow at Princeton University have Suggested That one
approach they call "stabilization wedges." This means Reducing GHG Emissions from a variety of sources
with technologies available in the next few decades, rather than Relying on an enormous change in a
single area. They suggest 7 wedges that Could reduce Emissions each, and all of them together
Emissions Could hold approximately at current levels for the next 50 years, putting us on a potential path
to stabilize around 500 ppm.
There are many possible wedges, including improvements to energy efficiency and vehicle fuel economy
(so less energy has to be produced), and Increases in Solar and wind power, hydrogen produced from
renewable sources, biofuels (produced from crops), natural gas, and nuclear power. Also There is the
potential to capture the carbon dioxide from fossil fuels Emitted and store it underground-a process called
"carbon sequestration."

In Addition to Reducing the gases we emit to the atmosphere, we can Also Increase the amount of gases
we take out of the atmosphere. Plants and trees absorb CO2 Peak Gust grow, "sequestering" carbon
naturally. Increasing forestlands and making changes to the way we farm Could Increase the amount of
coal we're storing.
Some of These technologies have drawbacks, and different communities will make different decisions how
to power acerca Their Lives, but the good news is there are That a variety of options to put us on a path
Toward a stable climate.

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/globalwarming/gw-causes
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/globalwarming/gw-effects
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/globalwarming/gw-solution