Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation.

In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about 0.8 C (1.4 F) with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades.[2] Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and scientists are more than 90% certain most of it is caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities such as deforestation and burning fossil fuel.[3][4][5][6] These findings are recognized by the national science academies of all the major industrialized countries.[7][A] Climate model projections are summarized in the 2007 Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). They indicate that during the 21st century the global surface temperature is likely to rise a further 1.5 to 1.9 C (2.7 to 3.4 F) for their lowest emissions scenario and 3.4 to 6.1 C (6.1 to 11 F) for their highest.[8] The ranges of these estimates arise from the use of models with differing sensitivity to greenhouse gas concentrations.[9][10] An increase in global temperature will cause sea levels to rise and will change the amount and pattern of precipitation, and a probable expansion of subtropical deserts.[11] Warming is expected to bestrongest in the Arctic and would be associated with continuing retreat of glaciers, permafrost and sea ice. Other likely effects of the warming include more frequent occurrence of extreme weatherevents including heatwaves, droughts and heavy rainfall events, species extinctions due to shifting temperature regimes, and changes in agricultural yields. Warming and related changes will vary from region to region around the globe, though the nature of these regional changes is uncertain.[12] In a 4 C world, the limits for human adaptation are likely to be exceeded in many parts of the world, while the limits for adaptation for natural systems would largely be exceeded throughout the world. Hence, the ecosystem services upon which human livelihoods depend would not be preserved.[13] Proposed responses to global warming include mitigation to reduce emissions, adaptation to the effects of global warming, and geoengineering to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere or reflect incoming solar radiation back to space. The primary international effort to prevent dangerous anthropogenic climate change ("mitigation") is coordinated by the 194-nation UNFCCC.[14] TheKyoto Protocol is their only legally binding emissions agreement and only limits emissions through the year 2012.[15] Afghanistan and the USA are the only nations in the UNFCCC that have not rafitied the original protocol,[16] and as of October 2011 several others have refused to extend the emissions limits beyond 2012.[17] Nonetheless, in the 2010 Cancun Agreements, member nations agreed that urgent action is needed to limit global warming to no more than 2.0 C (3.6 F) above pre-industrial levels.[18][B] Current scientific evidence, however, suggests that 2C is the "threshold between dangerous and extremely dangerous climate change",[19] that this much warming is possible during the lifetimes of people living today,[20] and that steep reductions in global emissions must be made by 2020 in order to have a 2-out-of3 chance of avoiding global warming in excess of 2C.[21]

GLOBAL WARMINGFACTS AND PREDICTIONS

We hear the term greenhouse gas a lotbut what is it? Humans add various gases to the earths atmosphere every day; these gases (known as greenhouse gases) consist primarily of carbon dioxide, ozone, chlorofluorocarbons, nitrous oxide, and methane, and tend to warm the earth. Trees help counter greenhouse gas production during photosynthesis, by taking in carbon dioxide as waste material and producing oxygen, which of course we all need to survive. Scientists predict that the daily addition of

greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, combined with daily removal of large portions of the worlds forests, will raise the earths average temperature by several degrees in the next century. This in turn will raise the level of the sea and potentially create significant changes in weather patterns on a global scale. As we move into the future, many climatologists expect that most of the United States will warm. What we do not know yet is how to scientifically predict which parts of the nation will become wetter or drier. We do know there is likely to be an overall trend toward increased precipitation and evaporation, and more intense weather systems, in the form of violent rainstorms, blizzards and sun-baked, drier soils. The FactsWhat Do We Already Know About Changing Global Conditions (Global Warming)? Global temperatures are rising. Observations collected over the last century suggest that the average land surface temperature has risen 0.45-0.6C (0.8-1.0F) in the last century. Precipitation has increased by about 1 percent over the world's continents in the last century, with more rain in high latitudes and less rain in many tropical areas. Sea levels have risen approximately 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) worldwide in the last century, due to melting mountain glaciers and ocean expansion from warmer ocean temperatures. The FutureWhat Predictions Can We Make About Climate Change and Global Warming? Rising global temperatures are expected to further raise sea level, and change precipitation and other local climate conditions. Changing regional climate could alter forests, crop yields, and water supplies. In the next century, the projected 2C (3.6F) warming could shift the ideal range of many North American forest tree species by about 300 km (200 mi.) to the north. Climate change could change grazing activities on western rangeland habitats due to shifts in water availability and plant compositions. Human and animal health will be affected by more heat-related deaths. There will be increases in "vector-borne" diseases such as plague, malaria, encephalitis, and yellow fever. Loss of habitat may affect populations of many types of wildlife, including birds, reptiles, mammals, fish and sea life. Increased rates of extinction are expected. Agricultural crops could be affected in a variety of ways due to changes in rainfall and temperatures. Farming and ranching will require adaptation to new crops or new agricultural practices in the face of climate change. WHAT CAN YOU DO AT HOME TO HELP PREVENT GLOBAL WARMING & A CHANGE IN CLIMATE Plant native trees around your homes and businesses. Replace your home's refrigerator with a high-efficiency model. Buy products in reusable or recyclable packaging. Replace your washing machine with a low-energy, low-water use machine. Install a solar thermal system to help provide your hot water. Recycle all of your home's waste newspapers, cardboard, glass, and metal. Leave your car at home two days a week (walk, bike, vanpool, or take the bus). Insulate your home, tune up your furnace, and install energy-efficient showerheads.

The Number One Thing You Can Do To Help Prevent Global Warming Is
Buy a fuel-efficient car (rated at 32 mpg or more) to replace your familys most used vehicle.
Created by Gwen Griffith, D.V.M., M.S., 2/99; Alliance of Veterinarians for the Environment, http://www.aveweb.org

Carbon Dioxide, Global Warming and Air Pollution

Some people think carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere are too high. They are afraid the Earth's temperature will rise, making our lives less healthy. The World Resources Institute in Washington, D.C., says electric utility companies, industries, businesses, homes, and transportation are the major reasons that carbon dioxide levels build up in our atmosphere. In this experiment1, you will: Observe the effects of carbon dioxide gas. Test for the presence of carbon dioxide gas. Compare concentrations of carbon dioxide gas. Recognize that high levels of carbon dioxide gas are unhealthy to people & animals. Break into small groups. Each group will need to gather the following materials: Matches Baking soda Vinegar One Candle (that can stand on its own) A Drinking straw A Round balloon Two clear narrow glasses or beakers

During the day, the sun's light causes particles in the atmosphere to move rapidly, creating heat due to friction. Normally, heat is given off from the planet by long infrared rays that travel through the Earths atmosphere and discharge deep into space. With increased levels of carbon dioxide, the trapped heat cannot escape because the infrared waves are too large. This causes a rise in the atmospheric temperature on Earth known as the greenhouse effect. Some scientists fear that a significant rise in temperature will disrupt weather patterns, cause polar icecaps to melt, and release more water into the ocean. This increase in water level could cause at least two things to happen, including: a) A diluting (lowering) of the ocean's saline (salt) concentrations, which would threaten marine species, b) Flooding of coastal areas that border the oceans, where much of the worlds populations live. Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere build as more trees are lost to overly zealous forestry practices. As more trees, which take up and absorb carbon dioxide, are lost, coupled with the increased production of carbon dioxide by the burning of fossil fuels (oil, coal, wood) in power plants, machinery, automobiles and fireplaces, carbon dioxide buildup is compounded. Experiment: (1) Light the candle; (2) Mix vinegar and baking soda in a glass or beaker; (3) Tilt the glass or beaker over the burning candle.(Do not let the liquid run out). What happens?2 (4) Insert the straw into the neck of the balloon; (5) Mix vinegar and baking soda again; (6) Put the straw (attached to the balloon) in the space above the vinegar and baking soda. What happens this time?3 What is the name of the gas that people and animals exhale?4 What gas goes into the air/atmosphere when we run automobiles, fireplaces or power plants?5
1
22 3 4

Adapted from Heating Up the Planet Environmental Issues, a Teacher Created Material by Cheryl HubleyMoore, University of Texas at El Paso, 1995. The flame goes out. The carbon dioxide replaces the oxygen near the flame. The flame needs oxygen to burn.

The balloon inflates, just like the atmosphere fills with carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide.

Think of ways people can decrease the amount of carbon dioxide going into the air (without stopping breathing of course!!).