Global warming & climate change FAQ
This FAQ serves as a basic introduction to the topics of global
warming and its effects on climate.
What is global warming?
What is the greenhouse effect?
What human activities are linked to global warming?
Why are trees part of the answer to global warming?
Plant more trees and problem solved right?
How is carbon increasing global warming?
How hot is it going to get?
But it was cold last month! What gives?
Hotter weather sounds nice, isn't climate change good?
Can we avoid abrupt climate change?
What is global warming?
Global Warming describes is current trend in average temperatures
around the world increasing as a result of human activity.
Using temperature measurements from historical records and current
land and sea stations, in conjunction with satellite data; any doubt as
to whether our planet is warming has been dispelled. Sea ice is
retreating, glaciers are melting, species are migrating or disappearing
and spring temperatures are arriving earlier each year. return
to top
What is the greenhouse effect?
The Greenhouse Effect is related to global warming in that it's the
reason why excess heat from the surface of the Earth isn't dispersed
into space. The glass on a greenhouse allows one type of radiation in,
but reduces the amount another type can escape; causing the interior of
the greenhouse to remain warm. This is what we are experiencing on our
planet - gases such as carbon dioxide and methane act as the glass;
allowing solar radiation in, but preventing heat from escaping. return
to top
Has global warming occurred in
the past?
Yes, it has - while the earth has cooling and heating cycles, what
we're currently seeing is a much more rapid change in temperature which
is giving plants and animals far less time to adjust. return
to top
What human activities are linked to
global warming?
Unfortunately, just about everything connected with modern society is
a contributor. The cars we drive spew carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere, as does coal powered electricity generation, production
processes for many of our goods. Even the millions of livestock we keep
for food play their part by producing methane. return to
top
Why are trees part of the answer to
global warming?
During parts of a day, trees ingest carbon dioxide and produce
oxygen. Mass deforestation has seriously compromized our planet's carbon
dioxide recycling and conversion system. return to top
Plant more trees and problem solved
right?
Not quite. Nature maintains balances and humans are continually
trying to override those rules. We haven't realized that this approach
is endgame for the species. We need to soon. Trees are only part of the
answer - we need to reduce our consumption and also commission more
green energy resources such as solar, wind and geothermal electricity
production. By buying green tags to offset your cars emissions and the
emissions generated by your electricity supply, it helps investment into
and supply of green energy. return to top
How is carbon increasing global warming?
It isn't. People talk about carbon reduction, carbon emissions as a
shortening of the term "carbon dioxide". We need to take carbon dioxide out of the air
to allow some more heat from the planet to escape and convert it back into carbon;
such as is stored in trees - hence the name of this site; carbonify.com.
return to top
How hot is it going to get?
The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
predicts that our planet's average surface temperature will increase between 2.5° and 10.4°F (1.4°-5.8°C) between
the 1990 average temperature and what it will be in 2100. return
to top
But it was cold last month! What gives?
There is a distinct difference between weather and climate. Weather
is a set of meteorological conditions over a short span whereas climate
is the average of those conditions over a longer period. return
to top
Hotter weather sounds good,
what's the problem with climate change?
I don't like cold weather myself, but remember that Nature maintains
a fine balance for a reason. Sudden changes in climate related to global
warming will included
- rapid melting of glaciers - loss of freshwater for humans, plants
and animals that rely upon a steady flow
- extinction of plant and animals species that are very sensitive to
temperature and unable to migrate
- tropical pests moving further south, bringing disease with them
such as malaria
- low lying communities and countries being inundated by the see
- increased cyclones and hurricanes in some areas, severe drought in
others.
- loss of habitat for animals such as the polar bear
- increased conflict among humans due to competition for resources
return to top
Can we avoid abrupt climate change?
Personally, I don't believe so. The amount of warming going on now
will last for centuries and we have reached a tipping point. What we can
do is to decrease the severity of what can occur if we act now - and
right now. The longer we delay, the worse the affects will be. return
to top
For further information about living a more earth friendly lifestyle,
visit Green Living Tips.com
Michael Bloch
Carbonify.com
"Global warming - it's our choice"
|
