Global Warming – What’s it all About

 What is becoming a major concern for the future is the problem of global warming. The observed phenomena is one of monitoring the rise in the average temperature of the air that is close to the surface of the Earth and its oceans that has been observed in recent times, and which will continue in this manner in the foreseeable future, the causes are numerous, mainly the emissions of carbon dioxide.  We are all aware and have probably noticed slight changes in our local climate. There is enough evidence that clearly indicates an increase in temperatures of the Earth and its near-surface air that has occurred in present times. This slow increase has activated the melting of snow covered areas as well as ice covers which in turn is raising sea levels.

Extreme Of Temperatures Where Such Extremes Are Not Normal

Global warming has also caused there to be extremes of temperature in places that are not known to have extreme temperatures, and there ahs been precipitation and the cloud cover has also been adversely affected. Some of the reasons why the Earth is experiencing global warming are natural such as the levels of CO2, which because of human activities over the past five decades, has seen a significant rise along with other household gases.

Global Warming Effects

The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere along with the greenhouse gas effect is making the Earth s surface heat up, which is not good for mankind. In fact, the average surface temperature of the Earth has risen by about one degree Fahrenheit over the past ten decades. This has led to a decrease in snow cover as well as ice extent and there has also been a ten to twenty centimetre rise in sea levels in the same period. With these facts, we have to reduce greenhouse gases to reduce this potential danger.

There are also areas of concern where global warming has failed to affect the climate on the Earth such as the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere as well as some parts of the Antarctica, which have not really warmed up in recent times. There have also not been any real trends in the Antarctic sea-ice trends, and nor have we witnessed any real trends of global change in the tropical as well as extra-tropical regions as far as intensity of storms and their frequency is concerned. Also, one has not noticed any systematic change in tornado frequencies, thunder days as well as hail events.

Are we under-estimating Global Warming?

Despite these normal unchanged factors, we should not continue to under estimate the fact that global warming poses a very realistic danger to mankind and is not something that can be dismissed as a scare tactic by certain people. Once one learns about global warming, it should help us learn what it is and what can be done to help prevent and reduce its earth changing effects for the better of all who inhabit the earth as well as for future generations. It would be welcoming to see in particular the USA adopting and taking an active roll in measures to reduce the massive danger global warming will have on our future and our children’s future. Serious action is needed now not later.