Global Warming

A Brief Description

Contrary to what most people might think, the most imminent danger for all of mankind is not a disease or an upcoming third world war. It is the looming threat of global warming. Global warming, to put it in simple terms, is basically the increase of the average world temperature. Although many people might look upon this as unimportant, even something good, they do not realize the disastrous effects an increase of just 1 degree of the average temperature can have on our entire civilization.

Global warming is caused by the greenhouse effect (which is pictured in the above diagram). The greenhouse gases; methane, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gases, and mostly, carbon dioxide, are the greenhouse gases that are emitted in our atmosphere. A greenhouse gas is a gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. The increase of human activities that involve using and/or burning fossil fuels has led to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, which are thickening the atmosphere and trapping more heat on earth. This is causing a huge chain of reactions in our ecosystem.

One huge reaction to this heating is the rise in the average temperature of the ocean waters. When the water heats up, huge ice landforms begin to melt, causing the waters to not only heat up, but rise. Rising waters bring on another string of chain events including natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and tsunamis. We are already beginning to see these disasters affecting the human population (i.e. Hurricane Katrina). Some human activities that contribute to the increase of emmisions are driving 'gas-guzzling' cars, building big factories that pollute the air, and cutting down trees that suck carbon dioxide from the air. If we progress the way we are now with no significant changes in our lifestyle, these disasters will increase, become even more deadly, and will wipe out our civilization. (To find out more about the affects and the process, read " An Inconinient Truth" by Al Gore.

Some things you can do at home are:

• Recycle all items at home that are recyclable
• Switch your regular lightbulbs to energy efficient ones
• Try to drive as little as possible, and use public transportation instead
• Reuse old household items before recycling them or throwing them in the trash
• Get a compost bin to throw out food scraps
• Unplug all appliances that are not in use (including the computer), and turn off the lights when you are not in a room
• Avoid using AC and heating in the summers and winter
• Find your carbon footprint to see how else you can lesson your impact on the enviroment

Calculate your carbon footprint!

Find out more about global warming (a.k.a. climate change).

Games and links about climate change for kids!

Webpage created by Avneet Soin