Global Warming Information

There's No Doubt About It - Humans Are The Cause Of Global Warming

2011-09-22T06:21:00.000-07:00

There's No Doubt About It - Humans Are The Cause Of Global Warming

By Melina Cemanovic

Human activities, without doubt, are the cause of global warming; and we are responsible for stopping global warming, especially because it is a possible thing to do. Stopping global warming is not only a possible thing to do, but it is a mandatory thing that every single individual in the world should participate in. We are facing a global problem, which means that there are a lot of us who need to be educated on the issue of global warming in order to make the changes necessary in order to reverse the problem at hand. What exactly do we mean when we state that human activities are the cause of global warming? How is it that our activities have such a big impact on the recent, not to mention terrifying, climate change? All of these questions, and many more, will be explained to you. What if the children that are born today suffer tomorrow because of our actions? Our kids would wish we had made better decisions in order to create a better future for them. Our actions today have an effect on the future of our children tomorrow, and we are the only ones who have the power to make a change. We have a serious problem on our hands; it is called Global Warming. Global warming is hitting the world by storm, literally. Once its effects are felt, there is no way to stop them; the only thing we can do is stop the future effects of global warming from occurring. Every single human being on the face of this earth is in some way responsible for some fraction of the causes of global warming. The same way, every single human being should do something immediately to help stop this disaster which has already gone out of control.

To understand our climate crisis, it is important to know what greenhouse gases are and how they naturally function in our atmosphere. Greenhouse gases consist of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's), methane, nitrous oxide, and the most important of them all, carbon dioxide (CO2). Greenhouse gases permit light that is emitted from the sun to enter the atmosphere; however they also lock in some infrared radiation which warms up the air in the atmosphere. These are all natural gasses, and this is a natural process which is called the greenhouse effect. The natural amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere work to help the Earth's surface maintain an average temperature of about 59 degrees Fahrenheit. This natural amount of heat that is trapped in our atmosphere allows us to breathe clean air, have clean water, and have normal weather. We will focus mainly on CO2 emissions since they account for about 80% of all greenhouse emissions. Out of all of the greenhouse gasses, humans create more CO2. Our climate crisis stems from excess CO2, which is the byproduct of human activity being released into our atmosphere. Excess emissions of CO2, as well as other greenhouse gasses, act as a blanket and trap heat in out atmosphere, thus creating global warming which is the reason for our unimaginable climate change. According to The Stop Global Warming campaign, "More carbon dioxide is now in the atmosphere than has been in the past 650,000 years." ("Stop Global Warming Virtual March.")

Global warming has altered the state of our climate in unimaginable ways, thus causing glaciers to melt, temperatures all over the world to raise, weather to become catastrophic, endangering species, and causing sea levels all over the world to rise. Since 1912 the ice cap of Mount Kilimanjaro has decreased by 75%. If they continue to melt at the present rate, all of the glaciers in Glacier National Park could be gone by the year 2070. In 1972 the mountain tops in Venezuela contained six glaciers; all but two of the glaciers have melted. Temperatures over the recent years have risen to dramatic highs in places that never experienced such temperatures for such long periods of time. In the summer of 1998, a massive 29 day heat wave struck Dallas Texas with temperatures of 100 degrees F. That same year in May, India suffered a massive heat wave which claimed over 2,500 lives. In the spring, the beautiful cherry blossoms planted along the streets of Washington DC bloom about 7 days before their blooming period compared to when they bloomed in 1970. The weather all over the world has intensified and changed for the worse. In March of 1997, floods swept along the Ohio River killing 30 people and causing property damage totaling over $500 million. Hurricane Floyd hit the Atlantic coast in September of 1999 with winds up to 130-m.p.h. causing floods which left thousands of people homeless, and killed 77 people. Fires raged all over the world due to extended droughts and heat waves. Fires tore through Samos Island in Greece and burned away about 20% of the area. Rising sea levels- another very serious effect of global warming, are threatening millions of people all over the world to move. If the ice continues to melt, and the oceans continue to rise, over 40 million people in Shanghai, and over 20 million people in and around Beijing would have to be evacuated.

In 1870 the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was built 1,500 feet from the shoreline. There was no choice left but to move the light house when the ocean came to about 160 feet of it around the late 1980's. Global Warming is also threatening species to extinction and hurting nature to the point where it is just sad. Between the years 1997 and 1998, salmon populations from the Pacific dramatically fell down in number as a result of rising ocean temperatures by 6 degrees Fahrenheit. Ice melting every year in the spring is said to have had an impact on the number of polar bear cubs being born in Hudson Bay. Never in the past has it been an issue that a large number of polar bears are drowning. These innocent creatures are forced to swim for miles in search of land; their land which has melted away, never to be seen again. Polar bears are now facing extinction because so many of them have died already, and more will continue to die off rapidly if the ice doesn't stop melting. A great number of other creatures are also facing extinction due to climate change, and also due to direct human interaction with the places these creatures live; but that is a whole different story. Beautiful Coral reefs that decorate our oceans are losing algae and are thus being destroyed because of an increase in ocean temperatures. Algae feed the beautiful corals and help them retain their amazing colors and forms. Unfortunately, due to the rise in ocean temperatures, these beautiful coral formations are being destroyed. Animals are relocating and migrating, confused because of the change of climate, not knowing what to call home. ("The Effects of Global Warming.")

In her article, Barbara K. Kennedy quotes Eric Post, who is an assistant professor of biology at Penn State University. Post writes: "All the major biomes on Earth have been affected by a temperature increase of just a little more than half a degree Celsius-most of which has occurred during the last two decades." (Kennedy 1-2). This is very scary to think about, especially when it is said that temperatures will rise even more over the next 50 years. Imagine the impact that the rise of temperature will have on us on top of the effects that we have already experienced. The impact would be unimaginable.

In our technologically advanced world, we have so many different ways of emitting CO2 into the atmosphere. Some of the many ways CO2 can be emitted into the atmosphere is from power plants, cars, trucks, airplanes, buildings, and through deforestation. In order for us to generate electric we burn fossil fuels, which helps emit tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. In fact, around 40% of the CO2 emissions in the U.S. in the year 2002 come from us burning fossil fuels. Cars like minivans, sports cars, trucks, and jeeps, release about 20% of the CO2 emissions in the U.S. Businesses that use trucks for their work help to create the 13% of CO2 emissions from trucks. According to the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, currently airplanes are responsible for about 3.5% of the global warming issue. By the year 2050, this percentage can rise by 15%. The way that most buildings are made helps to emit 12% of the CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. There are so many other ways that CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere. It is obvious that the most CO2 emissions stem from human services, products, and activities. For this reason, we are responsible to clean up our act and to find alternative ways to go about our every day life ("Causes of Global Warming."). On the flip side, our growing technology has helped by allowing scientists to collect data from the past and measure the amount of CO2 in a given year by using devices know as core drills. The data that was taken from these experiments are confirmation to the question of "Does human activity cause global warming by increasing the amounts of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere"?

We also have the power and technology to reverse the problem of global warming and stop it from destroying our earth and the species that live on it. How do we know that CO2 levels have actually risen, and that they are in fact contributing to warmer temperatures? This question can easily be answered by digging deep into the experiments which scientists have conducted; or should I say by digging deep into ice. Scientists have used core drills; devices that dig deep into glaciers and extract ice which has formed over the years, in order to measure the amount of CO2 that was in the atmosphere in a given year. Through this process, scientists were able to compare the ratios of isotopes of oxygen in order to uncover the temperature of a given year over the past 1,000 years. They made this comparison by examining the horizontal lines on a chunk of ice, which was removed from a glacier, and by marking each of those lines as one year. Using this extraordinary and accurate method, they are able to compare the amount of CO2 in a given year to the temperature of that year. Remarkably, scientists were able to collect enough data from these experiments to prove that the more CO2 there is in the atmosphere, the hotter the earth will become. The results were amazing because they were actually able to confirm that the more CO2 there is in the atmosphere, the higher the temperature of the earth will get, thus altering our climate (Gore 60-65).

While those who truly care about our world are trying to help put a halt to global warming, global warming skeptics are denying that we have a real problem on our hands. Global warming skeptics argue that scientists are relying too much on computer models, which they believe to be inaccurate. A global warming skeptic William Kininmonth states "I do not believe this research team made a compelling case to suggest that their computer models are sufficiently realistic." (Black 2). The skeptics believe that too much attention is focused on computer models, and not enough real evidence is given. This is where they are wrong because there are endless amounts of data out there that support the fact that global warming is a problem, people just have to open their eyes and do their homework. Scientists from all over the world, in fact, have reached a consensus that we have a real problem on our hands, and that we must do something about it. It is true that CO2 is naturally emitted into the atmosphere from different sources, and it is also true that even if human beings were not living on Earth, over 95% of the CO2 emissions would still be emitted into the atmosphere. Naturally, about 220 billion tons of CO2 per year is emitted from dead trees and other materials decaying in forests.

However, natural sinks, which are biological and physical processes in nature, help to balance things out by helping remove CO2 from the atmosphere. Nevertheless, the natural CO2 emissions that occur in nature would not cause such a problem and change our climate. What causes the problem is excess CO2 emissions that humans cause which then disturbs the natural balance created by natural sinks. For every issue you put to the table, there will always be someone out there who opposes your views on that issue. That is why you must do your own research in order to find out what is truly the right thing to do. You must be the judge of things as you see it from your own eyes; as long as you promise to look at all of the evidence that is given to you, and as long as you are open and willing to listen to all sides of the story. ("How Do We Know that the Atmospheric Build-up of Greenhouse Gases Is Due to Human Activity?").

Whether you do or don't believe that humans are the cause of global warming, or that global warming is even a problem at all, you don't have the right to trash this beautiful earth that we share with other human beings and creatures. We all have the responsibility to lower our carbon footprint by making alternative choices in our everyday lives. Scientific research has proven that humans are to blame for the cause of global warming, and I believe that if we all accept this fact, we will be one more step closer to solving the problem. It is not easy to solve the issue of global warming, mainly because it is a global problem, but as long as we believe that it is a solvable problem, we will accept alternatives to our every day activities. Some of the things, out of many, that we as individuals can do is change our light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs, recycle, adjust our thermostat, drive a hybrid car, walk or bike instead of driving, change our air conditioner's filter regularly, and buy products locally.

These are only some of the things that we can do to help stop global warming. However, the most important things that you can do to help stop global warming is to get more educated on this issue. If you want to learn how to help, just get involved with the right people, do the right research, and simply get educated on this issue. If we sit around and wait for things to happen themselves, nothing will ever change for the better. We will just procrastinate and make the problem even bigger than it already was. Wherever you stand on the issue of global warming, you still have the responsibility to take care of the beautiful Earth and its natural resources that are taken for granted by so many.

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Fundamentals of Global Warming

2011-01-24T03:07:00.000-08:00

Fundamentals of Global Warming

Everyone distinguishes the ice, water and vapor, the three states of the water, not because of the different states but due to different levels of temperature. The ice is cold, the water as liquid is of optimum temperature but the water vapor can burn. This concept explains difference and role of temperature along clarity of warming concept. Hence a globe warming is raising the temperature of the environment or atmospheric matter like air or mixed gases in air, and exactly is referred to as Global warming. In general, atmosphere contains air mixed with so many gases with high kinetic energy which make molecules to fly in atmosphere.

There are two types of the gases in environment namely the gases with dissimilar atoms like CO2 and the gases with similar atoms like N2. The gases with dissimilar atoms absorb solar radiation while the gases with similar atom do not, and the solar radiation increase molecular energy level very similar to a warm welcome is to be extended to few guests in daily life. One can understand a meaning of warm and ordinary welcomes. The warm denotes higher level of "human energy" to receive the guests when the host is very active, may be hyperactive. The active and hyperactive convey high sensitivity to receive the guest.

Also in warm welcome, some additional items are also offered to the guests which become a "symbol of warm welcome". Similar is very true in case of global warming. The gases which are "polar in nature" like carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen chloride (HCl), nitrous oxide (N2O), water vapors (H2O) "absorb solar radiation" and go to "higher kinetic energy states with higher velocity".

The "dispersal of the gases" with higher velocity goes globally where almost whole globe is covered with the gases. The gases emit or distribute the same energy as per "Boltzmann energy distribution factor e-E/KT". Thus, additional intake of the "solar radiation from the polar gases raises the temperature" of the globe while "non-polar gases like nitrogen (N2)" and similar others do not absorb the solar radiations. A fundamental concept of "electro negativity is a main culprit" in this process. In case of N2, both the atoms are similar with equal electro negativity with "no net shift of electron pair" to any of the atoms but in case of gases with "dissimilar atoms like CO2", the electro negativity play key role in "shifting the shared electron pair towards more electronegative atom like O atom".

A shift of electron pair develops "electrostatic centers with different energy states" referred to as energy gradient which quickly responds to the solar energy, in facts it absorb the same to equalize the energy gradients. This is a "fundamental theory of the global warming". Now to reduce the global warming, the possibility is to raise the sinks like trees that absorb the solar energy or to reduce the greenhouse gases like CO2, which is used as raw material for photosynthesis. The solar energy must be engaged in chemical bonds formations, for example, the energy involved in hydrogen bonds disruption or formation or alteration.

The "food science is leading example" where a solar energy is trapped to form bonds among gas molecules like CO2 and water H2O on a pattern of chemical reaction between them as 6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight = C6H12O6 + 6O2. This leads to develop chemical bonds in a form glucose (C6H12O6) are which on intake as food are broken to give back the same energy in return to survive the human being. The chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, photochemistry, electrochemistry i.e. all chemistries have foundation of energetic bonds. The "quantized energy E= hν is photochemical nature" obtained from the solar radiation, electromagnetic in nature.

The Newton's corpuscular theory was not fitted and the Danish physicist Niels Henrik David Bohr's condition about angular momentum as an integer multiple of h as n λ= 2πr, offered some solutions. The electron is described by a wave and a whole number of wavelengths must fit along a circumference of electron's orbit. Substituting de Broglie's wavelength reproduces Bohr's rule. Bohr justified his rule by appealing to the correspondence principle, without providing a wave interpretation.

In year 1925, a new kind of mechanics was proposed as "quantum mechanics" in which Bohr's model of electrons traveling in quantized orbits was extended into a more accurate model of electron motion. The new theory was proposed by Werner Heisenberg. Another form of the same theory, modern quantum mechanics, was discovered by the Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger independently. Since a chemical process involves both the process of quantization of energy and chemical energy. For example, in chemical kinetics, the "molecules acquire energy" from medium because the solvents dissolve a solute where it has a similar electronic structure as of the solvent. For example, the water has shared pair of electron and can dissolve the NaCl salt or glucose, as these molecules also have similar electronic configuration as of the water molecules. The glucose has oxygen atom which has higher electronegativity as compare to the C and H.

The water dissolves the glucose but it does not dissolve the benzene or CCl4. Since the latter do not consist highly electromagnetic atoms and also they have similar atoms attached to the C atoms. In case of benzene the electron of C of its ring form a highly integrated delocalized ring and the water is not able to interact because the electronic charge is equally distributed among 6 carbon atoms where H = 1/2m(px2+ py2+ pz2)+ V(x,y,z) energy is equally integrated in circle and energy E= n2(π2h2/8ma2), E= (π2h2/8ma2)(nx2+ ny2+ nz2) is a fundamental equation for energy distribution and if the nx2 =1, ny2 =1, nz2=1 then E= [π2h2/8ma2](12+ 12+ 12) = E= 3[π2h2/8ma2] which is non-degenerate energy state in case of the benzene and ccl4 and hence they do not develop interaction with water but with water the situation is different with coordinates (2,1,1), (1,2,1), (1,1,2) and three different energy states.

E= (π2h2/8ma2)(22+ 12+ 12), E= (π2h2/8ma2)(4+ 2), E= 6(π2h2/8ma2). The E= 6(π2h2/8ma2) is a three degenerate or three fold energy state. Thus the quantum chemistry offers useful explanations of the energy related solutions. If we look on the chemical interactions then an energy intake by the molecules trigger entropic changes accompanied by chemical energy liberation or absorption based exothermic and endothermic process respectively. For example a drop of concentrated sulfuric acid on in mixing in few mL of water, liberate energy with a rise in temperature. Similarly additions of KNO3 to water absorb energy from it with a decrease in temperature. Thus along a concept of entropy, a concept of enthalpy is essential.

Thus S and H are energy changes in a range low energy and are similar to UV as compared to higher energy phenomenon like FTIR, NMR, AFM based on E = h ν. Absorption of energy by a molecule is different with different bond lengths of single, double and triple bonds. Thus energy hypothesis is most visible, vibrant and chemically communicable based on a constitution of atoms and molecules to liberate energy either in fuels for vehicles or foods for survival. Of course, the molecules liberate energy but somewhere prevent an exchange of the same, for example, coating of surfaces to prevent rusting due to oxidation environmental oxygen. Among all forms, the potential energy is most useful as every conservative force produces potential energy. Like work of a spring where elastic force is depicted as elastic potential energy, gravitational force as gravitational potential energy.

"Columbic force" develops an electric potential energy; nuclear force acting on a baryon charge is called "nuclear potential energy, intermolecular forces" generate intermolecular potential energy. Currently there is crisis to generate and use energy in a most ecofriendly manner because molecules which are thrown to environment either absorb energy or liberate the same clicking n numbers of side effect. Especially greenhouse gases like CO2, N2O, HCl, water vapors and CFC's, the volatile organic compounds, inflammable compounds must be minimized and a new concept of "Reduce-Reuse-Recycle concept" be popularized to solve a global warming like Survismeter which measures surface tension, interfacial tension, wetting coefficient, surface excess concentration, viscosity and Friccohesity together due to Reuse and Recycle the same material to another measurements. Econoburette, an ecofriendly burette, for semi micro titration technique in chemistry laboratories. There is urgent to develop mechanism to either minimize or to develop me alternative ways to reduce use of chlorofluorohydrocarbons-CFHC and greenhouse gases.

Prof. Man Singh, School of Chemical Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, inventor of survismeter, econoburette,

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Global Warming - Effects, Consequences and Action

2010-10-08T01:16:00.000-07:00

Global Warming - Effects, Consequences and Action

Global warming is a serious issue that requires immediate action to be resolved. We can't afford to procrastinate when it comes to global warming because the more we put it off for the next day, the bigger its effect will be on our planet.

Every individual is enjoined to work hand-in-hand to stop global warming. We don't have to wait for the government to come up with drastic policies to resolve this issue. Each one of us can do something to stop it. You don't have to do great things because small things done with great love can create a huge impact.

Everything starts from very little effort and here's mine. I came up with a list of alternatives that can help stop global warming.

1. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are great alternatives for incandescent light bulbs. CFL bulbs can save as much as 60% of energy than regular light bulbs without sacrificing the amount of light that you will receive. You don't have to worry because CFL light bulbs are not very expensive. They are relatively cheaper than their incandescent counterparts.

2. Instead of putting your fridge or freezer beside the boiler or stove, move them to a different location. A fridge that stands beside a stove consumers more energy than one who doesn't. This is practically common sense. Freezers or refrigerators use cold air to preserve food while stoves are "hot appliances." If you let them sit beside each other, the fridge will take longer time to cool up.

3. Subscribe to online fax instead of using traditional fax machines. Online fax can give you a lot of savings. First, it saves paper because everything is received via email which gives you the option to print only the fax messages that needs to be printed. If you frequently receive junk fax, then you don't have to worry about spending too much paper on them. Second, online fax saves you a lot of money because you don't have to pay for an additional phone line and other maintenance stuffs like fax papers and toners. Lastly, you save a lot on your electricity because you don't need a separate fax machine.

4. Bring your own water bottle and junk bottled water. If you are going out on a picnic or on a trip, instead of buying bottled water, bring your own. Fill it up night and put it in the fridge a day before your actual trip so that you will be assured of a cold water supply. On the other hand, if you prefer ice-cold water, put your bottled water in the freezer. Just make sure that you don't leave it for more than a day or else, your bottle will be disfigured.

5. When you're out to purchase your groceries, bring your own bag. Instead of having your groceries in paper or plastic bags, why not bring your own bag? You are not just reducing your carbon footprint, but you are also grocery-ing in style!

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Paper And Plastic Bags Effect On Global Warming

2010-09-07T01:37:00.000-07:00

Paper And Plastic Bags Effect On Global Warming

Reusable grocery bags and reusable shopping bags are now becoming very popular in society today. Though most of us don't realize it, manufacturing bags-plastic, compostable plastic and even paper bags-contributes significantly to global warming. Greenhouse gases are the result of emissions caused by burning fossil fuels during the production of plastic and paper bags.

The greenhouse effect is caused when infrared radiations from the earth’s surface are prevented from escaping into the outer space. The consequence is global warming. A very important way to reduce the use of plastic bags is through the use of reusable grocery bags and reusable shopping bags. It is through the use of these reusable grocery bags that we are able to reduce the negative effects that paper and plastic bags have on the environment.

Reusable shopping bags eliminates the need for many consumers to carry their purchased items in paper or plastic bags. When consumers show that they no longer want to use paper and plastic bags, there will be less of a demand for these bag manufacturers to produce so many of them. It is through the production of these bags that the environment is affected. When these manufacturers see the lowered demand for them because consumers are using reusable shopping bags and reusable grocery bags, they will lower how many they put into production.

Paper bags have the highest global warming impact per bag compared to other types of bags. According to the US EPA, 70% more global warming gasses are emitted making a paper bag than a plastic bag, and 50 times more water pollution. They also use 4 times more raw materials, and consume 3.5 times more energy.

They also contribute to global warming by destroying trees. In 1999, the American Forest and Paper Association reported that Americans used 10 billion paper shopping bags, consuming 14 million trees. The use of reusable shopping bags and reusable grocery bags not only eliminates the need for paper and plastic bags, but they will lower the number of bags being produced. It is evident that the production of these bags has a major effect on the environment and people need to make a strong effort in their consumption of these paper and plastic bags.

Reusable Grocery Bags and Reusable shopping bags are a great way to do your part in the prevention of global warming. Global warming, or climate change, shows no signs of slowing down. Average temperatures have climbed 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 degree Celsius) around the world since 1880, much of this in recent decades, according to NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies. The rate of warming is increasing. When you go shopping at your nearest retail outlet, make sure to bring your reusable shopping bags. The next time you go to the supermarket, you should bring your reusable grocery bags.

The 20th century's last two decades were the hottest in 400 years and possibly the warmest for several millennia, according to a number of climate studies. And the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that 11 of the past 12 years are among the dozen warmest since 1850. The Arctic is feeling the effects the most. Average temperatures in Alaska, western Canada, and eastern Russia have risen at twice the global average, according to the multinational Arctic Climate Impact Assessment report compiled between 2000 and 2004. Arctic ice is rapidly disappearing, and the region may have its first completely ice free summer by 2040 or earlier.

Polar bears and indigenous cultures are already suffering from the sea-ice loss. Glaciers and mountain snows are rapidly melting—for example, Montana’s Glacier National Park now has only 27 glaciers, versus 150 in 1910. In the Northern Hemisphere, thaws also come a week earlier in spring and freezes begin a week later. Reusable grocery bags are a great way to prevent the countless plastic bags from being manufactured, and it is partly through the production of these plastic bags that global warming is happening. Reusable Grocery Bags and reusable shopping bags are a simple and effective way people can do their part in conserving the environment. Reusable grocery bags can be purchased and used at all supermarkets, while reusable shopping bags are great for any occasion when you are out shopping. Do your part in caring about the environment and saving the planet through the use of reusable shopping bags and reusable grocery bags.

By: William Henry

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Climate Changes Due To Global Warming

2010-07-08T05:41:00.000-07:00

Climate Changes Due To Global Warming

While the drastic effects of global warming has been discussed in many scientific circles, had their run on TV and even had major exposure through well-meaning (but sadly inaccurate) Hollywood films, it's a concern that has a broad political, economic, social and geographical significance to countries all over the world. Quite literally, for all of us, there is nowhere to hide, nowhere to run and we can't stop the climate from changing. It's just way too big for us.

How to recognize global warming

Whether or not it's brewing something good or something bad, Nature always tries to warn us through many signs. The slow process involved in global warming results in many different things and some of its signs include:

Melting of glaciers

Most of the mountain glaciers on our planet that have been monitored for the past 150 years are reportedly shrinking. The glaciers most affected by global warming those located in the lower latitudes and many of them are disappearing. If glaciers continue to shrink, it could affect water supply in areas that depend heavily upon mountain watersheds.

If the scenarios of global warming continue, most of the glaciers that still stand today will disappear by 2100.

Ocean warming

Sea level increase is attributed to warmer temperatures, which in turn result to the melting of ice glaciers. Over the last 100 years, sea level has increased from 10 cm to 25 cm. Projections over the next hundred years indicate that sea level will rise higher, from about 15 cm to 90 cm. Based on the higher figure, that's about 3 feet.

Translated, this could mean that beaches lose about 50 feet of area for every foot of increase in sea level. Some islands may even disappear beneath sea water completely.

Heat waves

Heat waves and periods of weather that are unusually warm are also signs of global warming. These may come about with varying degrees of their severity and frequency, causing concerns in the economics and health on a global scale.

How global warming brings climate change and what it means to us

The earth's climate has always been changing, although not at an abrupt rate. There had been periods of warming and cooling in the earth's 4.65 billion-year history. Strange as it may sound to some, this is the reason why life became possible on this planet millions of years ago. Unfortunately, not all of the changes in climate brought about by global warming may be beneficial to many of us.

For one, global warming will raise the temperatures in some regions of the Northern Hemisphere, causing the melting of mountain glaciers. This means that areas that are currently experiencing light snow may no longer experience snowfall anymore. Snowlines found in mountains in temperate regions may also be higher and packs of snow will melt earlier than before.

Spring may be experienced earlier and temperatures during night time and in winter will rise. The world will experience a more humid atmosphere since sea water will have a higher rate of evaporation. With greater humidity, rainfall is expected to increase on average.

Storms will also occur with more frequency and intensity. Ironically, water in the soil will evaporate faster, causing dryness between rains. Regions that are already considered dry will experience more dryness. Some semi-arid regions in the African continent, for example, may suffer more while areas that depend on their region's mountain snow packs for irrigation will not benefit from earlier melting between growing seasons.

With warmer weather, some hurricanes will be more severe and winds are expected to blow stronger. It is also possible that wind patterns may shift. Extremely cold periods may be experienced as well.

The phenomenon known as El Nino may occur in more frequency and severity. This is expected to affect different regions in many countries. All in all, scientists will have some difficulty in predicting weather patterns.

With changes in climate brought about by global warming, health concerns and risks may also increase. Heat stress and diseases may become common in places that did not have any problems with them before.

Global warming is an issue that requires immediate action. Even plants and animal species are adversely affected by it. While many of the changes that occur in our planet are totally out of our hands, we have been direct contributors to events that have had negative effects on our environment. This is why many leading social and scientific organizations have urged nations to cooperate in the move to counter this worldwide problem before it's too late.

By: nathfiset

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How to Stop Global Warming

2010-03-10T06:57:00.000-08:00

How to Stop Global Warming
By Tom A Sullivan

It takes a global effort to stop or slow global warming. We have started this process as we began powering our technological devices using fossil fuels to make our electricity. We continue to add to global warming efforts as we burn forests (the only think that takes the Carbon out of the atmosphere) to make way for more room for us. It is our responsibility to fix this problem. There are several things that each person can do as an individual to lessen their contribution to global warming.

Some ways to reduce your carbon footprint are obvious, while others are less known to the public. One of the obvious ways to reduce your carbon footprint is to lessen the fossil fuels used in your vehicle by driving a fuel-efficient car, buying a hybrid car, carpooling and using public transportation when possible, or not driving or riding at all. Another one we have all heard is to not use as much energy in our home.

Turn off lights and electronic devices when not in use. Move your water heater to a lower setting. Wash clothes in cold water. Buy energy-efficient appliances. Install energy efficient light bulbs. Keep your home well insulated to save on air-conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter. Install Solar Panels.

However, there may be some less known ways that you can be saving energy and reducing your contribution to global warming. One way is to recycle. Recycling products, such as paper, plastic, cans, and glass bottles saves a ton of energy. It takes significantly less energy to create a product from recycled material than to manufacture that product from scratch. So, when you recycle you are not only saving space in the landfill, but you are reducing energy usage, which equals less Carbon into the air.

Another little known energy saving secret is to unplug electronic appliances not in use. Even though you don't have a device powered on, if it is plugged into an outlet, it is drawing electricity even if it is off. So that toaster that you only used for 5 minutes this morning that remains plugged into your wall for the extent of the day, is drawing energy the whole time. This tip not only decreases your Carbon footprint, but it will lower your energy bill as well.

Humans caused the pollution that is creating global warming and it is our responsibility to clean it up. It is each of our responsibilities to decrease our own carbon footprint. The bonus is that almost all the tips that reduce your carbon footprint also save you money. So what are you going to do for your planet (and your wallet)?

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The Events Of Global Warming

2009-12-14T22:12:00.000-08:00

The Events Of Global Warming

Though due to the global warming impact there has been many seasonal changes, but the months of Nov Jan are considered to be the colder months of the world especially in the northern hemisphere.
Global warming is an issue that requires immediate action.

With global warming, the Netherlands would be in danger with the polar ice melting and the sea level coming up to an threatening level. First it was the hole in the ozone layer, then global warming, then El Nio, then Seinfeld called it quits -- my God, is there no end to the horror we mortals must endure.

But what with global warming, and rising sea levels, we figure that we might be able to just go to Southern VT or NH year-round, or back to RI where we grew up. The fact is that global warming is in the future and most individuals are more worried about what is happening in the present.

The global warming alarmists want us to believe all of their research and paperwork and they tell us to the earth is heating up and we are all going to die in an apocalyptic fiery hell.

Warming world
Whatever global warming and peak oil do to world markets, one thing is certain: individuals will still have to eat. By stopping the consumption of meat and dairy products, we would raise the level of average health in the population a lot, we could cut down on the health budgets of each nation (which are very high all over the western world,- a real burden on us all), and at the same time save ourselves from the green house effect and the global warming problem.

And the price of burning fossil fuels is more than just financial: environmentalists the world over continually warn about the dangers of using non-renewable energy sources that pollute the environment when burned, global warming being just one of the major topics frequently discussed.

Consequences of global warming
The idea is to stop, or at least slow down, the effects of global warming. Instead of just talking about the scientific results of climate change on our biosphere, talk about the South Pacific fisherman who can no longer feed his family because the fish catch has declined due to global warming. An Inconvenient Truth - if you have to see one, see this one about global warming and its terrible far-reaching effects.

Take for example, the global warming and earth changes are direct effects of this lack of care.

These and a mass of other global warming questions are rising up across the world. Proponents of the bill have a whole different set of assumptions: --they arent at all certain that humans have a decisive part in global warming.

Facing the facts of global warming, countries all over the world have just begun to acknowledge the negative effects of global warming not only to the world's politics and economy but also to humankind in general.

By: businessone

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Best Way To Solve Problems Of Global Warming

2009-08-13T18:09:00.000-07:00

Best Way To Solve Problems Of Global Warming

Construction has begun in Southern California on two solar thermal plants for Pacific Gas and Electric, and Southern California Edison, that will be providing 2.3 gigawats of solar thermal power. By itself, the Southern California Edison deal is the world’s largest solar energy deal.

The plants being built are bigger, but will be more cost effective to build than most other new plants. These kind of solar thermal plants are cheaper to build than coal plants, cheaper than gas plants, and they’re building them a lot faster.

As Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental advocate for the past 25 years, has said, “Once the plants are up and running, the energy is free forever. We won’t have to go to Saudi Arabia and drill holes in the ground, then pump the oil up, and then refine it, and then ship it across the Atlantic with a military escort, and get in periodic wars in Mesopotamia and other places, and then have to distribute the oil across the country.

The electrons are hitting our country for free... coming down from the Sun for free, every day. If we build these plants to pick up the electrons, and the infrastructure to deliver them, we can put them into our lines... And if we are to build this out across the country, we can provide 100% of the energy needs in this country, in conjunction with other clean power sources, for about 750 billion dollars.”

Kennedy makes the point that 750 billion is less than the amount of dollars we export to purchase foreign oil each and every year. "Taxpayers involuntarily gave 700 billion dollars to Wall Street, and everybody believes it will take generations to pay back. But actually, it will only take just one year, without our financial expenditure for foreign oil."

What we need to make this work is a straightforward market place. That’s what Americans demand. We need an open marketplace that does what a market is supposed to do, which is to reward good behavior, which is efficiency, and punish bad behavior, which is inefficiency and waste.

Today we have a market that is rigged to favor the dirtiest, filthiest, most poisonous, most expensive fuels from hell. We need to design a marketplace that rewards the clean, cheap, fuels from heaven. We can do this very quickly. For instance, in 1979 America started a national grid, a national backbone for the internet. In 1980, there were fewer than 500 personal computers in this country and IBM was saying it was a dead end technology. Well now, every American has a PC, because we had a marketplace. Look at the effect that has had on the cost of information. It has plummeted to almost nothing. That same thing will happen with the cost of electrons if we follow through and build a national grid for electricity in this country.

Here’s another example, in 1996, President Clinton signed the Telecommunications Act which opened up the telecommunications grid and spawned a national, and worldwide telecommunications revolution. That’s why we have an Ipod. Today there are companies that can provide unlimited long distance and local calling for $18 a year. That’s what is going to happen to the cost of energy, if we build a national marketplace that operates in a straightforward manner.

We need to make sure that the market rules are aligned with our national interests, and with the global interest of saving our planet. We need to make sure that our utility companies can make money by getting their consumers to conserve energy, and that their profits are not dependent upon them selling as much energy as possible. And then we need to open up the grid so that everyone can get on it. If you have a solar panel on your roof, and you’re not home for one part of the day, and your house is generating more energy than it's using, you ought to be able to sell that energy back to the grid and get market rates for it. But there is no state where you can do that today. Thirty six states will buy it back from you, but all of them limit how much, and none of them will give you the market rate.

If we follow through with these fundamentals, we will make every American into an energy entrepreneur, every home into a power plant, and we can power this country from American initiative and entrepreneurship of energy, rather than Saudi oil.

By: Matt Paul Hardy

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Effects of Global Warming on Health

2009-06-10T05:28:00.000-07:00

Effects of Global Warming on Health
by Christophe_Catesson

A report of the effects of global warming on health published by WHO, has estimated around one million fifty thousand deaths every year due to global warming. Further it declared that each year five million people are suffering from health problems and diseases caused for this climate change. The rising concern over this matter has led many scientists and researchers to take a deeper look and prepare a plan to save human civilization from this onslaught.

Global warming has caused changes in temperature, ocean current flow, sea level, ecosystem, economy, agriculture, industry, settlements and related to all these - the health and living.

Warmer world has created congenial atmosphere for the breeding and life expanse of various virus, bacteria and carriers of infectious diseases. Few evidences of global warming leaving negative effects on human health are:

- The vectors distribution of infectious diseases have been altered and increased.
- Heat wave resulted causing deaths.
- The seasonal distribution of few species of allergenic pollen has been changed.
- Various extreme conditions of global warming like droughts, heat and cold wave, storm, flood, fire will increase the death tolls as well as injuries and diseases.
- Malnutrition and disordered development of children.
- It will cause increase of malaria, diarrhea, cholera, dengue, encephalitis and other diseases.
- There will be constant rising rate of mortality due to ground level ozone related diseases as well as high cardio respiratory morbidity.

Thus it will affect human health in two major ways - with extreme weather condition and with rising infectious diseases. IPCC in a study of one of the most global warming affected area of Illinois, Chicago, has provided an apprehensive report that by 2020 extreme climate condition like heat wave will raise the climate average deaths to 400 and to 497 by 2050 from the present average of 191. European heat wave of 2003 is an example of its severity. Heat waves will even cause cardio respiratory complications resulting to high rate of deaths.

The results of ill health due to climate change and infectious diseases are already evident. Houston as well as many tropical countries are experiencing frequent outbreak of malaria, dengue and other encephalitis diseases. Even colder regions like Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Queens are severely suffering from malaria since 1990 as a result of global warming. McAllen of Texas also suffered a dengue epidemic in 1995. Florida, New Orleans, Arizona, Mississippi, Texas, Colorado, and California - all are experiencing encephalitis epidemic for global warming since 1987. According to IPCC, 65% of world population will suffer from high risk of infectious diseases in near future. The risk itself will be increased by 20%, only as a result of global warming.

Facing such an impending calamity due to climate change, the requirement of proper planning and organized adaptation to new and changing condition has received a new dimension.

Along with urgent and basic adaptation practices to fight the immediate effects, a longer planning and elaborate gradual methodology are also necessary to address the severity of future conditions resulted from this. A participatory approach to the holistic development of human health is expected to sober down the effects of global warming on health to some extent.

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Refrigerants Have High Global Warming Potential

2009-05-21T07:29:00.000-07:00

Refrigerants Have High Global Warming Potential

The global warming potential of chemicals is well documented. This is usually documented by referencing how much a chemical will impact global warming as compared to a similar amount of carbon dioxide.

Refrigerants typically outrank carbon dioxide by a factor of 100 or even 1000 and stay in the atmosphere longer to our climate's detriment.

A global warming potential value is assigned to all greenhouse gases. This number is used by scientists to determine how gases, such as refrigerants, will impact global warming within 20 years, 100 years and 500 years.

Most greenhouses gases stay in the atmosphere longer than 20 years, with many as high as 100 years. Unless action is taken to control emissions and dangerous gases, considerable harm will be done to the earth and all living organisms on it.

In determining the global warming potential of a substance, three factors are considered. They are the amount of absorption of infrared radiation, the atmospheric location of where absorption takes place, and how long the substance remains in the atmosphere. A substance with a high potential has a greater impact of causing adverse climate change.

The lower the global warming potential of the substance the better for a healthy environment. All refrigerants in use today can contribute to global warming as greenhouse gases and this is why there are regulations in place to limit their use. These refrigerants will eventually be phased out and replaced with more palatable alternatives.

Chemicals with the highest global warming potential are hydrochlorofluorocarbons, such as those found in refrigeration and cooling systems. The values for hydrochlorofluorocarbons range from 120 to 12,240 over their atmospheric lifetime. When these numbers are broken down, it takes only one molecule of refrigerant gas to cause harm to the ozone layer.

The refrigerant R-113 Trichlorotrifluoroethane has one of the highest global warming potential values at 4800, while the refrigerant R-114 Dichlorotetrafluoroethane has one of the lowest values at 3.9. The alternative refrigerants being developed have no impact on global warming and are being used in the production of all types of new refrigeration and air conditioning systems.

Facilities that use refrigerants with a high global warming potential, for example commercial refrigeration and air-conditioning systems and HVAC systems, must monitor and track usage and submit reports regularly. Both the US Clean Air Act and other international treaties mandate these requirements.

emissions from refrigerants with a high global warming potential are on the decline due to new regulations, particularly those which refer to leak reporting and leak fixing. The United States has led the way and harmful refrigerant gases should be phased out by 2015. Facilities must comply with the appropriate regulations to avoid penalty, but more importantly help to sustain the future of the world's environment.

By: Daniel Stouffer..

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Do Your Part To Fight Global Warming

2009-05-07T05:39:00.000-07:00

Do Your Part To Fight Global Warming

According to something I read recently, the global temperatures of the earth have increased on average of 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 degrees Celsius) since the late 1800s, which means to me that global warming is real and not going away anytime soon.

I believe many people believe the realities of global warming and want to do something to help. Every little bit helps and if you are like me and want to do something to do your part to help reduce global warming here are some ideas that you can implement today.

Compost Food Waste
When you discard your food waste it simply goes into the trash and then hauled away to your local landfill. Once there it begins to rot which is a release of methane gas. Methane is a contributor to global warming. Sure that leftover bowl of spaghetti may not seem like much that you are throwing away, but imagine the other 6 billion people on the planet that are doing the same thing. It does add up. Instead compost that food waste by burying it. Dig a hole about 2 to 3 feet deep and bury it. You are doing two things here. First you are reducing waste that goes to your landfill and second your supplying food to earthly creatures such as worms, bacteria and fungi. These creatures will eat your food waste and in turn produce castings that are nutrient rich for the soil. Methane doesn’t get released into the atmosphere and you help your soil.

Reduce Driving
The emissions from automobiles are one of the leading causes of global warming. Until cleaner fuels become more main stream we must use other methods to help in reduction. Be smarter with your driving practices. Combine trips when you go out. Car pool to work with others. When you are at a drive thru, such as the bank, turn the car off while you wait. These are just a few ways you can reduce your car’s emissions. Obviously not driving at all is the best solution, but it is impractical for the majority of people.

Be Smart with Electric
The majority of electric generated in the world is done so through burning fossil fuels such as coal. Burning fossil fuels emits carbon dioxide, so it goes without saying that the more electric we use the more coal we have to burn and the more Carbon Dioxide we generate. Therefore take steps to be more “electrically efficient” around the home. Change you light bulbs to the new energy efficient fluorescent bulbs. Unplug any and all appliances that you are not using to ensure that no power is being drawn. Turn off lights in rooms that you are not in. Replace those really old appliances with newer energy efficient ones.

There are many ways you can help reduce carbon dioxide production and emission into our atmosphere. With it being one of the major contributors to global warming we can and must do our part to at least slow it down. I have given you three ways in which you can start to help today. By educating yourself on more ways and sharing those ways with others we will be well on our way to a safer climate for generations to come.

By: Bruce A Tucker

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The Way To Combating Global Warming

2009-04-22T04:42:00.000-07:00

The Way To Combating Global Warming

Whether from exposure on radio, television, or the internet, most people are familiar with the idea of global warming. Media focus on the issue has sharpened in recent years.

There are dissenting ideas about the problem, but those who worry about it do so for a understandable reason. No one likes the idea of a future Earth that is uninhabitable for our descendants, after all.

Unfortunately, many individuals do not realize how easy, as well as how affordable it is to join in on the fight against global warming.

While the reports about vehicles and appliances that are energy efficient seem to be very helpful, the focus on them as ways to join the fight has been excessive.

There are far more affordable ways to help.
In order to prevent global warming, simply pay attention to the way your home is run. For example, many people allow their electrical appliances to keep running even when they are not in use so to help the environment, they should be turned off. This is a great way to prevent future problems and save money at the same time.

For the easiest way to reduce your electrical input, simply turn off all the lights and other appliances in the home when you are not immediately using them. This is not only a free way to help out, but you can also save money at the same time!

Another way you can help is by making sure your thermostat is not turned up too high so enjoy the comfort of wearing a sweater instead. Even a few degrees can help reduce the toxic emissions that come from your home.

Unfortunately, many individuals do not realize the many benefits to using energy efficient light bulbs, as oppsed to traditional ones.

These energy efficient bulbs also typically save their users a small amount of money. Many traditional light bulbs have to be replaced frequently, but energy efficient ones last for at least a year or two without needing to be replaced. Depending on where you shop, you may be able to buy these lights for around five dollars per multi-pack.

The contributions to combating global warming are not constricted to homeowners, as renters can help to. You may want to speak with your landlord about making any window repairs, especially if you feel cold air entering into your home when it shouldn't be. Your landlord can further save money through changes in the hot water heater or the addition of an insulation blanket.

You may not have the financial means needed to purchase a new hybrid or energy efficient car; however, you will still want to take a close look at your methods of transportation.

For many, we drive because we want to but don't actually need to. Other alternatives to driving are walking, the carpool, and public transportation. If you want to help fight global warming, you can easily do so by choosing to simply not drive three times you normally would during the week.

By: Lucille Green

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Effects Of Global Warming On Agriculture And Food Supply

2009-03-31T20:27:00.000-07:00

Effects Of Global Warming On Agriculture And Food Supply

For a long time it has been believed that the effects of global warming on agriculture and food supply is going to be a positive one. This is because the rising level of carbon-dioxide resulted for global warming will help the greeneries for photosynthesis.

Thus there will be a rise of agricultural production and food supply. The theorem received a boost after the evidence of a sharp rise of barley production as one of the effects of global warming in Iceland which was quite impossible even few years ago.

But more recent experiments and researches have revealed that the effects of global warming on agriculture and food supply are not that good after all. AN UNEP 2001 report on the global warming has predicted that USA is going to have more droughts, floods, landslides and storms.

Winter will gradually be shortened and sobered down, while summer will rise in expansion and severity. Along with this heavy rain, big storm, heavy snowfall, high sea level, increasing coastal erosion and other problems will occur.

Though as one of the effects of global warming, the overall food supply and production level is supposed to rise in USA, but the Great Plains will suffer with more droughts resulting for global warming.

Even now many effects of global warming on agriculture and food supply have been perceived. The popular maple syrup production of North east USA has diminished by 10. This will create dire water shortage in summer, making the Central Valley area unsuitable for agricultural production for global warming. The State University of Colorado has declared that the area is going to be less productive due to effects of global warming on agriculture and food supply.

As the effects of global warming, the food supply production in Florida is going to suffer a lot due to frequent and large scale floods. Also one of the most profitable agricultural products of USA - corn will suffer a bad condition due to dry and hot atmosphere for global warming.

As another example of the effects of global warming on agriculture and food supply - with the rise of temperature by 3 to 11 degrees in this century, the production rate of the main crops - the rice, corn, wheat, barley, soybeans and sorghum - will be cut down by 3-5% for each point rise of temperature for global warming.

However with all these effects of global warming on agriculture and food supply, new attempts have been made to adjust the agricultural and food production method according to the changing atmosphere. So to fight the effects of global warming, the researchers have established new methods of production with continuous revision of models. But still the best possible process to reduce the effects of global warming on agriculture and food supply is to be established.

By: Christophe Catesson

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The Impact of Global Warming

2009-03-11T19:54:00.000-07:00

The Impact of Global Warming
By Tracey Wilson

The Earth's temperature has risen by about one degree Fahrenheit in the past century, with accelerated warming during the past two decades. According to the National Academy of Sciences, this is attributed to the rise of greenhouse gases – primarily carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.

Energy from the sun drives the earth's climate and weather. It heats the earth's surface, the earth radiates energy, bouncing it back into space. Greenhouse gases trap some of the outgoing energy which retains heat. Hence, giving us the name of, “The Greenhouse Effect.”

Since the birth of the industrial revolution, concentrations of carbon dioxide have increased nearly 30%., methane concentrations have more than doubled, and nitrous oxide has risen about 15%. All of these increases has increased the heat-trapping capability of the earth's atmosphere. Trees and plants breathe in carbon dioxide, and have been what's kept our carbon dioxide emissions in balance. But the destruction of our rain forests and woodland areas, have dramatically decreased this intake. Also, increasing agriculture, landfills, industrial production and mining contribute significantly.

Globally, sea level has risen four-eight inches, over the past century. Worldwide participation over land has increased by about one percent. The frequency of extreme rainfalls has increased throughout much of the U.S. Scientists expect that the average global surface temperature could rise one – four-point-five degrees, Fahrenheit, in the next fifty years. And two-point-two – ten degrees, Fahrenheit, in the next century. Which could cause fifty percent of our animal life to be extinct in our children's/grand children's lifetime.

Evaporation will increase as the climate warms, which will increase average global participation. Sea levels are likely to rise two feet along most of the U.S coast.

Carbon Dioxide is released to the atmosphere when solid waste, fossil fuels, (oil, natural gas, and coal), and wood and wood products are burned.

Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions also results from the decomposition of organic wastes in municipal solid landfills, and the raising of livestock.

Nitrous Oxide is emitted during the agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels. (EPA global warming).

Some global warming signs are: heat waves, and periods of unusually warm weather, ocean warming, sea-level rise, coastal flooding, glaciers melting, Arctic warming, Antarctic warming, insect diseases spreading, earlier spring arrival, plant and animal range shifts, and population changes, coral reef bleaching, downpours, heavy snowfalls, flooding, droughts and fires. How many do you recognize happening right now?

People can make a difference. Here's some steps you can take:

Drive a fuel-efficient car. Look for the model with the best fuel economy in its class. Each gallon of gas you use releases 25 pounds of heat-trapping carbon dioxide, (CO2), into the atmosphere. Another great reason to car pool!

Choose clean power- more than ½ the electricity in the U.S comes from polluting coal-fired power plants. Power plants are the largest source of heat-trapping emissions. Try to switch to electricity suppliers that provide 50-100% renewable energy.

Look for the energy star- when it comes to replacing appliances, look for the energy star label. (Refrigerators, freezers, furnaces, air conditioners, and water heaters, use the most energy). If each U.S household replaced its existing appliances with the most efficient models available, we would save fifteen billion in energy costs and eliminate 175 million tons of heat-trapping emissions.

Unplug a freezer- if you own an extra refrigerator or freezer you rarely use, one of the quickest ways to reduce your global warming impact would be to unplug it. (Only plug it in when needed). This can reduce the family's carbon dioxide by nearly ten percent.

If we all work together, we can make a huge impact on global warming. You could literally have your child or grandchild's lives in your hands.

Tracey Criswell Wilson is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers. Most of Tracey's writings can be found at http://www.writing.com/authors/intuey

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An Overview Of The Effects Of Global Warming

2009-02-11T05:27:00.000-08:00

An Overview Of The Effects Of Global Warming

It is important to understand the significance that global warming has on not only our earth, but our daily lives as well. It’s also important to understand the effects of global warming that our children and grandchildren will experience in the years to come if things continue the way they are now.

First, it’s important to understand that “Global Warming” is also known as the “Greenhouse effect”. Instead of a plastic or glass shield, the earth has around it a series of atmospheric gases consisting mostly of nitrogen and oxygen molecules. The earth is about 60 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than it would be if it didn’t have those atmospheric gases surrounding it. They keep the earth warm and protected from excess UV (Ultra Violet) rays from the sun. Once warmed, their molecules then radiate a portion of this heat energy back to earth, creating more warming on the surface of our planet. It is this radiation which causes atmospheric gases to move back to earth that scientists call the "greenhouse effect".

Much debate in the last five years about the greenhouse effect has centered on interpreting temperature numbers generated at weather stations all over the world. The data from these thermometers are averaged and plotted in attempts to determine just how fast the earth has heated up since the measurements began. There is now no doubt the world is getting warmer. The thermometers show that the world is warmer now than at any time since the measurements started. The year 1990 was the hottest year in the last century. Together with 1991, the years of 1983, 1987, 1988, and 1989, have been measured to be the warmest 6 years in the last hundred years. 1991 was the second warmest year of the past century, perhaps due to the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo during that year. The ash from the volcano in the upper atmosphere blocks some sunlight to earth, and is expected to generate a temporary two or three year cooling effect. After that time, most ash particles will have settled back to earth, and most scientists expect to see the global warming trend continue.

According to scientists, we can with "99% confidence conclude that current temperatures represent a real warming trend rather than a chance fluctuation over the 30-year period." Most scientists agree that the planet's temperature has risen 0.5 degrees Celsius since 1900, and will continue to increase at an increasing rate. The environment is responding to this warming. For instance, a study of mountain plants in the Alps (Europe), shows that some cold-loving plants are starting to move to higher and cooler altitudes. That is a possible response to increasing temperatures.
The global effects of the greenhouse effect cannot be directly predicted simply because we do not have enough knowledge in the subject. However, we have been able to draw direct connections between certain natural phenomenon that supports the idea that something is changing.

Global warming has great effect on crops and weather conditions around the world. The northern hemisphere contains more land area than the southern hemisphere, and conversely, a lower percentage of the world's oceans. Since oceans absorb more heat than land areas, it is not surprising that most climate models predict faster heating over the northern hemisphere than the global average. In addition, models predict faster temperature increases at higher latitudes. If global warming trends continue, high temperatures everywhere in the US may reduce US agricultural productivity.

Northern continental areas are projected to have drier summer soils, due in part to earlier snow melts in the spring, and hotter, more cloudless summers, causing extensive evaporation of ground moisture. In addition, if the inland areas of the northern hemisphere are expected to receive less moisture, then, lake and river levels will be lower. Some reports predict the level of the Great Lakes will drop between 2 and 8 feet. River flows in the western US may be very vulnerable to increase temperatures expected as result of the greenhouse effect.

By: Scott Byers

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The Effects Global Warming May Have On Our Planet

2009-01-04T22:35:00.000-08:00

The Effects Global Warming May Have On Our Planet

While many realize that global warming is occurring on our planet, few understand the implications that this may have on our way of life.

These rising global temperatures are going to cause a host of changes on our planet, and we need to act now or prepare to adjust to some very profound changes.

First, these rising temperatures present a huge threat to our ice-caps. Layers of ice that have not melted for thousands of years are beginning to break apart and fall into the ocean.

One of the biggest ice sheets on the planet, located on Greenland, is at a great risk of splitting apart and falling into the ocean.

While it doesn't sound like too big of a deal, the loss of the Greenland ice sheet will cause catastrophic circumstances world wide.

The world's sea level is expected to rise as much as 23 feet when the sheet falls, and that spells disaster for the coastal cities that represent some of the largest and most important centers of trade and commerce across the planet.

Manhattan would be sunk; much of Florida would be underwater, and that's not even to mention the worldwide consequences. Every area of the globe would be affected by this rising of sea levels, and the disaster caused would make hurricane damage seem like a blessing.

Millions of refugees from the coastal cities will be without home or workplace; it would be one of the hugest human issues ever faced in our history. The changing of the climate could also affect a host of circumstances on our planet; crop yields can be affected by the rising temperatures, which would also pose significant problems to a planet of refugees.

Much of the land may become barren due to the effects of temperature change, and we may find some of our most arable lands subject to the effects of soil erosion, and eventually, a transition into desert land.

Also, water supplies, forests, and plant and animal life would be affected by the planet's changes, and we may not be able to see how significant these changes may affect our lives until they are already upon us.

For that reason, it's important that we increase our knowledge of global warming, and do our best to prevent it in the coming years. While it may have adverse affects on our economy and our way of life, we owe it to our children to give them a peaceful, safe planet to grow up in.

By: Kadence Buchanan -

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Will Global Warming Cause the Next Ice Age?

2008-12-18T19:26:00.000-08:00

Will Global Warming Cause the Next Ice Age?
By Robert F Allison

One major problem in the debate over climate change is a general lack of knowledge on the subject. People usually don't think about where their electricity, gasoline, or toilet paper comes from. Part of this acceptance comes from the way industry separates products from the production process...When we turn on lights in L.A., we don't see the plants and coal mines that generated the power...Only those paying careful attention make the connections. Another part of the problem is that we are reluctant to question science, which has such prestige that people rarely stop to question who is funding research and whether that could compromise findings. (Gibson 17)

Most people also don't understand how the theory of global warming works. They think that a really cold winter is evidence that global warming is a myth. However, scientists that support the ideas of global warming are referring to long-term climate change. Climate refers to environmental patterns over a long period of time. Weather refers to short-lived events, and can have isolated extremes. One of the predictions of many scientists is that global warming will cause more extreme weather: hotter summers, longer droughts, colder winters, and stronger storms. According to their theories, Europe could be tossed into another ice age because of global warming, not turned into a tropical paradise. This is because of the effect global warming could have on ocean currents.

Skeptics will often find any opportunity to attack the views of scientists based on some isolated weather event, or the lack of such an event. If the scientists predict increasing frequency and intensity of hurricanes, skeptics will point out that this last hurricane season was extremely mild, with the only intense storms hitting Mexico. Ultra-conservative commentator, Rush Limbaugh, doesn't just consider global warming to be a myth; he calls it a hoax and a religion.

"It's got salvation, got everything in it. It has the primary ingredient of every religion: faith. Because none of it can be proved" (Limbaugh 4). Limbaugh also takes issue with the use of the word "consensus" by global warming activists, and is right to do so. "Consensus and science-I got blue in the face saying this-don't and cannot mutually co-exist" (Limbaugh 4). If scientists had reached any sort of consensus, this would be a dead issue. Most scientists agree that the temperature of the earth has been gradually increasing, but that doesn't mean they agree on the possible causes or consequences.

A survey of more than 530 climate scientists from 27 different countries showed that 82% of the scientists agreed that global warming is occurring. Only 2.6% said they "strongly disagree." When asked if current scientific knowledge can allow for a reasonable assessment of greenhouse gases, two-thirds of the scientists disagreed with the statement.

The question most people are most keen to ask climate scientists is probably "do you agree or disagree that climate change is mostly the result of anthropogenic (man-made) causes?" Slightly more than half (55.8%) of climate scientists surveyed agreed, 14.2% were unsure, and 30% disagreed. Interestingly, more scientists "strongly disagree" than "strongly agree" that climate change is mostly the result of anthropogenic causes. The survey clearly shows that the debate over why the climate is changing is still underway, with nearly half of climate scientists disagreeing with what is often claimed to be the "consensus" view. (Bast 4)

The study goes on to clarify that the question wasn't whether humans have any effect on climate, but whether they are mostly to blame. It's certainly quite possible that humans are having at least some effect on the climate, but nothing can be proven with any certainty.

Some skeptics believe that mankind is too insignificant and could not possibly have so much influence on the environment. S. Fred Singer is a well-known climate change skeptic. He has been trying to gain support for the theory that climate change is a natural, cyclical process. He believes the earth has a 1,500-year cycle of warming and cooling, with minor ice ages interspersed with interglacial periods. Singer claims that his research shows this cycle going back at least one million years, often with abrupt changes. At one time, Greenland was quite green, with crops and livestock farming. Warm waters were abundant with fish and seals. There were two thriving settlements, but they were eventually lost to glaciers, malnutrition, and starvation.

Dairy farmers were even forced to eat their cows. This was due to a 1.5 degree Celsius drop in average temperatures between 1100 and 1400. "Denmark would not re-colonize Greenland until 1721, when the Little Ice Age was losing its grip on the huge island. Today, 150 years into the Modern Warming, Greenland has 50,000 people" (Singer xii). Singer believes that these cycles are caused by solar changes, not greenhouse gases. He is skeptical of activists who "ask society to renounce most of its use of fossil fuel-generated energy and accept radical reductions in standards of living to "save the planet" (Singer 3). While it makes sense to not be swept up in the alarmist propaganda of activists, being unwilling to sacrifice an air conditioner or SUV, if it is truly necessary, seems selfish and defiant.

source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Will-Global-Warming-Cause-the-Next--Ice-Age?&id=1762573

Melting Arctic Sea Ice And Global Warming Hype

2008-12-01T18:46:00.000-08:00

Melting Arctic Sea Ice And Global Warming Hype
by James William Smith

There can be no dispute that the ice over the Arctic is melting pretty fast. Satellite pictures clearly show the extent of the decrease in Arctic ice during the last several years. In fact, observations from instruments on the ground, balloons, and satellites indicate that the Arctic is warming much faster than the rest of the planet.

Last year's seasonal ice shrinkage set records, reaching a September minimum of 2.6 million square miles, some 23 percent smaller than the previous record, set in 2005. If it sets another record this year, it would mark the fifth season of record declines since 1998.

In fact, preliminary data in June 2008 from University of Colorado researcher Sheldon Drobot does show that the vast expanse of ice at the top of the world is some 55,800 square miles smaller than it was on the same date last year.

The proponents of man-made global warming now point to the melting Arctic sea ice as proof that the planet is in immediate dire peril. Their climate models show that the Arctic sea ice is melting nearly three times faster than global warming computer models had previously projected.

Of course, melting Arctic Sea ice linked to the warming of the planet seems like an easy public relations correlation to make. Ice melts when temperatures rise. Arctic temperatures are rising fast apparently due to man-made global warming. The faster the ice melts, the faster the impact on the planet. So, everyone needs to spend more money and change behavior to eliminate CO2 gas to save the planet.

It all seems so logical until you think about it for awhile and do some research. Then, it really begins to not make much sense. Ultimately, I find that when things don't make sense then they are usually not true. Here is what bothers me about melting Arctic sea ice caused by man-made global warming from an increase in CO2 gas.

First, no study has ever directly linked the increase in global temperatures of the last several decades with melting Arctic ice. There is no scientific evidence of a direct connection, only media hype. In fact, with the climate projection models predicting only one third of the Arctic ice melt that is actually occurring, then maybe another reason outside of global warming is really at work.

Next, there has been a record melt in Arctic ice each year since 1999. However, the average global temperature has not increased and has actually started to decrease in the last few years while that Arctic ice has been melting at an increased pace. Ice melting faster when the planet's actual average temperature is going lower? Doesn't seem to make much sense, does it?

Now, consider that in 2008 ice between Canada and southwestern Greenland reached its highest level in 15 years according to Denmark's Meteorological Institute. The Institute used satellite images to track the southward expansion of the ice.

In fact, on a global basis, NOAA had this to say about world sea ice in April 2008. “Global sea ice reached levels that were “unprecedented” for the month of April in over 25 years. Levels are the third highest (for April) since the commencement of records in 1979, exceeded only by levels in 1979 and 1982."

So, if global warming is creating melting Arctic ice, then why is ice not melting everywhere? In fact, the world had more global sea ice in April 2008, than it had for over the last twenty five years. Again, if it doesn't seem to make much sense, it probably is not true.

So, the actual reason for melting Arctic ice may well have nothing to do with global warming. There have been several recent studies and discoveries in the Arctic that would suggest as much.

Recently, a team of scientists led by Dr. Robert Sohn of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts got a first-ever glimpse of the ocean floor (13,000 feet) beneath the Arctic pack ice. Indeed, they were astonished with what they saw.

Massive volcanoes had risen from the ocean floor deep under the Arctic ice cap, spewing plumes of fragmented magma into the sea. The eruptions took place in 1999 along the Gakkel Ridge, an underwater mountain chain snaking eleven hundred miles from the northern tip of Greenland to Siberia.

Remember, that the record Arctic sea ice melt began in 1999 the same year as these volcanic eruptions began on the ocean floor. The truth is if you overlay the area of melting Arctic sea ice over the area of these massive volcanic eruptions on the ocean floor, a compelling circumstantial case can be made that volcanic eruptions may indeed be the cause of Arctic ice melt.

Other studies also indicate that global warming may not be the cause of melting Arctic sea ice. Last year, a team led by Son Nghiem of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in Pasadena, Calif., studied trends in Arctic perennial ice cover by combining data from NASA’s Quick Scatterometer (QuikScat) satellite with a computing model based on observations of sea ice drift.

The conclusion of the NASA team was as follows: "Unusual atmospheric conditions set up wind patterns that compressed the sea ice, loaded it into the Transpolar Drift Stream and then sped its flow out of the Arctic". So, in effect, polar wind patterns changed and blew the sea ice further south to warmer waters leading to the record Arctic ice melt.

The fact is that there is so much that is unknown about how our climate changes over many thousands of years of time. This lack of knowledge makes it very easy for environmental alarmists to use melting Arctic ice and blame it on global warming due to a man-made increase in CO2 gas.

The point is that the cause of all that melting Arctic sea ice may have many different explanations. Indeed, melting Arctic Sea ice may well turn out to be just more misguided man-made global warming hype.

By: James William Smith

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Does Global Warming Affect Hurricanes?

2008-11-17T19:28:00.000-08:00

Does Global Warming Affect Hurricanes?

Global Warming is a term denoting a gradual warming of the Earths average temperature. The term has become synonymous to the Earths warming exclusively due to man-made effects, especially carbon dioxide.

Carbon dioxide concentrations have increased from 300 parts per million to 384 parts per million since 1900, with the most accelerated increase during the past 40 years.

Some scientists have drawn the conclusion that the increase in the Earths average temperature (about 1°F since 1975) is essentially solely based on man-made activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, biomass burning, and deforestation.

Causes of Global Warming

The Earths atmosphere is made up of different gases. Nitrogen makes up 78% of the total composition, Oxygen 21%, Argon 1% and traces gases .1%. Carbon dioxide makes up most of the volume of the rare gases. Water vapor varies from almost 0% over the deserts to 4% over the oceans.

Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, and nitrous oxide are the gases of interest since these are the greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases can reradiate heat or trap heat absorbed by the Earth from the sun. Water vapor is by far the largest mechanism for heat retention out of the greenhouse gases.

In the past, the Earths orbital eccentricity, variance of the tilt and wobble have led to periods of warmer weather. Even though the solar energy from the sun is considered a constant, a slight change could cause temperature fluctuations. Recently, Mars has also shown a decrease in ice coverage without greenhouse gas changes. The cause for the reduction in aerial coverage is unknown.

In summary, there are three mechanisms which would cause global warming, or in other words allow for a warming of the Earths average temperature. These are:
(1) solar energy variance,
(2) gradual changes in the Earths orbit, tilt, and wobble, and
(3) greenhouse gas changes.
It is difficult to calculate what percentage of the recent warming could be attributed to human activities. We can eliminate changes in the Earths orbit, tilt, and wobble causing a temperature increase since these are long term effects.

What are the Effects of Global Warming on Hurricanes?

There is a common misconception that since the global temperature has increased, hurricanes also must increase in number and intensity. The primary factor in the ability of a hurricane to strengthen or weaken is the wind shear profile of the atmosphere - not water temperature. It always has been warm enough in the tropics to produce hurricanes. This temperature equates to a sea surface temperature of about 80°F.

If you study the behavior of hurricanes you can find cases where hurricanes have strengthened over cooler water and have weakened over warmer water. There may be a small "boost" to a hurricanes strength as it moves over the Gulf Stream, if upper air wind profiles do not change much. Some of the computer generated hurricane models have this bias built in and will rapidly strengthen a tropical cyclone if predicted to go over a warm pool of water.

The recent upturn in tropical cyclone activity was predicted long before Global Warming became a household name. The tropical

Atlantic has been known to vary in cycles, and this recent upturn was expected. If you were to compare the period from 1900 to about 1950, with the 1950s until now, you would find an actual decrease in the average number of hurricanes and their intensity. It also is noted that the upswing in hurricane numbers over the past ten years or more has been only in the North Atlantic basin. Other hurricane formation regions have not shown this same trend.

The Effects of Global Warming on Hurricanes: Summary

There has been a noted increase in the number of hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico since the mid-1990s. The long term average is that ten tropical storms will form per year,
of which about six will become hurricanes. Since the mid-1990s the average has been fifteen tropical storms, of which eight have become hurricanes. There has also been an upward trend in the concentration of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide

due to mans activities over the past 100 years. During this time, hurricanes have gone through cycles where they have been more numerous, such as the cycle that we are in now. Some scientists have drawn a one to one correlation between the Earths temperature increase and the number of hurricanes and their intensity.

As we have noted, the number one factor in tropical cyclone intensity is related to the atmospheric wind shear profile. There is even some research that suggests that higher temperatures could actually increase the wind shear profile resulting in a decrease in hurricane activity.

The upward cycle in hurricane numbers is expected to continue for several more years. If this trend were to continue for a considerably longer period, only then could one draw a conclusion that warmer temperatures have played some part to cause an increase in tropical cyclone formation.

By: Rich Johnson

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Proof Of Global Warming

2008-10-30T04:04:00.000-07:00

Proof Of Global Warming

Anyone who believes there has not been proof for global warming has had their heads stuck somewhere recently, and it might not be in the clouds! Don't get me wrong – I'm not one of those starry-eyed liberals.

For a long time, I myself didn't believe the proof of global warming. I had read all of the conservative documents against global warming proof, you see.

There are a wide variety of creative attempts to discredit evidence of global climate change. For example, many people cite studies done more than a decade ago that suggested that we might actually face global cooling as a result of human activities.

If they were wrong then, the skeptics ask, how do we know they're not wrong now?

The answer is simple. Global warming proof is everywhere.The science has gotten better, and even if there is a small chance that global warming isn't as severe as almost all scientists today agree it is, we can't afford to risk it.

No matter where you live, you have probably noticed the strange weather recently.In many parts of the world, there have been heat waves, unusual floods or droughts, and even severe storms.

What happened down in New Orleans was only the tip of the iceberg. And speaking of icebergs, had you better get a look at them while you have the chance. they might not be around for that much longer!

The moment I stopped doubting global warming proof was when I returned to our childhood ski resort.

We used to go skiing every winter, and one of the highlights of the trip was a trek up to a magnificent glacier.

Today, barely more than a decade later, that glacier has all but disappeared. The snow that used to stick all winter now only lasts a few weeks at a time, and many of the resorts in the area have closed permanently.

We may not understand all the facts, but something is happening to our environment and it is up to all of us to become involved.

There are many ways to become involved in helping to stop global warming. Writing your congressman is one of the most simple, straightforward, and effective ways.

If you want to go a step further, you can try to write opinion pieces in your local paper, attend protests, and most importantly, curb your consumption.Use less electricity, plant more trees, and try to use alternative modes of transportation.

We have all the global warming proof we need. Now is the time for action!

source : http://www.thearticle1.com/2008/10/proof-of-global-warming.html

Animals Affected by Global Warming

2008-10-09T21:31:00.000-07:00

Animals Affected by Global Warming
By Ian Pennington

Today, natural phenomena seem to get intensified, as manifested on the physical and chemical conditions of the earth's atmosphere.

Several disturbances are not just evident to humans but to all living things and among the most significant problems ever occurred is global warming.

The blame for this natural problem should only be given to people, who ruthlessly destroy the environment.

The cruelty of people reaches every living thing from pole to pole as recent reports say that polar bears got stranded on small islands of ice, and most of these poor animals are dying and drowning.

The animals affected by global warming are apparently innocent; ironically, they are always the first ones who suffer.

Global warming can cause habitat displacement, which is a great problem in the ecosystem. Imagine how animals affected by global warming get through such situation.

These animals have spent millions of years in their respective ecosystems and then abruptly, their adaptation will shift.

This is more illustrated by how ice gives way to water in the polar bear habitat. Beyond habitat displacement, experts agree that global warming results a shift in timing of many natural cyclical events in any animal's life.

For example are the birds that have altered timing of long-held migratory and reproductive routines, bettering syncing up under warm climate.

Some hibernating animals too are ending their slumbers earlier because of warmer spring temperatures.

Animals affected by global warming can sometimes move into new places and continue to thrive.

However, parallel human population growth may mean that many land areas that are suitable for such "refugee wildlife" are already cluttered with industrial and residential developments. According to researches, when different species share the same habitat, they will respond in dissimilar ways while tearing apart the future ecological communities' millennia.

Most researches will testify the intensity of changes happening in the lives of animals affected by global warming.

Thousands of struggling species suffer from extinction, in fact, as of 2003, 80% some 1,500 wildlife species sampled show signs of stress to climate change.

Hence, we can possibly determine the situation of the innocent animals in 10 years or so.

If the big polar bears undergo great sufferings from today's problem in global warming, what more will other smaller species feel then?

The Defenders of Wildlife, an environmental movement, gathered statistics about some of the wildlife species that are hardest hit by global warming.

Along with the polar bears on the list are the toads, penguins, arctic foxes, tree swallows, gray wolves, salmon, and painted turtles.

Nonetheless, there is still hope if we still want to save the lives of these animals and other future victims.

That is, if we will take decisive steps to reverse global warming.

Let us stop razing the environment and fear God, for He will punish the destroyers at the end of time

source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Animals-Affected-by-Global-Warming&id=1363894

Global Warming - Survive and Thrive

2008-09-26T12:02:00.000-07:00

Global Warming - Survive and Thrive
By Mark Boardman

A region's climate may alter over time becoming hotter, cooler, drier or wetter. Natural selection will determine the organisms with characteristics appropriate to the new climate. Over hundreds and thousands of generations constant minute changes will eventually lead to a new species that can survive and thrive in the altered climate.

The success or failure of an organism is reliant upon its ability to reproduce young that mature to produce more young. Only the young with the greatest survival traits for any given habitat will endure. These surviving young will transfer their adaptive characteristics to the subsequent generations. This process is known as natural selection

If climatic or environmental changes occur too abruptly some species may not be able to adapt quickly enough and can become extinct. This has become a large problem in recent times with human altered environments changing so rapidly that there has been an ominous rise in the extinction rate
Birds and mammals are warm-blooded (endothermic). This means they can keep their body at a fairly constant, warm temperature by processing body fat and carbohydrates. All other groups of animals are termed ectothermic as their body temperature is dictated by the temperature of the environment around them.

The term cold-blooded is used to describe ectotherms, but this is something of a misnomer, particularly in hot, arid climates. As an example a "cold-blooded" lizard basking in the hot midday sun can easily increase its body temperature to over 100 degrees F, giving it warm blood.

In warm climates organisms need to cool off. Animals' strategies include heat avoidance (by going underground, or into water), or sweating and panting to induce evaporative temperature reduction. Plants must adapt to heat and drought by using leaves to minimise heat stress and water loss.

In cold climates, some endothermic animals continue to be active at night and during the winter, but eat constantly to keep their core temperature steady. Some other approaches adopted by endotherms include minimising heat loss with body insulation such as fat, feathers or hair, or avoidance of adverse temperatures by migration to a cooler environment or burrowing underground, or reducing body temperature by hibernating.

But even man, so often adaptable to the conditions we find ourselves, can be vulnerable to rapid climatic change. The Icelandic Vikings that settled on the south western coast of Greenland in the 10th Century eventually died out within 500 years as they were caught by the grip of the Little Ice Age. This was a period of cooling after a warmer period, known as the Medieval Warm Period.

The Little Ice Age brought bitterly cold winters to the Northern Hemisphere and the Greenland Viking colonies died out simply because they could no longer grow enough food there to support themselves. They had arrived on Greenland in much more favourable climatic times.

So whether endothermic or ectothermic life has a way of surviving, and although our current global warming trend is a serious cause for concern, the earth has seen it all before, and I am sure life will endure.

Mark Boardman BSc dip.hyp is a leading author and expert on the weather.

source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Global-Warming---Survive-and-Thrive&id=1481621

Polar Bears and Global Warming

2008-04-23T00:10:00.001-07:00

Polar Bears and Global Warming
By Michael Russell

Every year around December, about 200 to 250 female polar bears give birth to twins or triplets in the park area.

They are part of a population of about 1,200 polar bears in and around the park, some 600 miles north of Winnipeg in northern Manitoba.

The females fast during the first months with their cubs, but as spring approaches, they grab their cubs and make a run out onto the ice.

The females desperately need food by this time and much reach the Hudson Bay before the ice breaks up and the ringed seals, the favorite food of the Wapusk National Park polar bears, disappear.

It will take a family of polar bears about two to three weeks to make it to the ice, during which time each female will probably lose one or more her cubs. It's a tough journey.

Once the family reaches the ice, they'll feast on seals.

The mother will teach whatever number of cubs survive how to hunt for themselves.

If the cubs get through their first months outdoors, they'll spend the next two years by their mother's side, migrating to and from the Arctic ice packs and learning to hunt the seals.

Polar bears gorge themselves during the seven to eight months of the year when the ringed seal is available.

During that time they can triple their body weight.

Males may grow to 1,000 pounds or more during their feeding period while females may reach 600 pounds.

They'll need the extra weight to get them through the summer when the ice breaks up a=on the Hudson Bay and the polar bears move inland onto the summer tundra.

Polar bears are the world's largest land-based predator.

They have only one enemy, traditional Inuit natives who hunt the bear for their meat and fur.

But now they have another enemy - human-caused global warming.

Today, ice melts in the Hudson three weeks earlier in the spring than it did just 25 years ago.

The increasing sun and early ice melt means there is less time for the polar bears to fatten up for the summer months when they won't have access to the seals.

Polar bears amass most of their body fat during their spring feast of ringed seals.

When the ice disappears earlier, they aren't able to put on as much fat.

That fat is critical for the males, but even more critical for the females who must fast an additional period while they nurse their cubs.

Females lose an enormous amount of weight giving birth and caring for their cubs, but gain it back if they have enough time on the ice.

One female weighed only 250 pounds after her pup's birth, but ballooned to 880 the next year.

But scientists have noted a 10 percent drop in the number of cubs born in the last 20 years.

Adult bears are also 10 percent thinner.

At a lower body weight, females have a tougher time nursing, which is part of the reason there are fewer cubs.

Female polar bears use snow dens to give birth to their cubs.

But rising temperatures can affect these dens themselves.

If the dens melt early, the cubs are exposed to the outside world too soon.

The same is also true for the ringed seals, which are the prey of the polar bears.

They use snow dens to shelter their young.

Without the snow dens the health of both predator and prey are affected.

Global Warming - 5 Simple Ways To Go Green And Save The Environment

2008-04-08T19:46:00.000-07:00

Global Warming - 5 Simple Ways To Go Green And Save The Environment
by Donald Mckenzie Jr

1) Buy multivitamins.

Almost everyone today uses health supplements for good living. Often times they will go out and buy a large amount of bottles containing different vitamins.

One great way to save on having to deal with the many bottles is the purchase multivitamins. Not only are they great for your health, but they are like having a lot of vitamins combined into one.

This step will also help you to save a great deal of money.

2) Purchase aluminum free deodorants.

Many of the deodorants used today contain aluminum.

Many studies have shown that aluminum salts in deodorants can adversely affect your health. They have been linked to breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

Another problem is that it requires a lot of energy to mine the aluminum salts.

If the energy output is cut, then it will strengthen out fight on global warming.

Aluminum free deodorants require less energy to produce and they do not put your health at risk.

3) Skip the gym and exercise outdoors.

Treadmills, exercise bikes, and elliptical machines are a great way to get healthy and stay fit.

However, hey do require a great amount of energy.

Each time you use one, it is running up your energy bill and wasting precious energy.

If you take that same amount of time and go or a walk or run outdoors, there would be a ton of energy saved. Just think about the amount of energy you are wasting each month by using indoor electronic exercise machines.

Another great benefit to exercising outdoors is that you will be breathing in fresh air and not reprocessed air conditioning.

4) Use bars of soap instead of body wash.

Many fragrance companies today create what is known as body washes for people who want to "smell excellent".

You can find them in almost every grocery store in the United States today.

However, most people do not realize that body wash is primarily made up of water and take a lot of energy to produce.

A simple bar of soap will give you that same fresh scent.

People forget that before body washes were created, soap bars were dominant.

A bar of soap only needs to be paced in a small box while a body wash need to be put into a medium sized plastic container.

Keep in mind that cardboard requires much less energy to produce than plastic.

You can help save the environment and the emissions of carbon dioxide just by sticking to regular bars of soap.

5) Use fresh foods instead of canned.

With the way things are going today, people have become dependent upon packaged items.

In grocery stores you see canned fruits, canned vegetables, and even canned tuna.

Many people seem to forget that cans take a great deal of energy to produce.

You can help the environment by simple getting the foods you want fresh.

Would you rather eat an apple that has been freshly plucked from a tree, or sapped in weird fluids out of a metal can?

There are many other things that you can do to help battle global warming.

Although humans are responsible for a small percentage of the total global warming issue, we can still do our part to help the planet

How to Understand Global Warming

2008-03-09T21:27:00.000-07:00

How to Understand Global Warming
by Bob Strauss

Over the past 25 years or so, scientists around the world have observed a worrisome trend: the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere and oceans has been increasing. Although global warming is a slow process—accounting for an increase of about 1 degree Fahrenheit over the course of the 20th century—it has profound implications. Here’s a quick guide to this much-argued, but little-understood, phenomenon

Step 1:
Blame the Greenhouse Effect. Some gases—notably carbon dioxide—tend to trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere, and as the concentration of these gases increases, so does the atmosphere’s temperature. Burning fossil fuels releases huge amounts of carbon dioxide, over and above the CO2 exhaled by humans and other animals. Worse, global C02 emissions have gone hand-in-hand with deforestation, meaning there aren’t as many trees to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as there used to be.

Step 2:
One or two degrees make a big difference. A natural response to global warming is to say “So what’s the big deal? It’ll be an average of 76 degrees over the summer instead of 75 degrees.” True, that one degree won’t make much difference to your summer wardrobe, but it has a huge effect on the polar ice caps, which are slowly melting. As a result, scientists predict that average water levels around the world will rise anywhere from 10 to 100 feet over the next 100 years. (Even 10 feet would render many coastal cities uninhabitable.)

Step 3:
Global warming doesn’t necessarily mean “warm.” Here’s another observation by the average joe: “Jeez, it’s five degrees out! There goes your global warming!” Unfortunately, the way climate works, an average increase of one or two degrees in atmospheric temperature can actually cause some places to get colder, because of resulting changes in ocean currents. In other words, hundreds of years from now, it’s not inconceivable that global warming will cause a new Ice Age.

Step 4:
Get ready for some weird weather. Statistically, a 70-degree day in New York in January isn’t, by itself, evidence for global warming—nor are freak snowstorms in Denver, nor an unusually strong hurricane season, such as the U.S. experienced last year. However, taken together, these strong shifts in the weather indicate that something is awry in the way heat is being channeled from the atmosphere to the oceans, and vice versa—and the best guess is, you guessed it, global warming.

Step 5:
The situation isn’t hopeless. Faced with a planetary phenomenon like global warming, many folks will throw up their hands and say, “what can I do?” The fact is, though, that if we change our consumption patterns now—abandoning our SUVs, looking for alternative energy sources, preserving the Amazon rain forest, etc.—we can have a major impact on the future. If you’re concerned, you should at least alter your behavior—and if you don’t think that’s enough, get involved with an environmental group or write a letter to your congressperson

Global Warming Issues Are In Your Hands

2008-02-25T22:21:00.000-08:00

Global Warming Issues Are In Your Hands by David Yuri

There has been a lot of talk on the subject of global warming. Specialists believe that human activities in the past 50 years have given a negative boost to climate change. After a long series of tests and chart observations, it seems that the primary culprit for global warming is the emission of greenhouse gases (mainly carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide). These gases have altered the composition of the atmosphere and raised the planet’s temperature with almost 1?C since 1950.

The problem is not that these gases exist. They have always been in the atmosphere, but there is a major increase in their concentration. The planet started to heat up and the climate change appeared simultaneously with the beginning of industrial revolution. Then, at the start of a new era, the concentrations of carbon dioxide increased with nearly 30%, methane almost doubled and nitrous oxide with 15% making global warming a serious, even deadly matter.

These figures are truly concerning due to the fact that we rely on fossil fuels to drive, to heat and to power factories not thinking of the harsh reality: burned fossil fuels are the main reason for the rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leading to global warming and accelerating the rate of climate change.

Still, the combustion of fuel is not the only one to blame for global warming. Researchers consider that the development of agriculture, deforestation, landfills, industrial production and mining are also to blame. Each one of them has ‘helped’ induce large, global, abrupt climate change leading to a warmer planet, making it more difficult for us to live.

The statistics in climate change are frightening. Almost 98% of the greenhouses emissions are due to pollution and it is no surprise that the most powerful and rich country (U.S) on the continent is mainly responsible for global warming. 1998 has been declared the warmest year on record and scientistists are concerned that the snow cover in northern hemisphere and floating ice in the Arctic Ocean have decreased. Do we really pay enough attention to the climate change and do we want the planet to become too warm for us to live in?

We are all threathened by this sudden climate change. Global warming is not a joke and we should start paying more attention to it. Not only wildlife, forests and coastal areas are vulnerable to the climate change that the greenhouse gas may bring, but also water resources, animals and most important our health.

What should we expect from global warming? First of all, a change that will have a major impact on the way we live will be a warmer weather. Climate change will appear in the form of increased precipations worldwide, with acid rainfalls that will damage the natural habitat, with more frequent and intense storms that will build up and result in powerful hurricanes. And this is just the top of the ‘iceberg’ called global warming. The hurricanes will be stronger than usual with greater devastating powers.

The population of the globe should be taught more about these greenhouse gases that are held responsible for climate change and more specific, global warming. Carbon dioxide is realeased into the atmosphere when wood, fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) and solid waste are burned. Methane is emitted during the production and transport of oil, gas and coal, but it also results from decomposition of solid, organic waste. Nitrous oxide is the product of: agricultural and industrial activities, combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste. So, do we still have to wonder why these greenhouse gases have such a strong impact on climate change?

Unfortunately, there are not many options to reduce the effects of global warming. Lately, in order to predict climate change, specialists have put up what is called an emission inventory which registers the quantity of air pollutants in the atmosphere. It also establishes the identity of the polluting agent (chemical/physical), the geographic area covered, the time period over which emissions are appreciated and the type of activities that cause the emissions. This way, the scientific community is making an effort to reduce the serious consequences of global warming.

Another solution for the problem of global warming is recycling. It started years ago in powerful and well developed states and it is a novelty for poor, undergoing tranzition states that are struggling to survive. But, slowly, people all over the world are learning about the strong effects of recycling newspapers, plastic, glass, metal. It is a healthy action that makes the world a better place. By recycling, we not only help ourselves, but also the forests, crop yields and water supplies which are severely affected by climate change. We also keep in mind the animals and the ecosystems - another sector badly damaged by climate change. We make the difference

Global warming affects everybody. That is why we must fight against our self destruction and life’s in general. Fight for your planet, don’t let the climate change affect the environment in an irrecoverable manner, keep in mind that Earth’s eco systems are sensitive and must be treated with care, and you will have a future!

Global Warming's Fever

2008-02-14T00:09:00.000-08:00

Global Warming's Fever by Thomas Phelp

The earth has a fever." This was a statement from Nobel Prize winning documentarian, Al Gore.
Increasingly the view of mankind by mankind is that of intruder. In many ways it would seem that we are the earth's enemy and our very existence is depleting the earth of resources that could keep an environmental balance.

Global warming is the belief that the temperature of the air nearest to earth is consistently rising. Droughts are blamed on global warming and new products are constantly being developed to help lessen human impact on perceived climate change.

Electric or hybrid cars are thought to provide the best example of how we can reduce carbon emissions that are said to be harming the earth. Every day children are learning about global warming in school and some are even taking their parents to task for habits that may not be viewed as earth-friendly.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were slowly eliminated when it was discovered that chlorine in this common chemical compound might be responsible for ozone depletion in the 1970s. That in turn caused many to believe the hole in the ozone was causing the earth to warm substantially. Obviously global warming sounds a clarion call to environmentalist, but politicians and the education establishment have also embraced it.

Research tends to support the idea that humans have less to do with climate change than livestock and other animals, yet this is rarely discussed in the global warming debate. You should know there are those that believe the theory of global warming may be less dramatic than the aforementioned fever.

For instance there is no hard scientific data to indicate a long-term warming trend. Where some would espouse the belief that oceans will rise dramatically as icebergs melt the actual short-term data indicates an air temperature increase of less than a degree.

Additionally there are those who would request data be collected from multiple climate environments to assess the actual temperature variances. This is something that has not been factored into the current Global warming theory.

In was noted in 2007 that efforts in the UK to reduce the impact of their human population on the environment did essentially nothing to actually help in the effort. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction - we've all heard that before. The 'action' was regulation to effect a positive change in CO2 emissions. The 'reaction' was no change in spite of increased man-hours, new regulations and general compliance.

Would further restrictions stunt technological advances? There are those who believe global warming is much ado about nothing and remain alarmed that so many changes are being enacted based on a theory with no long-term supporting data. They are also alarmed that the regulations that are already in place are having very little impact on a perceived problem.

Add to that the fact that 2007 was the coldest year on record for the 21st century and you can see why some believe that the term 'fever' might have been used prematurely. Some may even wonder if man has less control over environmental change than we would like to believe.

I'm certainly not advocating that we act irresponsibly with our natural resources, but from a scientific point of view it is irresponsible to extrapolate an extremely costly plan of action from data that does not support the action.

From a logical point of view it makes perfect sense to replace deforested land with new plant life that can convert CO2 to oxygen. It makes sense from an economic point of view to decrease gas consumption as gas prices rise. From a health perspective it makes sense to reduce emissions to assist in the decrease of health issues. However, when the data doesn't support the theory it is either time to adopt a new theory or at the very least face the facts.

Global Warming War On Earth Wins A New Battle

2008-01-24T23:14:00.000-08:00

Global Warming War On Earth Wins A New Battle by Jason Witt

When you receive the Seal you will begin to care about the environment. Global warming due to pollution caused by people is ever increasing. 2007 is tied as the 2nd warmest year in the last century.

Perhaps you are skeptical of some of the projections made by some scientists. Like that the sea level will rise several feet in the relatively short amount of time of several years.

But global warming is happening, and it is compounding. It has not increased linearly. It is compounding as it escalates. This is no projection--this is data gathered from what has already happened

2007 was about as warm as 1998, the 2nd warmest years in the last 100 years. The NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) compiled the data. And their prediction about the warming turned out to be correct.

They thought that 2007 was going to be warmer than 2006, and they were right. It was warmer. That is the continuing of a trend of global warming caused by pollution made by people.

The pollution is greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere much like a greenhouse traps in heat so the plants inside it can survive. But there is nothing "green" about this greenhouse.

Global warming is threatening the delicate balance of the ecosystem of the earth. That balance is so delicate that just a few degrees difference in temperature will destroy many species, and that is not good for people who are one of those species.

1934 was a warm year in the US, but not in the rest of the world. That is something of an anomaly, because the rest of the warmest years in the last 100 are all quite recent. 2005 wins the shameful prize of warmest.

According to the GISS, the 8 warmest years have come after 1998. And the 14 warmest years have come after 1990. This is an obvious warming trend. The years are not scattered throughout the century but happen right at its end.

Because of this warming trend, the experts at GISS believe that the next few years are going to see a year that breaks the record of 2005 as being the warmest year.

The next warmest year according to GISS is likely to happen at the time of the next El Nino, an ocean-atmosphere phenomenon that involves temperature fluctuations in the southern hemisphere.

When you are sealed you will begin to care about the environment. God will plant a little garden in your soul. You will be a little fertile earth growing up seed until you bear fruit.

As a little earth you will care about the greater earth too. You will not want to hurt the greater earth any more than you will want to hurt your own soul. But greenhouse-gas pollution is already hurting the greater earth.

When you are sealed you will learn how you can take action to fight global warming. God will show you what you can do in your little corner of the world to reduce pollution when you receive the Seal

Global Warming Explained

2008-01-10T03:49:00.000-08:00

Global Warming Explained by Jonathon Hardcastle

Global warming is thought of as one of the biggest threats to world security in modern times, and it is arguably already taking its toll in our weather system. By a combination of natural cyclical progression, and the impact of human behaviour and activity over the last century, the Earth is steadily seeing the effects of the global warming phenomenon. But what exactly is global warming, and exactly what impact could it have on our environment?

Global warming can be defined as an overall gradual increase in world temperature over time. This is measured by averaging Earth and Ocean temperature, and has shown a steady upwards trend over recent decades. Furthermore, it is thought that over the last half a century, this has been a result of human civilisation and industrialisation. One of the major contributors to global warming is what is known as greenhouse gas, which comprises largely of carbon dioxide from general human activity.

Global warming as a process is thought to be highly devastating in terms of its effect on the climate. 'Climate change' is a phrase which is often use in association with global warming, and it has potentially catastrophic consequences for the world in which we live. 'Climate change' also covers global cooling, which can also occur as a result of human activity and greenhouse gases, and reflects a substantial change in the world's climate, which could change our habitat beyond recognition. This could be characterised by unusual weather patterns, resulting in more frequent natural disasters, which could in turn lead to political and social chaos in the decades and centuries to come.

There are a number of international political treaties which have been set up to change the progress of global warming, although their tangible upshots still remain to be seen. Through political cooperation, it is hoped that environmental targets can be met on an international scale, to make a real difference to the environment. However, at a personal level, there is significant scope for helping, rather than hindering the world in which we live, including recycling household waste, and reducing personal carbon emissions.

Global warming is arguably one of the biggest threats to human civilisation, and it is something which requires a drastic change in lifestyle to reverse. However, with a personal and political impetus, it is hopeful that the damage done to the planet can be reversed for future generations to enjoy

Global Warming: The Cosmic Microwave

2008-01-10T03:47:00.000-08:00

Global Warming: The Cosmic Microwave by Gabriel J. Adams

Global warming is the heating up of the earth’s temperatures. This has been studied in great detail during recent times and scientists are trying to find ways to slow down or stop global warming.

The main issue with global warming is how off balance it will throw the world. With the temperatures steadily getting hotter and hotter it can start to melt the icecaps and let harmful UV rays from the sun in. These effects will cause massive damage to the earth and the way we live life.

Before you get scared of all this you should know there are solutions. The first solution comes in the form of fossil fuels. We use gasoline and diesel to power our cars, boats, planes, trains and most any moving vehicle we have. The problem comes when the fossil fuel is being burned and the exhaust hits the atmosphere effectively destroying it. This also applies to homes, businesses, and anything that requires electricity.

The best way to fight these negative effects is by using alternative fuel sources. By using these alternative fuels we are helping fight the effects of global warming while still proving the power we need.

If global warming isn’t stopped it could lead to some disastrous problems we will face in the world. Imagine having to wear sun block just to get your mail or for a quick run to the grocery store.

Not all of the problems associated with global warming are caused by us. Volcanoes are also helping to cause this warming effect on the earth. However, we cannot prevent a volcano from erupting. What we need to do is take action against the little things that humans personally cause to create global warming. If everyone takes small steps it will help us all make a big leap in preventing global warming in the future

Carbon Dioxide Regulation: No Snap Decision

2008-01-01T17:33:00.000-08:00

Carbon Dioxide Regulation: No Snap Decision by Anthony Fontanelle

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Stephen Johnson repeatedly declined to say last Tuesday how soon he will comply with the high court’s decision and decide whether to regulate carbon dioxide -the principal gas which has been linked to global warming.

Johnson, appearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, was asked repetitively to give a timetable for responding to the Supreme Court decisions promulgated on April 2. The court said that the Clean Air Act makes clear the agency must regulate carbon dioxide if it is found and proven that it endangers public health.

The legal argument has been established and "now there's an unmistakable green light to take action now," Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., the committee's chairman, told Johnson. "There is no excuse for delay." But Johnson called the court's ruling to be complex and said that he did not want to be tied to a specific timetable. "I'm not going to be forced into making a snap decision," he later told reporters.

When Boxer said EPA staff had indicated the agency could make a decision on regulating carbon dioxide emissions from motor vehicles in three or four months, Johnson responded he would "not commit to a specific four-month schedule." "We will move expeditiously, but we are going to be moving responsibly," said Johnson, a variation of a phrase he used again and again when pressed by senators on a timetable. "I don't hear in your voice a sense of urgency," Boxer told Johnson.

While the court's decision focused on vehicle tailpipe emissions, Johnson said that the agency is evaluating what impact the ruling might have on the need to regulate releases from power plants and industrial sources as well. The EPA administrator sought to deflect some of the criticism by telling senators the agency earlier Tuesday had taken another step toward considering whether to grant a waiver to California so that it could implement regulations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from tailpipes.

Johnson said he had signed documents earlier in the day to begin a formal public comment period - lasting until June 15 - on the waiver request and that he planned a hearing on the issue on May 22.

Separately, the decision on whether to radically increase the regulation of automobile emissions and auto safety returns to the forefront in Congress this week. On Wednesday, the Senate Commerce Committee will begin deliberation of a bill to radically raise corporate average fuel economy regulations, using a bill introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. But with committee staffers still trying to arrive at consensus on bill language, auto industry and the Senate officials on Monday decided that debate on the fuel economy bill will be postponed until May 8.

Feinstein's bipartisan bill, co-sponsored by 16 senators, increases the fleet-wide average fuel economy for passenger cars and light trucks from 25 miles per gallon to 35 mpg by the year 2018. It is expected to entertain amendments at the May 8 hearing. The bill is likened to what President Bush called for in January, when he said he wanted to reduce gasoline usage by 8.5 billion gallons, or 5 percent, a year by raising fuel economy by an average of four percent each year beginning in September 2009 for passenger cars. The key difference is Bush would leave it to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to set the actual increases through a rulemaking process.

Feinstein's bill would necessitate additional auto safety regulations, by implementing compatibility standards between huge and small vehicles. It would also require "mandatory on-board fuel economy displays that show real-time fuel consumption to encourage more fuel efficient driving." It means refined auto parts like EBC rotors, engines, radiators and more

Stop Global Warming

2007-12-30T18:45:00.000-08:00

Stop Global Warming by Sarah BB

More frequently we are being given reminders that we are living on a fragile and volatile planet. Many of our natural resources have been processed to near depletion. As the world population grows more land and resources are being used to cope with the increase in demands and deforestation, this in turn has a by product, Pollution and Global Warming. Global Warming is a “Global” issue and is not particular to one event or action, although one event or action repeated round the world by millions of us could make a big difference.

Because the effects of Global Warming are created by many different actions it is hard to put a “Cover All” solution into place. A “Cover All” solution is equally hard as it would have to be established as part of an international policy, a policy that would need every country to sign up to, but that’s politics and will be covered in a separate article. This article is aimed on focusing the individual actions.

What can one person do?Alone, not a lot but imagine if millions of others just like you done the same thing round the world! That would make a big difference on a Global scale, now imagine this happened with various different products at the same time!

The biggest pollutant in most of our lives is our beloved Car, for most of us the car is an integral part of our lives. Without taking the drastic measures of not having a car and hampering our lifestyles there are still a few tricks left to reducing the motor vehicle carbon emissions. Car sharing work journeys, lower c02 emission cars, hybrid cars, cutting out short journeys that can be done on foot, and public transport.

Having now looked at the ways to reduce global warming in regards to your travelling attention can now turn to the management of household waste products like old bottles, newspapers, excess paper, tins, unwanted toys, food and other such items. Many of these items can be recycled or disposed of without being put into a general land fill. All it requires is a few vital minuets to separate and sort it and it’s done.

For instance you can make compost for your garden from food stuff like onion peelings, tea leaves, spoiled vegetables and fruit can be turned into compost. The items like tins, old bottles, papers and newspapers can be taken to recycling centres where they will be eventually taken for recycling.

You can take your old clothes, toys and other goods to charity shops so that someone else will have the chance of using them. This way you can prevent the many garbage dumps from becoming too full. This is another way to reduce the effects of global warming that rarely crosses our minds.

As you can see, while the large industries and companies work to reduce global warming on a large scale, the small scale reduction is down to the individual. For those of us who are looking at the ways to stop global warming our homes, the way we travel and our lifestyles can be looked at with this goal in mind. In the end it is all of our collective efforts to stop global warming which will help us to live a better and cleaner life. You may only be ably to change one element of the above at a time, but can you imaging the impact if everybody done just ONE thing?

Amazon At Risk- action Needed Now

2007-12-17T23:47:00.000-08:00

Amazon At Risk- action Needed Now By: Jason Witt

When you receive the Seal you are made like a little earth. So you want to take care of the earth like you take care of yourself. The great garden of the Amazon forest is essential for the health of that earth and yet is threatened.

Global warming is having an adverse impact on the Amazon rain-forest. And the more it happens, the less able to forest is to prevent more global warming, while the Amazon forest is doing much of the heavy lifting in such prevention.

The Amazon forest is keeping the earth cool, keeping down the rising temperatures due to the effect of the pollution people create. As pollution like carbon dioxide rises, so the temperatures of the earth are also rising.

The Amazon forest absorbs a lot of carbon dioxide. But it is also a key element in the balance of the ecosystem of the earth. It also contains an estimated 20 percent of the fresh water of the world.

In addition a third of the species of flora and fauna are found in the Amazon rain-forest in Brazil. But deforestation is yet another enemy in the battle. It causes skyrocketing amounts of carbon dioxide in the air.

If the Amazon forest is not conserved, temperatures around the globe will rise more than the 3.6 degrees above pre-industrial levels that scientists say is the "tipping point." Any more than 3.6 degrees and catastrophes will be omnipresent.

Floods and droughts will happen even more frequently than they are now, along with windstorms and other natural disasters. These have already increased greatly and we can not tolerate any more increases.

When the Amazon forest is depleted scientists say it will affect everyone else around the globe, including those in the United States who will see less rainfall for their crops, which will not be abundant harvests.

And as if deforestation for cattle ranching and soybean growing were not enough, global warming itself threatens to destroy some of the forest as climate change makes conditions inhospitable for life.

There is the price to be paid by those wealthy Western people who are producing the pollution. They must eventually pay for the poor in places vulnerable to floods and droughts.
And now the Amazon rain-forest can be added to those places the wealthy Westerners must subsidize. The Amazon must be preserved, and the people of Brazil need resources like money to do it.

They want to burn large tracts of forest so they can have land to raise cattle and grow soybeans. They want to do it so they can make money, and they will need money if they are to leave the forest intact.

It is unfortunate that the future of the world rests largely on the wilderness of one country--Brazil. But without much of the rain forest we have today we will not be able to sustain our current levels of polluting the air.

When you are sealed you are called to do your part to help preserve the environment and nurse it back to health again, just like you are called to keep your own body healthy.

When you are sealed you become a little earth, a little complete ecosystem. So you understand the failing health of the greater earth too, and you take action to prevent any more sickness when you receive the Seal.

By: Jason Witt

The Unknown Facts About Global Warming

2007-12-12T19:58:00.000-08:00

The Unknow Facts About Global Warming

by: James Heimler

The issues about global warming and the effects of global warming are continuously under debate. Somehow the debate has made its way into virtually every aspect of our lives. There is even thought that the issues about global warming are also applicable to the beliefs that other beings from other planets were forced to make themselves to Earth as their planet began to deteriorate, due to global warming.

It is all around us. It is on the weather stations. It faces us when we decide to purchase a new car or even a cleaning product. The real issues come when trying to learn about global warming. There is a lot of conflicting information on the internet and there is not one group that can agree on all aspects of the global warming debate.

Over the past century, with out a doubt, global temperatures have risen. While the rise in temperature has been only a degree or so, the concern is whether the Earth's temperatures will continue to rise and what impact that will have on the environment. The controversy about the warming of the earth is a result of conflicting evidence.

The fact that global warming also occurred in the prehistoric era is a scientific point. Some think a large meteor hitting the planet caused an big change in the earth's temperature. Is that what killed the dinosaurs? Science cannot prove this conclusively yet. The political and industrial lobbies further complicate conversations about global warming. The contention of these groups is that, we currently do not know enough about the effects of global warming to limit industrial emissions.

When will we know the full facts about global warming and will the global warming issue be resolved anytime soon? Unfortunately the answer is no. There will continue to be studies performed and there will always be a measure of doubt clouding the minds of citizens around the world. Perhaps, when enough data comes through, we will be able to make a determination based on scientific fact rather than theory. Until then we can continue to monitor the progress of scientists and try to do our part in conserving the environment.

Have A Nice Green Holiday

2007-12-09T19:03:00.000-08:00

Have A Nice Green Holiday by Chloe W

This holiday season probably has a new meaning for everyone. We face a skyrocketing price on oil and food as well as a shaky stock market. Besides, global environment issue is getting serious than ever. In this red alert for our economic and environment, we should do more effort for our earth. Why not start from this Christmas? It is the season of spirit, we should teach our children and ourselves to involve issues like global warming or save our plants. We don't have to buy something expensive for our family or friends. Instead, we should give them a great new holiday gifts and teach them have green-minds.

Here are great green tips:
1. Think organic: If you plan to buy the gifts for your children, you can consider organic cotton toys. They are pretty, cute and eco-friendly as well as allergy-free for your kids or baby. Besides, you should choose low or no-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paint for your wall finish when you decorate the room. Some toys with low-VOC are also good choices because they are earth-friendly.
2. Energy conservation: When you decorate your holiday, you can consider energy conservation lighting or fluorescent lighting. The purpose of these products is to save your money by energy efficient solution as well as protect our earth.
3. Recycled material: we don't want to cut another tree or waste our nature resource. So, here are tips to choose some recycled material or reused wood toys. Some toys are proved by E0 (E-zero) standard certification which have no toxic finish or harmful coloring.

The Reality Of Global Warming

2007-12-05T18:04:00.000-08:00

The Reality Of Global Warming by Arthor Pens

Global warming is happening because of Carbon dioxide being released into our atmosphere. This is like the city smogs that we used to see in the 1900's, retaining or trapping the infrared heat from the sun in the atmosphere. Global mean temperature rises can be directly correlated to the mean increase in Carbon Dioxide in our atmosphere

There is significant evidence that our planet's weather and climate patterns are changing rapidly as a direct result of Global Warming. Droughts, receding glaciers and ice caps, extreme storms, rises in ocean temperatures and sea levels, shifts in distribution of organisms and diseases. Many think human activities are a significant contributing cause. As of this year, compelling scientific evidence has come to light to quantify this issue (Oct 2007). The rate at which Carbon Dioxide is being absorbed by the world's oceans has now depreciated significantly. This is because oceans are now overloaded with Carbon Dioxide. From this point forward, more and more of our CO2 output will go straight into the atmosphere, adding to global warming

A warming atmosphere and seas make for loads of extra energy available for the creation of abnormal weather patterns. Around the world, recent data shows an increase in severity of storms, droughts, rainfall, and floods. The disastrous hurricane season of 2005 was just one indication of how synergistic weather is with sea level rise, resulting in loss of wetlands, social issues, and the ability of governments to respond. Three storms strengthened to category 5 in the Atlantic Basin for the first time in a single season (Katrina, Rita, and Wilma). An unprecedented 27 named tropical storms formed, according to NOAA, and more than half of them became hurricanes

"The Arctic is receding very quickly (as a direct result of Global Warming) according to reports from scientists and arctic natives. The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment was released in late 2004, and shows changes from the ice at the North Pole to animals and human settlements. More recent reports from Greenland reveal glaciers moving meters per hour and rapidly thinning. The Arctic ice cap is shrinking in summer to the smallest it has ever been in modern measurements, and even winter cold has not been refreezing it as much as before. Basically, there's a rise in overall sea level going on, coupled with an increase in violent weather, so coastal areas will get hit very hard from now on.

In effect, we can now expect all previous climate change models to be obsolete. Rather like a movie straight out of Hollywood, you can imagine a scientist trying to explain to the president how a slowing in the rate of CO2 absorption by the world's oceans translates directly into increased CO2 in the atmosphere and that "we are now expecting a 2 degree rise in global temperatures in the next 10 years rather than the 50 years previously estimated Mr President." Or for you gas guzzling Americans: Forget any major coastal cities Mr President. I would also suggest that New Orleans will not need re-development or more capital expense. I foresee that a further category 4 or above hurricane will destroy any Levy's around the coastal areas. Substantial sea rises will prevent any attempts to protect these areas.

Kids "reinvent The Environment"

2007-11-29T18:54:00.000-08:00

Kids "reinvent The Environment" - by Wendy Mitchell

As the old saying goes, "one man's trash is another man's treasure," and now kids nationwide are taking something old and making it new and functional for a good cause-to protect the environment.While recycling has grown in general during the past 20 years, recycling of specific materials has grown even more drastically. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 50 percent of all paper, 34 percent of all plastic soft-drink bottles, 45 percent of all aluminum beer and soft-drink cans, 63 percent of all steel packaging, and 67 percent of all major appliances are now recycled

To support future generations of recyclers, Doubletree Hotels' Teaching Kids to CARE initiative is educating elementary school students about their roles in caring for the environment by challenging them to create fun solutions that could some day save the Earth. Students will work hand in hand with teachers and hotel team members to "imagine" how they would turn recyclable household products into "eco-friendly" solutions that help the environment.

For those parents and teachers wanting to encourage their kids and students to increase their eco-friendly practices, here are a few tips:

1. No trash week-Challenge your family or class to lower their trash output. Several easy tips to follow include using reusable bags when shopping at the grocery store and bringing plastic storage containers (or even better, reused jars or plastic tubs) for leftovers with you when you eat out.

2. Buy recycled materials- Encourage kids to be environmentally accountable by being responsible purchasers. Recycled paper towels, plastic waste bags and inkjet cartridges are just a few of the items available. The EPA estimates that one ton of recycled paper also saves 2,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, 3,000 gallons of water and keeps 30 pounds of air pollution out of the sky.

3. Cut out bottled water-Each year more than 4 billion pounds of plastic bottles end up in landfills or as roadside litter. Plastic bottles also require massive amounts of fossil fuels to manufacture and transport. Instead, encourage the use of sturdy plastic bottles which can be repeatedly filled and washed.

4. Use the "off" switch-Save electricity and reduce global warming by turning off lights when you leave a room and powering off major appliances. Make a game of it and create a family or class chart and recognize efforts by tallying points for turning off lights and the television, etc. Reward kids with a special treat.

5. Recharge those batteries-Purchase rechargeable batteries and teach your children how to recharge batteries for their toys. This not only helps to reduce garbage, but also keeps toxic metals such as mercury (found in some batteries) from getting into the environment.

The Effects Global Warming May Have On Our Planet

2007-11-27T18:41:00.008-08:00

The Effects Global Warming May Have On Our Planet By: Kadence Buchanan -

While many realize that global warming is occurring on our planet, few understand the implications that this may have on our way of life. These rising global temperatures are going to cause a host of changes on our planet, and we need to act now or prepare to adjust to some very profound changes.

First, these rising temperatures present a huge threat to our ice-caps. Layers of ice that have not melted for thousands of years are beginning to break apart and fall into the ocean. One of the biggest ice sheets on the planet, located on Greenland, is at a great risk of splitting apart and falling into the ocean. While it doesn't sound like too big of a deal, the loss of the Greenland ice sheet will cause catastrophic circumstances world wide. The world's sea level is expected to rise as much as 23 feet when the sheet falls, and that spells disaster for the coastal cities that represent some of the largest and most important centers of trade and commerce across the planet. Manhattan would be sunk; much of Florida would be underwater, and that's not even to mention the worldwide consequences. Every area of the globe would be affected by this rising of sea levels, and the disaster caused would make hurricane damage seem like a blessing. Millions of refugees from the coastal cities will be without home or workplace; it would be one of the hugest human issues ever faced in our history. The changing of the climate could also affect a host of circumstances on our planet; crop yields can be affected by the rising temperatures, which would also pose significant problems to a planet of refugees. Much of the land may become barren due to the effects of temperature change, and we may find some of our most arable lands subject to the effects of soil erosion, and eventually, a transition into desert land. Also, water supplies, forests, and plant and animal life would be affected by the planet's changes, and we may not be able to see how significant these changes may affect our lives until they are already upon us. For that reason, it's important that we increase our knowledge of global warming, and do our best to prevent it in the coming years. While it may have adverse affects on our economy and our way of life, we owe it to our children to give them a peaceful, safe planet to grow up in.

Easy Steps To Fighting Global Warming Today To Save Tomorrow

2007-11-27T18:41:00.007-08:00

Easy Steps To Fighting Global Warming Today To Save Tomorrow By: J Simkhai

There are a lot of things we don’t know about our world but this next fact is true: There is no debate among experts scientists about global warming. It is a fact and it is happening right now. We are causing it by burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests. Records show these activities are pumping far more CO2 into the atmosphere than ever before.

That leaves us with an important question. How can you, just one person in this big world, stop temperatures from rising, glaciers from melting and oceans from swelling? The answer is easy. Do your part. If everyone one of us just changed our daily routines even a little bit, we can change the outcome of the earth’s future.

Here are something simple steps you can try to do everyday. These may not seem like much of a change but you will be pleasantly surprised at how well they work. You’ll be saving the earth and money.

Buy organic cotton - Annually, conventional cotton is responsible for the use of $2.6 billion worth of pesticides, more than any other crop. Look for labels that say certified organic, meaning the prohibition of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers have been met.

Take your own bag when you shop – We throw away a hundred billion plastic grocery bags a year. That's a whole lot of petroleum used to produce items that clog our landfills. Governments worldwide are restricting the manufacture of plastic bags or taxing them. Many stores charge their customers a few cents extra for them. Others give a small refund for each of their bags you don't fill. So tuck your own bag into your purse, pack, or pocket next time you shop.

Make your spring cleaning safer – Try to buy one green cleaning product to replace a conventional toxic one, such as those containing caustic ammonia and chlorine bleach. These chemicals can burn your eyes and respiratory tract and, if accidentally combined, produce a toxic gas. Also, they can find their way into our waterways and harm wildlife.

Save money and fossil fuels - The average household spends ten to fifteen percent of its annual electricity bill on lighting. Most incandescent light bulbs use only ten percent of their energy to produce light while the rest is wasted as heat. Use an energy efficient, compact fluorescent light bulb instead. The EPA estimates that if just one room in every U.S. home was lit by CFLs, we'd save 1,000 billion pounds in CO2 emissions each year. Some states even offer green power options for consumers who want to buy energy from environmentally friendlier sources such as wind or hydroelectric power, rather than coal-fired power plants.

Save water in a second – Your faucet flows about three gallons of water per minute, so turn off the tap while you brush your teeth. Take showers instead of baths. They use considerably less water.

Buy locally grown produce - An astonishing waste of fuel is used when getting Fruits and vegetables to the dinner table. Buying local produce means better flavor and the chance to try varieties not sold elsewhere. It also helps keep small local farmers in business, which in turn preserves the countryside.

Defeat house and garden pests without pesticides - Household pests are not only bothersome but they can also spread disease and cause allergic reactions. Toxic sprays are no solution since they are just that – toxic.

Use safe plastics – As you walk through your local grocery store, take a look at the shelves notice how much of the food and water we buy comes in contact with plastic. Not all plastics are created equal and some are considerably safer than others, especially when it comes to food packaging and storage. Look for containers made from #2 plastic, which is both recyclable and won't leak toxic chemicals when properly used. Also, #4 and #5 are safe alternatives, though can’t be recycled.

It’s obvious that something needs to be done today about global warming and not today. Hopefully, by following some of the above mentioned suggestions, there will be a tomorrow for our children and not just a wasteland.

By: J Simkhai

Effects Of Global Warming That Are Happening Today

2007-11-27T18:41:00.006-08:00

Effects Of Global Warming That Are Happening Today BY J Simkhai

While you may not like Al Gore and not believe a single word he says, you do need to give him credit for bringing global warming to the public eye. Global warming is a real threat and threatens all of us regardless of religion, race, or background. Sure, we’ve all been aware of pollution and greenhouse gasses. We just didn’t know it was actually that bad.

All of the most recent scientific data confirms that the earth's climate is changing at an alarmingly rapid pace. Global temperatures increased by about 1 degree Fahrenheit over the course of the last century, and it are only likely to rise even more rapidly in coming decades. A thickening layer of carbon dioxide pollution traps heat in the atmosphere causing the phenomenon.

Scientists say that unless we reduce our global warming emissions, average U.S. temperatures will rise another 3 to 9 degrees by the turn of the century with far-reaching effects and damaging consequences. Many of these changes have already begun. Some impacts from increasing temperatures are already happening.

First off, ice is melting worldwide, mainly in the Arctic and Antarctic waters. This also includes mountain glaciers and ice sheets covering West Antarctica and Greenland.

Researchers and scientists have recently tracked the decline of Adélie penguins at Antarctica and discovered their numbers have fallen from 32,000 breeding pairs to just 11,000 in a little less than 30 years.

The rise of the sea level was faster over the last century than any other recorded data we had.

Much of the United States has warmed, in some areas by as much as 4 degrees Fahrenheit. Many had their hottest seasons or days on record in the late 1990s.

Some species of butterflies, foxes, and alpine plants that are inclined towards cold weather have been found farther north than ever before. They are moving to higher, cooler areas.

Precipitation such as rain and snowstorms has increased on average all across the world.

The invasive Spruce bark beetles of Alaska have seen a boom in populations because of twenty years of warmer than usual summers. These insects have caused unheard of environmental damage by chewing up 4 million acres of spruce trees.

While the above effects can bee seen and found now, there are other drastic events that we will soon witness if this trend continues. Some of these other effects which can happen at some point this century are:

Our sea levels are rising at a scary rate. They are expected to rise between 7 and 23 inches just by the end of this century. If we cannot stop global warming and it continues, add an additional four to eight inches to that number from our polar caps melting.

Hurricanes and other high-powered storms are likely to become more common and even stronger. The number of category 4 and 5 storms has greatly increased over the past 35 years, along with ocean temperature. Think Hurricane Katrina and multiply that by ten continually throughout the summer season.

Deadly floods and epic droughts will become more common ever single year. The annual precipitation of the United States increased between 5 and 10 percent since the early 20th century, largely the result of heavy downpours in some areas. The national drought between the years 1999 and 2002 was one of the three most extensive droughts recorded by scientists in the last 40 years for the U.S.

Some diseases like malaria and yellow fever will spread from disease-carrying mosquitoes that are spreading as climate shifts allow them to survive in formerly inhospitable areas.

By: J Simkhai

The Issue Of Transportation And Extreme Events In Global Warming

2007-11-27T18:41:00.004-08:00

The Issue Of Transportation And Extreme Events In Global Warming By: Elias Maseko

With the issue of transportation, it is predicted that Americans will continue to put gasoline-burning cars on the road at alarming rates over the next twenty years. The number estimated is around 300 million new cars. With this expectation, it is clear that cars should be made with energy efficiency in mind. Otherwise, they will cause extensive global warming.

Hybrid engines are being touted by many celebrities as a way to prevent global warming. Many celebrities prefer the Prius hybrid car. These hybrid cars do, in fact, double gas mileage. At the same time, they reduce harmful emissions that lead to global warming.

Ethanol is being used in many countries, now including the US, to decrease pollution and dependence on foreign oil. Global warming is impacted, too. Brazil, which uses ethanol almost exclusively, makes the fuel from sugar cane. In the US, corn is the chief source of ethanol.

The world, especially the US, can make some changes in the way they move about and transport their goods. If people do nothing, greenhouse gasses will surely increase drastically. However, if changes are made, global warming will be cut to a very large degree.

Effects of extreme events

There will be more people who will die as a result of intense heat. Elderly people and poor people who cannot afford air conditioning will be most at risk. The people who do have air conditioning will run theirs more. The added energy use will increase global warming as more greenhouse gases are emitted into the air.

Farmers and ranchers will notice problems with their operations due to global warming. Crops will have a risk of being damaged by drought, flooding, or erosion. The uncertainty has always been a part of farming, but now, it will be even worse.

Finally, the hurricanes intensified by global warming will have a great impact on the earth. People will be injured or killed in the storms themselves and others will die as a result of infectious diseases that come as a result of the mess of the clean-up.

By: Elias Maseko

Global Warming: The Ipcc Reports

2007-11-27T18:41:00.003-08:00

Global Warming: The Ipcc Reports By: Alson Maseko

With the release of the IPCC reports, attention was given as to how much of the problem was due to human activity and how much to causes in nature. Which then this report makes predictions of how the course of global warming will run in the future.

This report notes many climatic changes that are occurring due to global warming. Some of these are changes in the make-up of the atmosphere, warming of the earth, and changes in ice, snow and permafrost. Also included were notes about the different amounts of rainfall and flooding, along with the frequency of drought.

Different models were given of the course global warming would take in the next century. The models were run using different scenarios. They all turned out somewhat different. However, they all indicated significant global warming.

Working Group II was involved with determining the Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability surrounding global warming. Working Group III had the task of determining what would be the best Mitigation of Climate Change. This part of the report gave recommendations to world leaders on the subject of global warming initiatives.

Movies on global warming from the IPCC reports

Although Al Gore has a book by the same name, most people know An Inconvenient Truth as a feature length documentary movie. The movie boils down to a power-point presentation that Gore has given many times on the subject of global warming. Al Gore simply presents facts in a low-key, personable way. The film includes some biographical information about Al Gore, too.

Some fictional movies have been made with the theme of global warming. One is The Day After Tomorrow, starring Dennis Quaid and Jake Gyllenhaal. While the science may not be precisely or even nearly right, the special effects are fantastic. It is a good old-fashioned disaster flick with all kinds of natural disasters. Bring out the popcorn, but do not expect to be educated.

There is a set of movies called the Secrets of the Millennium. Probably the best of this series is the one with information on global warming. It is titled Secrets of the Millennium: Man vs. Nature: Who Will Win? It dramatically exposes humans' desires to control earth, while letting things get out of hand environmentally at the same time.

By: Alson Maseko

Beating The Heat With Air Conditioners

2007-11-27T18:41:00.001-08:00

Beating The Heat With Air Conditioners

Don't know if you have noticed but global warming is taking its toll on the world. The once rainy and cool seasons when most people enjoyed warming up to a warm blanket in front of the fireplace now seem irregular with climate change. The heat during summer may even be unbearable for some geographical locations. To avoid sweating like a pig, most people find comfort in the indoors by basking in the cool air and ventilation provided by air conditioners.

In Ancient Rome, aqueduct water was made to flow and circulate through passages in the walls of houses and buildings to provide some sort of ventilation and coolness to the corridors. Further, wind towers and cisterns were utilized in medieval Persia to achieve that cooling effect. Nowadays, all we have to do is push a button, set the temperature and let the air conditioner do its job.

When you come right down to it, an air condition is an appliance that has the ability to extract warmth and heat from a certain area with the use of the refrigeration process. In this cycle, heat is transferred from a heat source with low temperature to a higher temperature heat sink with the use of a heat pump. This naturally results in a steady steam of heat in the opposite direction.

Soothing hotness and providing comfort on sweltering days and warm nights, air conditioners have grown to be a vastly popular addition to homes worldwide. With its increasing demand, an assortment of air conditioning products have spurt in the market offering features that are meant to suit a range of temperature cooling needs. Let us look into some of them.

Window and through-wall units

These air conditioners are usually rectangular in shape and more commonly seen on wall openings or windows of homes, work offices and buildings. There are vents on both sides of the appliance. This is meant to allow the inside air to be cooled by blowing it in and out of the unit with the use of the fan. Concurrently, the outside vent blows the air out of doors in and out with the use of another fan and this works as the heat sink of the unit. These air conditioners are fairly sized and can have the capacity to offer conditioning for only one to two rooms so you may need several units to fully achieve that cool effect for the whole house.

Portable air conditioners

As the name suggests, these units can be transported to any corner or spot effortlessly. Portable air conditioners are literally air conditioners on wheels. This type comes in three forms namely the split, the evaporative and the hose. The split type air conditioner has two units, one indoor and one outdoor. These units are connected by means of flexible pipes. On the other hand, the hose system makes use of air ducts and a condenser. Air is drawn from the room, dehumidified and cooled. Evaporative air conditioners, however, does not make use of a compressor or a condenser. Nonetheless, the system works by using liquid water and releasing it as vapor.

Global Warming And The Significance Effects

2007-11-27T17:58:00.002-08:00

Global Warming And The Significance Effects By: Frank Maseko

The consequences of global warming are far-reaching. One of the most devastating effects of global warming is that, as the ocean water warms, it impacts tropical storms. Hurricanes that would have been category 3 storms in past years are now category 4 or above. This is because they are energized when they pick up the warmer ocean water.

Viscous storms have risen due to global warming. Five of these storms reached the force of category 4 hurricanes. Four of them actually became worse, at category five. Hurricane Katrina made a terrible mark on history in August of 2005. It became the costliest hurricane in American history. It was also one of most lethal. Global warming has left destruction in the form of more intense hurricanes.

Global warming has the potential to make the earth a very inhospitable place to live. Rising temperatures in the oceans' waters are a clear indication that the process has begun. With the melting of ice in the glaciers, icecaps, and on the sea, it is only a matter of time before global warming has much more harmful effects. It is up to the people of the world to do what they can to make the future look brighter.

Books that support or deny the concept of global warming

Probably the most well-known book on global warming is Al Gore's book An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It. Gore's book shows reasons why people wan to save he earth from hazards such as global warming. It also implores world leaders to stands up and listens to the warnings of an environment in crisis.

The Down To Earth Guide To Global Warming, by Laurie David and Cambria Gordon, is another book that uses a bit of humor to discuss a serious subject. It not only has facts about the genesis of extreme global warming, but it is full of vivid pictures. As another book for elementary children, it gives ways for kids to fight global warming in every area of their lives.

A fun and interesting book on the subject of global warming is The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook: 77 Essential Skills to Stop Climate Change. David de Rothschild, the author, constructed the book to be a tongue-in-cheek look at a survival guide aimed at surviving global warming. At the same time, it offers important information about ways to improve the environment. It is a companion book to the Live Earth Concerts in July of 2007 that took place during a 24-hour period around the world.

By: Frank Maseko

What Is Global Warming

2007-11-27T17:58:00.001-08:00

Global warming is a term used to describe a gradual increase in the earth’s average ground and atmospheric temperatures across the whole planet. Measurements indicate that the global temperature has increased by about 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past century.

This warming trend appeared during a period when human activities were beginning to increase the carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Although most scientists believe that a rise in carbon dioxide emissions will lead to further global warming, uncertainties remain about the timing and severity of resulting climatic change. Nevertheless, many are convinced that human activities are partly responsible for the long-term warming of the past century and that climatic changes caused by greenhouse gas increases will be a continuing part of our future. They believe there is enough evidence to warrant a sensible approach toward minimizing the potential consequences of global warming.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a panel of 2,000 scientists convened by the United Nations’ Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization, determined that even if we take steps now to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases, the globe could warm up at a rate faster than it has in the past 10,000 years.