GLOBAL WARMING
A little bit about global
warming and
OUR CHANGING ATMOSPHERE:
Energy from the sun controls
the earths weather and climate, it heats up the earths surface and then
the earth radiates energy back into space. Greenhouse gases trap some of
the outgoing energy and retain the heat. Without this “greenhouse effect”
temperatures would be much lower than they are today. The earths temperature
is 60F. However when the greenhouse effect is enhanced by human- generated
emissions problems will begin to arise.
Energy that is burned
to run cars, heat homes and power factories, is responsible for about 80%
of global carbon dioxide emissions. Increased agriculture, deforestation
and landfills also highly contribute a significant share of emissions.
Even though many greenhouse
gases are present in the atmosphere, oceans, and vegetation, their concentration
will depend on their present and future emissions. When trying to estimate
the future emissions it is difficult because it depends on the economic,
technological, and institutional developments. By the year 2100, with the
absence of emissions control policies, the carbon dioxide concentrations
are to be 30-150% higher than today's society.