What is Global Warming All About? Articles | Global Warming

By: J.Morgan

We hear quite a lot of talk in the media about global warming and the damage it could be causing to our future and planet. But do you really grasp what it is, what causes it and why we should be worried about it? Here is an overview to help you understand what global warming really is all about.
The term global warming refers to the process of the earth's temperature increasing over time. The earth has warmed 1 degree F over the past 100 years and scientists believe it will continue to increase in temperature. Even a small change in the earth's temperature can have a huge impact on the life on the planet. This could change plants, animals and of course, humans as well.
It is believed that there are things we as humans are doing to help contribute to global warming. If this is true, then there are things we can do to help stop it or at least reduce the effects of global warming on our planet. So what is the danger in a warmer earth anyway? While it may not sound like a big deal, an increase in climate temperature can actually lead to:
Change in rainfall patterns
Rise in sea level
Affects on plant life and animal life
The result can also have a direct impact on humans. If the climate changed enough, it could throw off the entire balance of our world as we know it today. When we talk about global warming, we will hear a lot of talk about the greenhouse effect. So what is this so called greenhouse effect and what does it mean to our planet?
The Greenhouse Effect explained:
The greenhouse effect refers to the rise in the temperature of the planet which happens when certain gases in the atmosphere trap energy from the sun, making the earth warmer. These gases include water vapor, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, methane, etc. When these gases are not there, the heat escapes back into the atmosphere and escapes into space. Without them, our average temperature could be as much as 60 degrees F colder than what earth currently is.
These gases work in a way that greenhouses do, which is why we refer to it as the  greenhouse effect . However, if we are releasing too much or too many gases, it could warm our earth too much which can also result in problems. This global warming as we call it, could eventually cause our earth to warm too much and cause severe problem and a large imbalance to our planet.
You can directly contribute to the greenhouse effect when you use products or devices that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.