Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century and its projected continuation.
Global surface temperature increased 0.74 ± 0.18 °C (1.33 ± 0.32 °F) during the 100 years ending in 2005. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes that most of the temperature increase since the mid-twentieth century is "very likely" due to the increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations.Natural phenomena such as solar variation and volcanoes probably had a small warming effect from pre-industrial times to 1950 and a small cooling effect from 1950 onward. These basic conclusions have been endorsed by at least 30 scientific societies and academies of science,including all of the national academies of science of the major industrialized countries.
While individual scientists have voiced disagreement with these findings, the overwhelming majority of scientists working on climate change agree with the IPCC's main conclusions.
Climate model projections indicate that global surface temperature will likely rise a further 1.1 to 6.4 °C (2.0 to 11.5 °F) during the twenty-first century. The uncertainty in this estimate comes about from differing estimates of future greenhouse gas emissions and from the use of models with differing climate sensitivity. Another uncertainty is how warming and related changes will vary from region to region around the globe. Although most studies focus on the period up to 2100, warming is expected to continue for more than a thousand years even if greenhouse gas levels are stabilized. This results from the large heat capacity of the oceans.
Increasing global temperature will cause sea levels to rise and will change the amount and pattern of precipitation, likely including an expanse of the subtropical desert regions. Other likely effects include increases in the intensity of extreme weather events, changes in agricultural yields, modifications of trade routes, glacier retreat, species extinctions and increases in the ranges of disease vectors.
Most national governments have signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Political and public debate continues regarding what, if any, action should be taken to reduce or reverse future warming or to adapt to its expected consequences.
Ways to Lessen Your Carbon Footprint
Nowadays we all know about the threat of global warming and want to try to do our bit to prevent it. However, most of us are reluctant to radically change our comfortable lifestyles. There are things you can do to help prevent global warming without having to make any major sacrifices, and the most important of these is to reduce your carbon footprint.
Energy Efficiency Improvements Provide a Greener Footprint and Lower Operating Expenses for Miramont Lifestyle Fitness
Energy efficiency upgrades produce a lower carbon footprint for Miramont Lifestyle fitness while enabling building performance improvements that create a better playing environment for their athletes. Cleantech Solutions, an energy services company, was chosen to undertake this project due to their collaborative approach at improving operating efficiencies while reducing energy usage. The end result is a 70% reduction in energy use equating to an annual reduction of 300 tons of carbon emissions which is equivalent to planting 67 acres of trees.
Ski Company Goes Carbon Negative To Combat Global Warming
With the impact of global warming increasingly affecting winters in the Alps a dynamic young ski company leads the field by going green. Chalet 1802 has gone carbon negative in order to offset its carbon footprint, offer clients an environmental option when booking their ski holidays and raise awareness about climate change within the ski industry.
Global Warming - 10 Simple Ways To Lower Your Carbon Emissions
Today the global warming situation has been getting a ton of media coverage Many scientists from all over the world have agreed that the planet has been getting warmer due to many environmental factors
Help Solve Global Warming: Non-Profit Offers Public Free Personal Carbon Impact Calculator
Holistic Management International offers the public a a free Personal Carbon Impact Calculator card that helps people determine and offset their ecological effects on the planet. The 9" x 4" card carries a simple chart that translates individual impacts on global warming into dollars and cents, using the same principle that the Climate Exchange industry uses in paying carbon credits to farmers. Reviewing the chart, people can calculate their personal carbon impacts, and then decide whether or not to use the dollar value of their impacts to support alternative energy projects.
