What is Global Warming???????
452166
The increase of the greenhouse gases --> Carbon Dioxide, CFCs, Methane! Nitrogen oxiode.\n\nGases such as carbon dioxide trap heat and since deforestion is occuring rapdily there is less trees to take in carbon dioxide so the amount of carbon dioxide increases. With the amount of carbon dioxide increased more heat is absorbed and it is stuck on the Earth. \n\nAlso another form of global warming is the depletion of the ozone layer. CFC's contains a chemical that destroys the Ozone layer and the Ozone layer is a protective shield of the Earth. It gets rid of the harmfull sun's ultraviolet rays and without the ozone layer the UV rays can freely enter the Earth.
27420
GLOBAL WARMING!!! this is a big issue. you could research a lot on that. or you could do the war in Iraq.
97874
Hasty and uninformed.  Usually global warming is used as a political tool for lobbyists.  There is no evidence that global warming exists.  It is just a theory based on data.  Another alternative theory is that the Earth heats and cools in cycles. \n\nPersonally, regardless of which theory you believe, I still think that pollution ought to be diminished.  It seems largely responsible as a carcinogen - causing cancer.  But then again, thats just my theory based on the apparent data.
282103
Is the book you read "State of Fear"?\n\nYou can debate this all you want, but you wont get anywhere until you define 'global warming.'  I think I wrote a long-winded explanation in another answer, so search for that.\n\nThe long and the short of it is:\n\n1.  The Earth goes through natural warming and cooling, based on a HUGE range of varying natural processes, from changes in orbital paramaters to changes in sea ice thickness in polar regions.  It has done this since there were oceans and an atmosphere, and will always continue.\n\n2.  Humans have influenced certain properties of the atmosphere and hydrosphere that may be contributing to accelerated warming (ozone depletion, increased levels of 'greenhouse' gases, etc).  Since we dont know if the Earth would be warming anyway, we cant definitively say that a current warming trend is related to human influence (but its a good bet).\n\n3.  Global warming trends are difficult to understand.  As a paleoclimatologist, I dont even understand it.  I dont know where the temperature data has been collected, the spatial distribution of the data points, I dont know what the temperatures are being compared to (the Earth has been much warmer at times in the past), I dont know if the scientists who tabulate the data are being influenced by something other than true science, etc.\n\nBottom line is that its a VERY VERY complex problem.  Unfortunately, the more data that are generated, the more complex and vague the answer will become, and the more people will become divided over the interpretation of the data.\n\nIt would be wise to minimize our impact on the climate system (or any Earth system for that matter) as best we can, no matter what the answer is.  The more interesting question is: when will the next 'ice age' begin, if it hasnt already?!?!?
1167911
Science explains Global warming. More storms, bigger storms, carbin dioxide levels, soon crops may burn up before they grow, rain forest desease may spread, Gulf stream may stop, In Our Lifetime.\nIs a good read, go see... Times ARE changing.
251910
An increase in solar radiation due to slight variations in the Earth's orbit and orbital tilt.  These are regular variations and also coincide with greater and lesser ice ages depending on slight variations in solar output.  \n\nWhile "global warming" is an issue for sudden climate change, it probably had little influence on the most recent ice age.\n\nIn fact there have been many "mini" ice ages in recorded history, most notably around 1300 AD where really extreme cold conditions led to some very interesting technological developments such as the chimney.\n\nSee the link below.
63093
Global warming is an effect in the earth's lower atmosphere that is claimed to exist by many scientists today.  Essentially, the theory claims that carbon monoxide, fluorocarbons and other gases have damaged the ozone layer, the protective layer in the earth's upper atmosphere that protects the planet from the Sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation.  Some man-made causes of these gases are automobile emissions and bovine flattulance.  The supposed increased levels of UV radition are striking the earth in greater incidence, especially in the equatorial oceans. Hence, according to the theory, the warming oceans are changing weather patterns and melting the polar ice caps.   More severe storms and raising of the ocean levels are possible.  Detractors of the theory contend, however, that evidence for diminishment of the ozone layer, warming of the oceans and melting of the polar ice caps is scant due to the lack of longitudinal (long-term) climatological data for the earth.  In sum, it is unclear whether the changing weather patterns that appear to be happening are caused by man-made activities or part of some cycle governed by normal processes.
157711
It is Global Warming.  Geologically speaking we are still coming out of the last ice age.  We are on in a natural cycle which has been accerated by pollution.
1118431
here are a few internet sites where you can get more information on global warming\n\n- http://www.climatehotmap.org/\n\n- http://www.globalwarming.org/\n\n- http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1848/global.html\n\n- http://www.pewclimate.org/global-warming-basics/
592712
it is the greenhouse effect that causes global warming.
344672
Global Warming.....glaciers melting and too much water for the land.
1162504
Global warming is a term used to refer to the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans in recent decades.\n\nThe Earth's average near-surface atmospheric temperature rose 0.6 ± 0.2 degrees Celsius (1.1 ± 0.4  degrees Fahrenheit) in the 20th century. The prevailing scientific opinion on climate change is that "most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities" [1]. The increased amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) are the primary causes of the human-induced component of warming. They are released by the burning of fossil fuels, land clearing and agriculture, etc.\n\nThe measure of the climate response to increased GHGs, climate sensitivity, is found by observational studies and climate models. Doubling of CO2 in the atmosphere warms in the range 1.5-4.5  degrees C (2.7-8.1  degrees F). Models referenced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predict that global temperatures may increase by between 1.4 and 5.8  degrees C (2.5 to 10.5  degrees F) between 1990 and 2100. The uncertainty in this range results from both the difficulty of predicting the volume of future greenhouse gas emissions and uncertainty about climate sensitivity.\n\nAn increase in global temperatures can in turn cause other changes, including a rising sea level and changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation. These changes may increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, heat waves, hurricanes, and tornados. Other consequences include higher or lower agricultural yields, glacier retreat, reduced summer streamflows, species extinctions and increases in the ranges of disease vectors. Warming is expected to affect the number and magnitude of these events; however, it is difficult to connect particular events to global warming. Although most studies focus on the period up to 2100, warming (and sea level rise due to thermal expansion) is expected to continue past then, since CO2 has a long average atmospheric lifetime. [2].\n\nOnly a small minority of scientists contest the view that humanity's actions have played a significant role in increasing recent temperatures. However, the uncertainty is more significant regarding how much climate change should be expected in the future, and there is a hotly contested political and public debate over what, if anything, should be done to reduce or reverse future warming, and how to cope with the consequences.\n\nThe term 'global warming' is a specific case of the more general term 'climate change' (which can also refer to cooling, such as occurs during ice ages). In principle, 'global warming' is neutral as to the causes, but in common usage, 'global warming' generally implies a human influence. However, the UNFCCC uses 'climate change' for human-caused change, and 'climate variability' for other changes [3]. Some organizations use the term 'anthropogenic climate change' for human-induced changes. Geological activity will not be affected except as above.
59118
Global warming is an increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans. The term is also used for the scientific theory of anthropogenic global warming, which attributes much of the recently observed and projected global warming to a human-induced intensification of the greenhouse effect. On this theory, the increased volumes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released mainly by the burning of fossil fuels, and, to a lesser extent, land clearing and agriculture, are the primary sources of warming. The natural greenhouse effect keeps the Earth 30 °C warmer than it otherwise would be; adding carbon dioxide to an atmosphere, with no other changes, will make a planet's surface warmer. Current research is attempting to find out more details about the processes and factors that would affect a temperature increase especially about positive and negative feedback mechanisms, to allow a more precise quantification of the effects of global warming.\n\nTemperature change is just one aspect of the broader subject of (human-induced) climate change. The scientific opinion on climate change, as expressed by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and explicitly endorsed by the national science academies of the G8 nations, is that the average global temperature has risen 0.6 ± 0.2 °C since the late 19th century, and that it is likely that "most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities" [1]. A small minority of qualified scientists contest the view that humanity's actions have played a significant role in increasing recent temperatures. Uncertainties do exist regarding how much climate change should be expected in the future, and a hotly contested political and public debate exists over what actions, if any, should be taken in light of global warming.\n\nBased on basic science, observational sensitivity studies, and the climate models referenced by the IPCC, temperatures may increase by 1.4 to 5.8 °C between 1990 and 2100 [2]. This is expected to result in other climate changes including rises in sea level and changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation. Such changes may increase the frequency of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, heat waves, and hurricanes, change agricultural yields, or contribute to biological extinctions. Although warming is expected to affect the number and magnitude of these events, it is very difficult to connect any particular event to global warming.
1139832
global warming omg end of the world  lol
815930
Global warming is the latest trend by Governments of the world to try to convince the population that we are at fault for warming the world.  The world's weather and climate has been changing regularly over the last 15,000 years - before cars and planes were invented.  Carbon dioxide is one of the most prolific gasses in our atmosphere because it is needed for plants to survive.  Without CO2, the plants would die and we would have no oxygen which is a by product of a plant and we would all die!  Remember all the other scare stories over the years - in the 60s it was nuclear bombs from Russia, then we had SARS and bird flu, then terrorists and don't forget the hole in the ozone layer.  Every couple of years, we get a major scare story to keep the world's population under control.  The effect of global warming is that we are all paying out so called green taxes that actually do nothing to stop the problem but it sure makes the Governments rich!  What is the point of worrying about future global warming when now you have people freezing to death in the winter because they cannot afford to heat their homes because the price of gas and electric has risen so much because of green taxes?  Or we are getting plagues of rats and other vermin because Councils only collect our rubbish every two weeks because recycling is top priority?  We really should solve todays problems first before we start worrying about something that will most likely never happen.
42706
The impact of global warming on the US economy.
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Global warming has two main applications. The first is that there are certain gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, warming planets. This is known to take place on Venus, Earth, and the gas giants. Earth is the hospitable place that it is because of global warming.\n\nThis takes place because of greenhouse gases, which allow radiation from the sun to pass through the atmosphere and warm the surface of the earth. The surface then re-radiates this energy back towards space in the infrared spectrum. This energy would escape and our planet would be as cold as the moon, were it not for the greenhouse gases (mainly CO2, ozone, methane, and water vapor). They absorb the infrared energy and radiate it back to earth, increasing the overall amount of radiation hitting the earth's surface, keeping it warm day and night.\n\nThat this takes place is clear and indisputable. There is simply too little energy coming from the sun to account for our planet's temperature. The controversial point is when global warming is applied to the current rise in average global temperature that has taken place over the past 50 so years. Most scientists believe that warming of the planet is due to increases in greenhouse gases, mainly CO2, mainly due to human activities on earth.