Global Warming

Throughout its long history, Earth has warmed and cooled time and again.
Climate has changed when the planet received more or less sunlight due to subtle
shifts in its orbit, as the atmosphere or surface changed, or when the Suns energy
varied. But in the past century, another force has started to influence Earths
climate: humanity
How does this warming compare to previous changes in Earths climate?
How can we be certain that human-released greenhouse gases are causing the
warming? How much more will the Earth warm? How will Earth respond?
Answering these questions is perhaps the most significant scientific challenge of
our time.
What is Global Warming?
Global warming is the unusually rapid increase in Earths average surface
temperature over the past century primarily due to the greenhouse gases released as
people burn fossil fuels. The global average surface temperature rose 0.6 to 0.9
degrees Celsius (1.1 to 1.6 F) between 1906 and 2005, and the rate of temperature
increase has nearly doubled in the last 50 years. Temperatures are certain to go up
further.

Despite ups and downs from year to year, global average surface
temperature is rising. By the beginning of the 21st century, Earths temperature
was roughly 0.5 degrees Celsius above the long-term (19511980) average.
(NASA figure adapted from Goddard Institute for Space Studies Surface
Temperature Analysis.)
Earths natural greenhouse effect

Earths temperature begins with the Sun. Roughly 30 percent of incoming
sunlight is reflected back into space by bright surfaces like clouds and ice. Of the
remaining 70 percent, most is absorbed by the land and ocean, and the rest is
absorbed by the atmosphere. The absorbed solar energy heats our planet.
As the rocks, the air, and the seas warm, they radiate heat energy (thermal
infrared radiation). From the surface, this energy travels into the atmosphere where
much of it is absorbed by water vapor and long-lived greenhouse gases such as
carbon dioxide and methane.
When they absorb the energy radiating from Earths surface, microscopic
water or greenhouse gas molecules turn into tiny heaters like the bricks in a
fireplace, they radiate heat even after the fire goes out. They radiate in all
directions. The energy that radiates back toward Earth heats both the lower
atmosphere and the surface, enhancing the heating they get from direct sunlight.
This absorption and radiation of heat by the atmospherethe natural
greenhouse effectis beneficial for life on Earth. If there were no greenhouse
effect, the Earths average surface temperature would be a very chilly -18C (0F)
instead of the comfortable 15C (59F) that it is today.
See Climate and Earths Energy Budget to read more about how sunlight
fuels Earths climate.
The enhanced greenhouse effect
What has scientists concerned now is that over the past 250 years, humans
have been artificially raising the concentration of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere at an ever-increasing rate, mostly by burning fossil fuels, but also from
cutting down carbon-absorbing forests. Since the Industrial Revolution began in
about 1750, carbon dioxide levels have increased nearly 38 percent as of 2009 and
methane levels have increased 148 percent.

Increases in concentrations of carbon dioxide (top) and methane (bottom)
coincided with the start of the Industrial Revolution in about 1750. Measurements
from Antarctic ice cores (green lines) combined with direct atmospheric
measurements (blue lines) show the increase of both gases over time. (NASA
graphs by Robert Simmon, based on data from the NOAA Paleoclimatology and
Earth System Research Laboratory.)
The atmosphere today contains more greenhouse gas molecules, so more of
the infrared energy emitted by the surface ends up being absorbed by the
atmosphere. Since some of the extra energy from a warmer atmosphere radiates
back down to the surface, Earths surface temperature rises. By increasing the
concentration of greenhouse gases, we are making Earths atmosphere a more
efficient greenhouse.
Effects of global warming

The effects of global warming are the ecological and social changes caused
(directly or indirectly) by human emissions of greenhouse gases. There is a
scientific consensus that climate change is occurring, and that human activities are
the primary driver.
[1]
Evidence of climate change includes the instrumental
temperature record, rising sea levels, and decreased snow cover in the Northern
Hemisphere. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC), most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the
mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in human greenhouse
gas concentrations.
Projections of future climate change suggest further global warming, sea
level rise, and an increase in the frequency and severity of some extreme weather
events.Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) have agreed to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the
atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference
with the climate system.
Prevent Global Warming

Many may not believe that humans have an affect on the climate. It is a
difficult concept to grasp. However, we can do things to prevent the devastating
changes that are occurring in our environment. Global warming is a term that is
frequently used to describe the rising temperatures that are occurring on our planet.
As the planet heats up, ice melts away. When the ice melts away, the levels of the
sea start to increase. Global warming is a result of many years of neglect by people
to the planet.
It is not too late to stop the issue of global warming
from proceeding. It is too late to reverse the issues that
have already developed as a result of global warming.
In this article, we will review some of the ways that we
can prevent global warming from doing any more
damage than it has already done. The main theme
behind the prevention of global warming is to reduce
the level of certain gases that enter our atmosphere and
cause devastating changes to our world. It is certainly
not possible for one person to reduce the issue of
global warming, but change can start with one person.
It is vital to our future, and the future of many
generations to come, that we start putting this change
into motion as soon as possible. If we all start
contributing to the prevention of global warming, the
results can end up positive for the entire world.

The first thing that we can do is to use lighting in our home that saves
energy. As a matter of fact, it is better to make sure that all the items in our home
are purchased under the fact that they are energy efficient.
The next step to preventing global warming is to watch how much fuel that
you use in vehicles and other fuel powered machines. You can use less fuel by
ensuring that your vehicle is maintained, you drive less, and purchase vehicles that
are advertised to use less fuel. All of these tips will help you to save money on
fuel, and will help to preserve our environment.
It is very important that we all pull together to ensure that we are doing what
we are able to do to reduce the effect that global warming has on our atmosphere.
Practice the tips listed in this article, and pass them along as well.


TUGAS







NAMA : VIDYA WISWAMADANTI
NO : 46
KELAS : VIII G