The Definition of Global Warming

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My article today is concerning the definition of global warming. Since it is such a hot topic in today's media, it's important to know the facts behind this idea that the earth is constantly getting warmer. Global warming is not a 20th century phenomenon. It has, in fact, occurred in the past more than once, along with periods of extreme cold known as the ice ages. With so much written and reported about global warming, sometimes it's difficult to detect which is fact and which is just part of scientific scare tactics.

Global warming is basically the increase of the earth's average temperature and its projected continuation in the coming years. The unprecedented super-accelerated rate of global warming happening today is supposedly due to the amount of greenhouse gases being spewed into the atmosphere.

The increase in global temperature could cause many side effects including sea level rise and drastic changes to the pattern of precipitation resulting in floods and drought.

As the Earth's average temperature rises, effects in its landmasses and sea water level become apparent. Polar ice caps melt along with glaciers, contributing to higher and warmer sea levels. By the end of the century, it is estimated that sea levels can increase from 4 inches to a high of about 40 inches if global warming continues unabated.

Currently, there in an ongoing political debate on what action, if any, should be taken to help lower the chance of global warming. How these measures will fare and contribute to the long-term maintenance of our planet, though, remains to be seen.

Definition for Global Warming

Global warming is the next big impact that will bring about a change in the weather patterns. By definition, Global Warming is the increase in average temperature that gradually warms the Earth's atmosphere. It is a phenomenon, which has been on the rise but in the last century, the increase in the levels have been alarming.

The average temperature of the atmosphere has risen by 0.74 - 0.18 °C during the last century. According to the study by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), it is observed that the increase in global average temperature has been caused due to an increase in greenhouse gas concentrations. This has led to an unprecedented warming of the Earth's surface.

The other phenomena's responsible for global warming include volcanoes and solar variations. Base on some of the models by the IPCC, the prediction is that the global temperature is likely to rise by 1.1 to 6.4 °C between 1990 and 2100.

This increase in temperature will cause climatic changes and extreme weather conditions like rising sea level, change in the amount of precipitation, above average rainfall, melting of polar ice caps and glaciers, storms and hurricanes.

On the worse side, it will also affect yield of crops as well as plants and animals leading to extinction of different species. Global warming will increase the spread of diseases and there will be droughts and flooding, coral reef bleaching, forest fires etc. Global warming is no more a myth but a fast approaching reality, which in the long term will bring the much feared ice age that will wipe out all living organism on Earth.

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