Global Warming Facts & Temperature
While there have always been fluctuations in the Earth's temperature and atmospheric conditions, climate data from the last 100 years suggest that global warming is currently occurring at an exponential rate. Scientists point to human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels, as the primary cause. The term greenhouse effect describes the warming of the Earth's surface temperature due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide is the main culprit. These gases trap solar radiation.
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Earth's Temperature
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The National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) reports that the Earth's surface temperature increased 0.22 degrees Fahrenheit per decade in the period between 1958 to 2006.
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Glaciers
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In a study published in the journal of the International Mountain Society, Alpine glaciers were found to have decreased in thickness between 1980 and 2000 at a rate five times more than average, corroborating NCDC data.
Coastal Areas
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Coastal shorelines are eroding at a rate of one to four feet per year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), due to rising sea levels.
Impacts on the Oceans
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Rising sea levels lead to a change in ocean water chemistry, including a reduction in the carbon dioxide uptake by ocean waters, resulting in accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which exacerbates global warming.
Changes in Weather
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Global warming has been linked to an increase in extreme weather events, including droughts and severe storms, which have high economic and environmental costs.
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Resources
- Photo Credit "Sea Spray" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: *clairity* (Sharon Mollerus) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
