What is global warming?

It is the rise of temperature of the earth’s atmosphere. Global warming is a result of excessive greenhouse gases within the earth’s atmosphere. Nowadays, the level of greenhouse gases is increasing in the atmosphere and it has also caused the earth to get warmer than before. Ice caps in places like Antarctica would also start to melt and the sea level will also rise.

What are greenhouse gases?

Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. These gases are components of the atmosphere that contribute to the Greenhouse effect. Some greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, while others result from human activities such as burning of fossil fuel and coal. Greenhouse gases include water vapours, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. All these gases raises the temperature of the earth through the greenhouse effects. If the greenhouse gases are too strong, it could cause problems for humans, plants and animals.

abstracted from: http://www.solarnavigator.net/greenhouse_gases.htm

Causes of global warming

The primary cause of global warming is Carbon Dioxide emissions. CO2 is being pumped into our atmosphere at an insane pace; 8 billion tons of CO2 entered the air last year. Of course some of this is due to natural activity such as volcanic eruptions and people breathing. main human activities that contribute to global warming are the burning of fossil fuels and the clearing of land.

Most of the burning occurs in automobiles, in factories, and in electric power plants that provide energy for houses and office buildings. The burning of fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide, whose chemical formula is CO2. CO2 is a greenhouse gas that slows the escape of heat into space. Trees and other plants remove CO2 from the air during photosynthesis, the process they use to produce food. The clearing of land contributes to the buildup of CO2 by reducing the rate at which the gas is removed from the atmosphere or by the decomposition of dead vegetation.

Effects of global warming

1) Spread of disease as northern countries becomes warm, disease carrying insects migrate north, bringing plague and disease with them.

2) The waters becoming warmer and there will be more hurricanes.

3) Increased probability and intensity of droughts and heat waves.
Although some areas of Earth will become wetter due to global warming, other areas will suffer serious droughts and heat waves. Africa will receive the worst of it, with more severe droughts also expected in Europe. Water is already a dangerously rare commodity in Africa, and according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global warming will exacerbate the conditions and could lead to conflicts and war.

2. Economic consequences
Most of the effects of anthropogenic global warming won’t be good. And these effects spell one thing for the countries of the world: economic consequences. Hurricanes cause do billions of dollars in damage, diseases cost money to treat and control and conflicts exacerbate all of these.

5) Polar ice caps will start to melt and sea levels will rise.

abstracted from: http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/5-deadliest-effects-of-global-warming/276

Consequences of global warming

Average temperature rise on the earth since 1900 was found to be about 1°C. Some areas of the United States have shown an increase of 2 °C; the last three 5 year periods have been the warmest. A recent NASA report stated that five warmest years of the earth during the last century occurred in the last eight years; 2005 was the warmest followed by 1998, 2002, 2003 & 2004 in severity. NRDC reports that out of the 20 hottest years of the earth, 19 have been since 1980.
Sea levels are rising, partly due to thermal expansion caused by higher temperature of the ocean water and partly due to melting ice. Sea level is rising at three times the historical rate. It has risen by 10 to 20 centimeters. In the past century and unless the trend reverses, is estimated to rise by 45 to 90 centimeters by 2100. This increase of about one meter in sea level, it is feared, will trigger one of the worst disasters for mankind globally.
It was feared that as consequences of global warming, glaciers and snowcaps will melt. NRDC has reported that Glacier National Park is receding fast; frozen lakes are seen to be thawing earlier. NASA has reported that Arctic ice thickness has decreased by 40 % since 1960 and Polar ice cap is melting at about 10 % per decade.
Hurricane draws its energy from the warm ocean waters and it was feared that frequency as well as severity of hurricanes and storms will increase. NRDC reports that Category 4 & 5 storms have greatly increased over the last 35 years.

abstracted from: http://globalwarmingpages.com/Consequences-of-Global-Warming.html

Ways to reduce global warming in Hillgrove secondary school

Eight ways in which could reduce global warming in school:
1) By using the 3R’s campaign, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
2) Using energy saving light bulb in all the classes.
3) Take public transport or walk to school if possible.
4) Switch off the lights when not in use.
5) Keep the air-conditioner at 25 degrees or above.
6) Plant more trees in school.
7) Used bottles should be thrown into the recycle bin.
8) Share all these information to their friends and family.