Global Warming Research and Facts

Observing Climate Change On A Global Scale

Introduction To Climate Change

The Earth's climate has changed continuously throughout history. So the recent drastic fluctuation of the earth's climate is not an abnormal phenomenon. Some natural factors that affect the Earth's atmosphere include volcanic eruptions, changes in orbit, and varying degrees of energy provided by the Sun. However, the global implementation of industrialization has brought about rapid and unnatural changes in the composition of the Earth's atmosphere 1. This website provides information on global warming research and climate change.

Investigations into the causes of the great ice age began in the 1820s with the work of Joseph Fourier, a French mathematician and physicist. As Fourier put it, "energy in the form of visible light from the Sun easily penetrates the atmosphere to reach the surface and heat it up, but heat cannot so easily escape back into the atmosphere. For the air absorbs invisible heat rays ('infrared radiation') rising from the surface" 2. The equations available during the early 19th century were not sufficient enough to provide an accurate framework for the global warming process. John Tyndall, a renowned 19th century physicist, investigated Fourier's theory further. Tyndall later discovered that carbon dioxide, or CO2, altered the balance of heat radiation in the earth's atmosphere 3.

The industrial revolution brought about increased focus on production and profit and, until recently, completely neglected critical environmental issues affecting our planet. The burning of fossil fuels in combination along with deforestation has caused large concentrations of greenhouse gases. This traps heat and significantly increases the temperature of the earth's atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are partially responsible for keeping the surface of the planet warmer than it would be otherwise 4. Without a natural greenhouse gas effect, the temperature of the Earth's surface would be around 0 degrees Fahrenheit, or 17.77 degrees Celsius 5. It is clear that the presence of greenhouse gases is not problematic. However, problems have arisen in the last 100 years, where there has been a 1.2 to 1.4 degree Fahrenheit increase in the average surface temperature of the earth. Environmental specialists believe the drastic increase in global warming the past few decades is a direct result of human activities and social negligence regarding industrial advancements 6.

Carbon dioxide levels prior to the start of the industrial revolution were approximately 280 parts per million by volume, or ppmv. Current levels of carbon dioxide are more than 380ppmv, and have been steadily increasing at a rate of 1.9ppmv per year since the year 2000. To put these numbers into focus, the natural range of CO2 over the last 650,000 years has been between 180 and 300 ppmv. According to a special report issued by the IPCC, we will see CO2 concentrations in the range of 490 to 1260 ppmv by the end of the 21st century 7. According to the EPA, the total amount of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2007 was 7,510 teragrams, or 8.3 billion short tons, of carbon dioxide equivalents 8. Overall, from 1990 to 2007, total emissions of CO2 increased by 20.2 percent, or 1.1 billion short tons 9.

In February 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, issued clear evidence of the environmental impact of human activities. The following is a quick overview of their information on global warming 10:

  • Sea temperatures have risen by an average 0.5 degrees Celsius over the last 40 years.
  • 20,000 square kilometers of fresh water ice melted in the Arctic between 1965 and 1995.
  • Worldwide measurements from tidal gauges indicate that the global mean sea level has risen between 10 and 25 cm, or an 18 cm average, during the last 100 years.
  • Global surface temperatures have risen about 0.7 degrees Celsius in the past 100 years.
  • 11 of the last 12 years rank amongst the 12 warmest years on record for global temperatures. Records have been kept since 1850.
  • Since 1975, the increase of the 5-year mean temperature is about 0.5 degrees Celsius. This is a rate faster than any previous period of equal length.
  • Average annual temperature in the Arctic has increased by about 1 degree Celsius over the last century. This rate is approximately double that of global average temperatures.
  • There is widespread evidence that glaciers are retreating in many mountain areas of the world. For example, since 1850 the glaciers of the European Alps have lost about 30 to 40 percent of their surface area and about half of their volume.

Sources

1. "Learn The Issues", Environmental Protection Agency. [source]
2. Weart, Spencer, "The Carbon Dioxide Greenhouse Effect," American Institute of Physics, December 2009. [source]
3. Weart, Spencer, "The Carbon Dioxide Greenhouse Effect," American Institute of Physics, December 2009. [source]
4. "Basic Information," Environmental Protection Agency. [source]
5. "Global Warming: Frequently Asked Questions," National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. [source]
6. "Basic Information," Environmental Protection Agency. [source]
7. "Global Warming: Frequently Asked Questions," National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. [source]
8. "Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2007," Environment Protection Agency, 15 April 2009: 62. [source]
9. "Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2007," Environment Protection Agency, 15 April 2009: 64. [source]
10. "Evidence Of Climate Change," Carbon Footprint Ltd. [source]