Global warming

Definition

Global warming refers to the long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, which increases concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This rise in temperature impacts climate patterns, causing changes in weather systems, rising sea levels, and disruptions in ecosystems.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Since the late 19th century, Earth's average temperature has increased by about 1.2°C, primarily due to human activities that release greenhouse gases.
2. The burning of fossil fuels for energy and transportation is the largest source of increased greenhouse gas emissions, leading to a greater greenhouse effect.
3. Melting ice caps and glaciers contribute to rising sea levels, which can lead to coastal flooding and habitat loss for plants and animals.
4. Extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and droughts, are becoming more frequent and intense due to global warming, impacting food security and water resources.
5. Addressing global warming requires international cooperation and policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy sources, conservation efforts, and technological advancements.

Review Questions

• How does the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations directly relate to the phenomenon of global warming?
  • The increase in greenhouse gas concentrations is a major driver of global warming because these gases trap heat in the atmosphere. When fossil fuels are burned for energy, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are released. These gases create a thicker atmosphere that prevents heat from escaping back into space, leading to a rise in Earth's average temperature. As these gases accumulate over time, they intensify the greenhouse effect, further accelerating warming.
• Evaluate the impact of albedo on climate change and its connection to global warming.
  • Albedo plays a crucial role in climate change by affecting how much sunlight is absorbed or reflected by Earth’s surface. Areas with high albedo, like ice and snow, reflect most of the sunlight and stay cooler. However, as global warming leads to melting ice caps, lower-albedo surfaces like oceans or land are exposed, absorbing more heat. This creates a feedback loop where less ice leads to more warming, demonstrating how changes in albedo directly influence the rate of global warming.
• Synthesize information about natural and anthropogenic climate forcings to understand their roles in global warming.
  • Global warming is influenced by both natural and anthropogenic climate forcings. Natural forcings include volcanic eruptions and solar radiation variations that can temporarily cool or warm the Earth. However, anthropogenic forcings, primarily from human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation, have led to significant increases in greenhouse gases. These human-driven changes overshadow natural effects, resulting in unprecedented rates of warming since the Industrial Revolution. Understanding this distinction helps highlight the urgent need for sustainable practices to mitigate human impact on climate.

Related terms

Greenhouse Gases: Gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Radiative Forcing: The difference between solar energy absorbed by the Earth and energy radiated back to space, which influences global temperatures.

Albedo Effect: The measure of how much sunlight is reflected by a surface; surfaces with high albedo reflect more sunlight, while those with low albedo absorb more heat, affecting local and global temperatures.