Global Warming – Questions Answered

We can no longer bury our heads in the sand. Our actions have a direct effect upon the Earth. We know that oil spills are horrible and that toxic chemicals dumped into landfills will scar the environment tremendously. Yet there is ongoing debate as to how the increase in the world’s temperature has come about and more importantly: what steps do we need to take in order to stop the process.

What is global warming?

Global warming is defined as an increase in the temperature of the Earth’s surface air and oceans. The average temperatures have climbed in the past century and are causing concern among the world’s scientific community as to what effect these rising temperatures will have on the world environment.

I’ve seen movies where catastrophes occurred due to global warming. Could these really happen?

Thanks to a couple of movies recently, an increase in the conditions of our environment has come into the spotlight even though scientists have been aware of these problems for over ten years. There are some nuggets of truth hidden behind the plot lines and story twists but for the most part these movies are simply fiction.

What does the ozone layer have to do with global warming?

The ozone layer protects the Earth from the Sun’s harsh rays. It filters ultraviolet particles and provides as an insulator. You can think of it in terms of a big blanket. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse emissions begin accumulating in the atmosphere, trapping heat in rather than letting it out.

Are there regulations in place to prevent industries from polluting the environment?

There are regulations in place for countries who are members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and who have signed the Kyoto Protocol amendment. The countries agree that they will limit the amount of greenhouse gas emissions they produce each year. Some countries, due to being underdeveloped, do not have a cap on the amount of greenhouse gases whereas the larger countries do.

Are there organizations I can join?

There are many organizations that are trying to promote awareness of our growing ecological and environmental problem. One website, in particular, can offer a plethora of information ranging from those that are scientific to those that are political. WWW.globalwarming.org is a valuable website that helps explain the current global thought on greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.