Global Warming

Global Warming

I think that the cause of global warming becoming increasingly evident on planet Earth is because of the climate change related to greenhouse gas emissions in the last 200+ years. The climate is getting warmer and warmer every day. NASA's surface temperature analysis indicates that the average temperature of Earth's surface has changed about 1.2 to 1.4oF since 1900. Other changes are happening, such as patterns of precipitation, snow and ice cover, and sea levels.

Over the last few hundred years, human activity has increased dramatically leading to greenhouse gases being emitted into the atmosphere. Aerosols have been leaked into the atmosphere as well from the burning of fossil fuels and biomass. These greenhouse gases and aerosols have changed the composition of the atmosphere, and have changed the amount of radiation coming into and leaving the atmosphere. The changes have resulted in constant change in precipitation, storms, sea level, and temperature.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) 2005 State of the Climate Report, carbon dioxide emissions have increased from 280 ppm (parts per million) in the Industrial Revolution to 379 ppm in 2005. This is a 35% increase, almost all due to human activity. The concentrations of carbon dioxide are higher than any time in the last 420,000 years. Methane is more present now than in the last 420,000 years as well. Methane concentrations have increased during most of the 20th century, and are now 151% above pre-industrial levels. Nitrous Oxide has increased 18% in the last 200 years and continues to increase. It has not been exceeded during at least the last 1,000 years.

Temperatures are changing from the Earth's surface to the stratosphere as well. Records indicate that the global surface temperature has increased between 0.7 and 1.5oF in the 20th century alone. The Earth's surface