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Causes and Effects of Global Warming
Causes and Effects of Global Warming
Causes:
The ones that the teacher forgot to tell you about
- Cyclical variations in the sun's energy output
- Eccentricities in Earth's orbit
- The influence of the plate tectonics on the distribution of continents and oceans
- Radiant heat trapped in the atmosphere
- Pollution created by humans
- Greenhouse gases
- Natural occurrences due to the approaching Ice Age
FINGERPRINTS: 
-
Heat waves and periods of unusually warm weather
- Ocean warming, sea-level rise and coastal flooding
- Glaciers melting
- Arctic and Antarctic warming
HARBINGERS:
-
Spreading disease
-
Earlier spring arrival
- Plant and animal range shifts and population changes
- Coral reef bleaching
- Downpours, heavy snowfalls, and flooding
- Droughts and fires
Facts on Effects:
Fact 1
The U.S., responsible for 25% of the carbon dioxide emissions in the world, is at the top of the “global warming naughty list.”
Fact 2
During the 20th century alone, the average surface temperature of the world has increased by 1°F (0.6°C).
Fact 3
It is predicted that if the current environmental situation is not improved, the average global temperature can potentially increase up to 10°F (5.8°C).
Fact 4
Some predict that the sea level is expected to rise up to 35 inches (88 cm) if the world’s ecological condition does not get better.
Fact 5
In the future, the span of worldwide infectious diseases will increase with the climate shifts.
Fact 6
The global population will encounter increased flooding and heat waves if the conditions do not improve.
Fact 7
Some people argue that global warming will increase plant growth, making the earth “greener.” However, increased carbon dioxide levels can end up benefiting weeds and other destructive plant species more.
Fact 8
One hypothesis indicates that in the 2080's, the homes of 13 to 88 million people will be flooded each year if environmental conditions do not improve.
Fact 9
It is predicted by some that numerous ecosystems and threatened species will be pushed to extinction by the 2080's if the environmental condition worsens at a moderate pace.
Fact 10
As of 2005, there were an estimated number of 780,000,000 motor vehicles in the entire world. The carbon dioxide emissions from these cars are a leading cause of global warming.
Fact 11
In recent times, the global fleet of motor vehicles grows at the rate of 16,000,000 per year. According to these statistics, we currently have 796,000,000 motor vehicles in the world today!
Fact 12
The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) has concluded that in the past 50 years, Alaska, eastern Russia, and western Canada, average temperatures have increased as much 7°F (about 4°C). The rise is almost twice the global average.
Fact 13
Since the 1970's, the size of the glaciers of the Arctic, which serves as the world’s “air conditioner,” is getting smaller by 9% a decade.
Fact 14
Escalated sea levels will be an unquestionable result of continued global warming. If sea levels rise just 4 inches, Florida and Louisiana are at risk.
Sources
Fact 1: Lavric, Natalia. “Boiling Over: Taking Global Warming Off the Back Burner.” Build. August, 2006, pg. 4.
Facts 2-5: Greenfacts.org
Facts 6-8: Undoit.org
Facts 9-10: GlobalWarming.sdsu.edu
Facts 11-14: News.NationalGeographic.com
Fingerprints and Harbinger: climatehotmap.org