Global Warming: A Brief Overview
particularly intriguing. This is the case for several reasons, including the fact that many scientists believe that the phenomenon is having a profoundly powerful effect on our contemporary world. To learn more about global warming, be sure to review the short outline that appears below:
What Is Global Warming?
Global warming refers to the idea that the atmosphere of the Earth is getting warmer near its surface. (However, the phrase global warming does not imply a cause.) There is general consensus amongst authorities in the scientific community that climate changes have transpired throughout the history of the Earth and that they will continue to transpire in the future. Some of the evidence indicates a link between solar activity and global warming. There are also several other theories about the underlying causes.
The Greenhouse Effect
One of the popular theories regarding global warming is referred to as the "greenhouse effect." The gases in the atmosphere are deemed similar to a greenhouse given that they permit the light of the sun to pass through, after which they prevent heat from escaping. This phenomenon precludes Earth's surface from becoming warmer than it otherwise would. The compounds regularly released by humans in the atmosphere have caused a thickening of the greenhouse wall beyond the levels that occur naturally. Once this process transpires, less heat will escape, thereby causing an increase in temperature. This process is referred to as greenhouse warming.
Although the scientific community accepts the concept of global warming as accurate, the greenhouse warming theory is subject to substantive contention and debate. While the majority of scientists agree that compounds produced by humans (such as methane, carbon dioxide, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)) are released into our atmosphere, some of them argue that there is no clarity regarding how this process results in temperature changes.
The Ozone
Another significant issue that emerges in context of global warming and greenhouse warming is the ozone. The ozone helps trap heat. When fossil fuels are burned, they create even more ozone. This is an occurrence that contributes to the formation of smog. When the ozone builds, trapped heat builds with it, thereby amplifying the greenhouse effect.
The ozone also plays a role in the Earth's upper atmosphere. There, it shields the planet from ultraviolet radiation (UV). However, CFCs (the compound produced by humans that works as a greenhouse gas in the Earth's lower atmosphere) destroys the ozone. This process can cause holes in the upper ozone layer. This reality can be witnessed upon observation of Antarctica. There, factors like atmospheric circulation and cold temperature work together to draw the ozone holes.
Conclusion
The implications of global warming are profound and wide-ranging. They can also have a significant impact on human life. As a result, scientists are interested in learning more about how long the planet has been undergoing a warming process. Once this information is attained, humans may be better prepared to grapple with the effects of global warming.
About the Author
Lubomir Cizek studied Mining Engineering and Geology at the Mining Academy in Ostrava, Czech Republic. He has also spent a lot of time at a telescope and a lot of time studying astronomy. For more information, please visit http://iceagetheory.com/
Submitted on: 2015-07-21 19:58:11