2. Definitions of Greenhouse Effect, Climate Change, and Global Warming Greenhouse effect: The greenhouse effect is when short wavelengths of visible light passes through a transparent medium and are absorbed, but the longer wavelengths of the infrared re-radiation from the heated objects are unable to pass through that medium. The trapping of the long wavelengths leads to more heating and higher temperatures. Climate Change: Climate change refers to more than just weather, it refers to seasonal changes over a long period of time. Global Warming: Global warming is the increase in the average temperature due to the effect of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane.
3. Relation Between Greenhouse Effect, Climate Change, and Global Warming There is a cause and effect relationship between all three subjects. When humans cause an increased amount of greenhouse effect, the Earth traps more heat, causing a change in the Earth’s entire climate. Temperatures all around the world are rising due to this, which is known as global warming.
4. Global Warming Causes Increase in greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. Humans burning of fossil fuels, industrial, farming, and deforestation.
5. Consequences If Not Stopped Sea levels rise Hurricanes become stronger Floods and droughts become more common Changes in ecosystems Less available fresh water Out of sync food chains Ice caps melting Species dying off Trees and plants flowering sooner Intense heat waves
6. How is Global Warming Impacting the Economy? Extreme weather costing us millions of dollars in for repairs on houses, buildings, government property, etc. Energy prices going up because of the bigger temperature differences (air conditioning/heating)
7. Ways to Fight Global Warming Use power strips instead of using many outlets Use cold water instead of hot water Use ceiling fans instead of air conditioner or use programmable thermostats Switch light bulbs to fluorescent light bulbs Use energy star products Get involved and speak-up about the topic Drive less and carpool Plant trees and other plants
8. Basic Arguments Against Global Warming Humans are causing most of global warming because we burn to many fossil fuels. We can’t fix what has already been done, we can only try to improve our actions for the future. Humans have done little damage and global warming is just a natural occurrence.
9. Our Opinion We believe that humans have made global warming worse then it could be. We have put to many greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and aren’t trying hard enough to reverse what we have done. Many people have different opinions about if global warming is real or not, so it makes it hard for everyone to know how and what to do about it.
