What is global warming?
Global warming means that the earths surface gets warmer over a period of time. The earths surface has been slowly warming up since the last ice age 15, 000 years ago. A particular effect which has had a major impact on the Earth’s surface temperature is known as the ‘Greenhouse effect.’
This is a natural process and without it the average temperature of the Earth’s surface would be approximately -18 centigrade for the worlds generated instead of a more comfortable temperature of around +15 centigrade which it is today.
The main gases that have contributed to the greenhouse effect include carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. These gases, which form a sort of ‘blanket’ around the Earth and help insulate it from the escaping heat, have remained at a constant concentration for thousands of years.
Man-made greenhouse effect
The natural greenhouse effect has maintained the worlds temperature at approximately 15 centigrade for thousands of years, up until about 200 years ago at the advent of the industrial revolution. But in recent times the rate at which man made greenhouse gases are being produced has greatly accelerated.
Each one of us uses energy every day - especially in the office – burning more and more fossil fuels which release greater quantities of greenhouse gases and pollution into the atmosphere. Increasing the size of the ‘blanket’ of gases surrounding the Earth, resulting in climate change.
More of the suns energy is being trapped in our atmosphere by the bigger blanket, which in turn causes the earth temperature to increase more rapidly in a shorter period of time than it has for thousands of years.
What effects is global warming having on the UK?
Our climate is changing we are witnessing longer heat waves, August 2003 saw the highest temperature on record throughout the UK.
Over the past 20 years the winters have seen less snow and in the future snow could become so rare that many regions may experience long runs of snowless winters.
Flash flooding is becoming more of a threat for the UK, with a dramatic increase in occurrences.
Click on the links to find out about carbon offsetting to halt global warming and the offsetting debate - does it actually work?
Join Greener Now today to help prevent global warming.
