Earth's average temperature is increasing continuously to adangerous extent. Temperature has risen by 0.5 ± 0.2C. Glaciersare melting across the globe and the gravity of the situationcan be harnessed from the fact that some glaciers have evendisappeared from some parts of the world. In Polar Regions iceis melting at an alarming speed. Such melting of ice caps is inturn affecting the sea level. This may give a push to naturaldisasters like floods, droughts, hurricanes etc. Humanactivities have attributed greatly towards these adverseconditions.
Extensive studies conducted by the scientists have proved thatglobal warming cannot be a result of natural changes only.Emission of gases, which is a major factor in global warming, isa result of human activities. According to a report prepared bya U.S. scientific institute, the increase in surface airtemperature and sea temperature is an outcome of accumulation ofgreenhouse gases, which in turn is attributable to inconsideratehuman activities. Figures prove that in the last 1000 years,temperature of surface of the earth has been recorded as thewarmest in the 20th century. From last 150 years green housegases are being accumulated in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide isincreasing in the atmosphere due to deforestation and fuelburning. Along with it, emission of other greenhouse gases likemethane, chlorofluorocarbons is also polluting the atmosphere.The contribution of volcanic gas emissions in global warming isalso a major one. Statistics show that before the year 1750,volcanoes and solar forces were contributing about 50 percenttowards global warming but in the recent years the effect ofgreen house gases on temperature variations has risen up toeight times.
The pattern of global warming is not uniform throughout thewhole world. Due to the changes in the atmosphere some coolingeffect is also seen in the Atlantic and central North Pacific.Burning of fossil fuels makes the environment polluted bychanging the balance or constitution of aerosols and gases inthe atmosphere. Carbon dioxide has long survival time in theatmosphere. Development of industrial sector is resulting inincrease in emission of other gases like methane etc. Thesegreenhouse gases make the surface of the earth warmer byblocking the radiations of the sun and increasing theevaporation rate of the surface moisture. The humidity in theenvironment is also mounting due to global warming. The threatof floods is lurking large because of rise in frequency ofrainfalls and snowfalls. Increase in evaporation also raises therisk of droughts. It may also result in amplifying numerouskinds of viral infections.
Some scientists do not accept human activities as culprit forglobal warming but there are numerous instances from which humanhand in global warming is clearly visible. The process of globalwarming and its results are very gradual so the outcome wouldnot be visible to a large extent to the present generation. Butthe consequences of global warming would be very dangerous forthe future generations. The long term accumulated adverseeffects would start coming in limelight. Extreme weatherconditions like heavy rainfalls, humid weather, floods, droughtswould be very devastating.
United Nations Framework Convention on is aninternational agreement which was enforced on March 21,1994. Itsmain goal is to control the emission of greenhouse gases in theatmosphere, which pose a threat to climate system. Kyotoprotocol is an international agreement that has been framed asan amendment to the UNFCC with the same objective. Recentestimates make it clear that if this protocol becomes successfulit would greatly help in maintaining the temperature of theearth. Kyoto Protocol was agreed upon in Kyoto on December 1997and was enforced on February 2005. All the countries, which havesigned or ratified UNFCC are allowed to sign or ratify KyotoProtocol. This agreement has been ratified by 156 countries. Thegoal of this agreement is to reduce the collective emission ofcarbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases like methane, nitrousoxide etc. The limits for controlling emissions are differentfor different nations like 8% for European Nations, 6% for Japanetc. The developed countries are directed to provide technologyfor attaining knowledge and completing projects concerningenvironment, to other countries. Two countries USA and Australiaare not in favour of Kyoto Protocol. Some critics treat thisagreement as a hindrance to industrial growth of the world andtransfer of wealth to not so technologically advanced thirdworld countries.
Except the oppositon put forth by a few countries, collectivepositive steps towards reducing global warming has now becomemandatory for almost whole of the world. As global warming is agradual process, efforts of present generation would be fruitfulfor future genertions.
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Schools to Help Needy Students]]>
Even if people stopped pumping out carbon dioxide and other pollutants tomorrow, global warming would get worse, two teams of researchers reported yesterday.]]>
A sampling of noteworthy presentations yesterday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, taking place in Washington this weekend.]]>
All college freshmen who live in dorms should be vaccinated for meningitis, a government panel recommended yesterday, reversing policy of the past. The panel is also advising doctors to give the shot to all 11- and 12-year-old children and recommending that it be provided to at least 4 million children eligible under the federal children's vaccine program.]]>
Additional Resources
Taming Hurricane Pedro Gives Hope For The Future
By Pontus Edenberg
August 29, 2040 - Analysts believe that the effort in taming the hurricane Pedro is the main reason for it to still be considered a category four hurricane, before it reached the coast of southern Read more...
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Additional Resources
Deforestation Is Choking The Earth
By Anil
Forests are one of the most valuable eco-systems in the world, containing over 60 per cent of the world's biodiversity. This biodiversity has multiple social and economic Read more...
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Electricity from Trash
Capturing methane from rotting garbage will help reduce climate change due to greenhouse gases.
Waste Management is creating electricity from rotting garbage at 100 of its landfills, and plans more such projects. This is a double win, as the methane gas produced by the garbage has a 21 times worse greenhouse gas effect than carbon dioxide. But now it can be captured to create energy rather than being emitted into the atmosphere.
Read more: Electricity from trash
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Astrologer Fails to Predict Cyclone
It wouldn't be important that an astrologer failed to predict the Myanmar cyclone if astrology weren't important there.
Continuing on the theme of what can and cannot be predicted, the weather is the next logical topic and evidently a noted Burmese astrologer has publicly apologized for his failure to predict Cyclone Nargis. But in a country like Myanmar where they take astrology seriously, evidently the citizenry depends on their astrologers for this kind of thing:
Read more: Astrologer is sorry for failure to predict cyclone
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Climate Analysis
From a post on calculating CO2 impacts correctly.
?m using this as an example of the kind of armchair analysis I would love to see more consumers and voters do on their own when faced with any buying or voting decision that has significant energy and/or environmental implications. Does this candidate?s claim make sense? How much money can I save by adjusting my thermostat a couple of degree or car pooling? How much CO2 can I avoid by signing up for 100% green electricity?
Read more: Analysis, done right
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Angelo's Is Back
Angelo's Restaurant in St. Marks was swept away by Hurricane Dennis.
Angelo?s was washed away by Hurricane Dennis in 2005 and just recently reopened this winter. It?s a beautiful place, lovely view and great food, but not the place to grab a quick and cheap bite to eat. We had enjoyable meal, though, sitting on the deck and watching the boats and birds over the bay.
Read more: Saint Marks Lighthouse
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Is Carbon Neutrality Actually Possible?
A look at whether products can achieve carbon neutrality.
The big question is where do you draw the line and say that this company is carbon neutral/negative and this one is not when they all rely heavily on carbon positive support?
Read more: Is Carbon Neutrality Actually Possible?
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Review: The End Of Suburbia
Will climate change force us to re-think suburban development?
Of course, no one knows what?ll happen to the suburbs we have now. Will they become the slums of the future? At least one expert in the film predicts a scarier scenario where we may not even have time to build new ?hoods with new urbanist design principles; we may just need to salvage what we have left in the face of global climate change.
Read more: Film review: The End of Suburbia
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Why Do They Hate Us?
A look at climate change and politics.
Yet another hot button topic these days is climate change and the environment. On the surface, you wouldn't think that this should be a conservative vs. liberal topic. After all, climate change is either happening or it isn't. And yet this is an issue that divides conservatives from liberals as much as any other.
Read more: Why do they hate us?
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The Perfectly Timed Vacation
Hurricane Ivan and other hurricanes have changed travel economics.
The best deals on lodging aren?t necessarily found in the hotels, but the low-rise condos. Thank Hurricane Ivan for that, she says. Many hotels were damaged by the 2004 storm, and have recently been repaired and reopened. So if you don?t mind staying in a condo, low season ? at least when it comes to saving money ? may last longer than a season. It could extend months, or longer.
Read more: 4 secrets for the perfectly timed vacation
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We Interrupt This Program
Has the federal government lost all credibility in natural disaster recovery?
Excuse me, while I open a space in the political discussion to point out something beyond the primaries on Tuesday - a powerful series of thunderstorms ripped through the Mid-South with tornadoes that killed at least 54 people and injured hundreds. They have been promised help by George W. Bush, which I can tell you as someone who lives in an area struck by hurricane Ivan in 2004 and knows what the Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas Gulf Coast still looks like after Katrina and Rita in 2005, is not going to happen any time soon.
Read more: We Interrupt This Program
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Anatomy Of A Local Breaking News Story
A great behind-the-scenes look at coverage of Hurricane Wilma from the local point-of-view.
Back in 2005, when Hurricane Wilma was about to smack the Naples area, our news organization made a commitment that when it came to real-time coverage, we were not going to get beat on this story by CNN or The Weather Channel or any other news organizations.
Read more: Anatomy of a local breaking news story
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Hurricane Felix Making Landfall
Is the quote machine broken:
The Nicaragua coast is experiencing powerful winds and surge at this time, as the wrath of a catastrophic monster category 5 hurricane Felix with winds of 160mph and gusts close to 190mph moves inland over Nicaragua very close to Punta Gorda and Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. Felix is the second category 5 hurricane to make landfall this year, and before Hurricane Dean a week or so ago, there were no land falling hurricanes at category 5 status for 15 years.
Read more: Hurricane Felix Making Landfall In Nicaragua
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Save The World From Your Desktop
Seven good tips to reduce climate change from the comfort of your computer.
Use GoLoco to make carpooling a whole lot easier, and do your part to reduce CO2 emissions and lessen traffic congestion.
Read more: 7 Ways to Save the World Using Your Desktop
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Dean Update - Monday, Aug 20, 11 AM
Waiting for Hurricane Dean.
Everybody?s talking about the hurricane and now everyone?s saying that it looks like it?s going south. We?re continuing our preparations (and so is everyone else, apparently), but we?re less worried. We?re reminded that with both Hurricane Emily and Hurricane Wilma, it barely even rained in Merida. It?s good to keep in mind that what happens on one end of the Yucatan Peninsula, doesn?t necessarily effect the whole peninsula.
Read more: Dean Update - Monday, Aug 20, 11 AM
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600 Naked People On A Vanishing Glacier
Click through for pictures of the living sculpture atop the vanishing glacier.
Installation artist Spencer Tunick and Greenpeace Switzerland present a living sculpture: hundreds of naked people symbolise the vulnerability of the glaciers under climate change.
Read more: 600 naked people on a vanishing glacier
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Bad Climate Change News Was Too Optimistic
The news on iceberg meltdowns is bad.
However, China is preparing for climate change induced disasters and plans 24 hour response with food and water for any emergency. Too bad the US isn?t doing the same.
Read more: That bad news about climate change was too optimistic
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