Global Climate
Effects of Global Warming
The term ‘global warming’ refers to the increasing temperatures worldwide. It is generally believed that global warming is a result of rising levels of greenhouse gases, namely carbon dioxide. Under normal conditions, solar energy will strike the earth’s surface and bounce back into space. There is a thin layer of gases that traps some of the radiant heat next to the earth, similar to what occurs in a greenhouse. These gases, referred to as greenhouse gases, are necessary for the earth to retain enough heat to support life. Throughout time there have been fluctuations in the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the environment, and climate has been widely variable. In recent times, however, levels of greenhouse gases have achieved concentrations higher than ever resulting in wider climatic fluctuations.
