Solar & The Environment

Global warming is an increase in the average temperature of Earth's surface. Since the industrial revolution, the global average temperature has increased about 0.4 to 0.8 degrees C. Many experts estimate that the average temperature will rise an additional 1.4 to 5.8 degrees C by 2100. That rate of increase would be much larger than most past rates of increase and scientists worry that human societies and natural ecosystems might not adapt to such rapid climate changes.

Predictions have been made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that suggest a possible extinction of 30% of the world’s natural species by 2020 and a total extinction of 40% of the world’s species by 2080. Also predicted are high increases in natural disasters such as flood, wildfire & storms as well as increased death tolls from heat waves, floods & droughts. Melting of Polar regions raising sea levels by 13-20 feet, millions of deaths worldwide and enormous increases in poverty & hunger.

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Climatologists have concluded that human activities are responsible for most of the warming. Human activities contribute to global warming by enhancing Earth's natural greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect warms Earth's surface through a complex process involving sunlight, gases, and particles in the atmosphere. Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are known as greenhouse gases.

The main human activities that contribute to global warming are the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) and the clearing of land. Most of the burning occurs in automobiles, in factories, and in electric power plants that provide energy for houses and office buildings. The burning of fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas that slows the escape of heat into space.