Global Climate Change
By Matt Gallison
Causes
Warming that results when the atmosphere traps heat radiating from Earth toward space
Burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil has increased the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide
Evidence
Changes are attributed to very small variations in Earth’s orbit that change the amount of solar energy our planet receives
Ice cores drawn from Greenland, Antarctica, and tropical mountain glaciers show that the Earth’s climate responds to changes in greenhouse gas levels
- United Nations concluded that there's a more than 90% probability that human activities over the past 50 years have warmed our planet
Consensus
Rapid warming in earth's temperature
Rising subsurface ocean temperatures
Increases in average global sea levels from retreating glaciers
- Changes to many physical and biological systems
Actions To Fix Global Climate Change
If we stopped emitting greenhouse gases today, global warming would continue to happen for at least several more decades
Minimize greenhouse gas emissions using current technologies
Enhancing fuel economy for on- and off-road vehicles
- Adopting non-combustion energy sources based on solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, wind, tidal power, or nuclear energy can reduce carbon dioxide