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Global Warming Global warming is caused by the greenhouse effect which causes a heating of the Earth. The greenhouse effect is when heat trapped by gases in the atmosphere, warms the surrounding air. Some results of global warming include severe flooding or drought, increased global temperatures, and melting of the ice caps. One of the gases causing the greenhouse effect is carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide comes from the burning of fossil fuels and other organic matters. This results in higher temperatures across the globe. Other types are CFC's, groups of chemical compounds, including methane, that are particularly damaging to the environment. As a result of more production of greenhouse gases, the ten hottest years of record have occurred in the last 14 years, the hottest being 2005. Increasing temperatures are causing melting of glaciers, changing seasons, and coral bleaching. Coral bleaching occurs when water temperatures rise above an appropriate level for coral and the algae living on the coral is killed off, killing the coral. Diseases are resurging worldwide. Insect-bourn diseases like West Nile Virus and Malaria are on the rise because the planet is becoming more and more hospitable to insects such as mosquitoes. Drought and flooding might be the most prevalent issue though. More precipitation is coming at one time in massive storms such as hurricanes. 37 inches of rain came in India in 24 hours. Severe drought is occurring is places such as Darfur and Niger. More evaporation is happening in the oceans and soil, creating drier climes. Floods also occur as a result of ice melting worldwide, particularly in Antarctica and Greenland. The Larsen B ice shelf in Antarctica melted in only 35 days in 2002. If either Greenland or Antarctica melted, sea levels worldwide would rise 20 feet. Current efforts to suppress global warming such as reducing carbon emissions appear to be working. However, more effort is needed if we are to make any significant changes in the way the planet is regressing. Scientists have set a goal to either reduce or maintain current carbon levels until 2050. If this goal is obtained, the future looks much brighter for us all.



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