GLOBAL WARMING

Global warming is a slow steady rise in Earth's surface temperature.[1] Temperatures today are
0.74 C (1.33 F) higher than 150years ago.[2]
The basic cause seems to be a rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide, as predicted by Svante
Arrhenius a hundred years ago. When people use fossil fuels like coal and oil, this adds carbon
dioxide to the air. When people cut down the Earth's forests (deforestation), this means less carbon
dioxide is taken out of the atmosphere by plants.
If the Earth's temperature becomes hotter the sea level will also become higher. This is partly
because water expands when it gets warmer. It is also partly because warm temperatures
make glaciers melt. The sea level rise may cause coastal areas to flood. Weather patterns, including
where and how much rain or snow there is, will change. Deserts will probably increase in size.
Colder areas will warm up faster than warm areas. Strong storms may become more likely
and farming may not make as much food. These effects will not be the same everywhere. The
changes from one area to another are not well known.
People in government and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have talked about
global warming. They do not agree on what to do about it. Some things that could reduce warming
are to burn less fossil fuels, adapt to any temperature changes, or try to change the Earth to reduce
warming. The Kyoto Protocol tries to reduce pollution from the burning of fossil fuels.
Most governments have agreed to it. Some people in government think nothing should change.