Global Warming is one of the most searched terms on Internet.

This is the most commonly used

word today. Even entertainment industry have not lagged behind in raising this issue. There were
some movies which addressed this issue very poignantly like The Day After Tomorrow which
addressed the issue of modern ice age. In many of the countries Global warming have acquired a
political status. Many of the candidates pursuing the 2008 Presidential race in US have raised
Global warming and climate change as prime issues.

In reality what is global warming?

Scientifically Global warming is defined as process that will lead in rising Earth’s temperature .
This reason for rise in Earth's temperature is attributed to an increase in greenhouse gases. The
reason for increase in green house gases is attributed to the human activities. The temperature of
Earth is raising at alarming levels.

Some may feel that why the slight increase in temperature bother us. Although that is correct but
in one season of the year 2003 itself around 30,000 people died in Europe by heat waves. But
Bjorn Lomborg controversial figure have been in news in recent times for his comments on Global
warming states that more people on Earth die of cold waves than hot waves. So a slight increase
in temperature will reduce the no of deaths due to cold spells which are bigger than killer heat.
But many fear that increase in temperatures will melt the ice at poles thus increasing the sea level
which will cause flooding and leave many homeless.

There has been some very serious debates on how does Global warming impact us now.
Although we may see many changes in temperature and weather but those changes may not
impact us directly sometimes it may only affect the next generation. We may not attribute these
changes to the Global warming. The most desired after effects which our next generation are
likely to face is cold snow storms, heat waves, flood, long spell droughts etc.

Global warming have been the source of ongoing debate between politicians and scientist
worldwide. The nutrition statistics of the country may vary due to its climate, demographics and
income. So reducing green house gas emissions from industrial activities means industries being
closing down. Which will leave thousands of people jobless. So if we really aspire to cut on
greenhouse gases then the need is to find out sources of nutrition which will be 5000 times more
effective than spending billions of dollars on cutting greenhouse emissions.

Global warming may not necessarily impact our generation but coming generations are obviously
going to bear its brunt. So it becomes our moral responsibility to devise the plans which will
contribute towards the reducing the Global warming. Although through treaties countries can
decide their future plan of action on which they need to work upon but as they say the revolution
should begin at home.
The planet is warming, from North Pole to South Pole, and everywhere in between. Globally, the
mercury is already up more than 1 degree Fahrenheit (0.8 degree Celsius), and even more in
sensitive polar regions. And the effects of rising temperatures aren’t waiting for some far-flung
future. They’re happening right now. Signs are appearing all over, and some of them are
surprising. The heat is not only melting glaciers and sea ice, it’s also shifting precipitation patterns
and setting animals on the move.

Some impacts from increasing temperatures are already happening.

Ice is melting worldwide, especially at the Earth’s poles. This includes mountain glaciers, ice
sheets covering West Antarctica and Greenland, and Arctic sea ice.
Researcher Bill Fraser has tracked the decline of the Adélie penguins on Antarctica, where their
numbers have fallen from 32,000 breeding pairs to 11,000 in 30 years.
Sea level rise became faster over the last century.
Some butterflies, foxes, and alpine plants have moved farther north or to higher, cooler areas.
Precipitation (rain and snowfall) has increased across the globe, on average.
Spruce bark beetles have boomed in Alaska thanks to 20 years of warm summers. The insects
have chewed up 4 million acres of spruce trees.
Other effects could happen later this century, if warming continues.

Sea levels are expected to rise between 7 and 23 inches (18 and 59 centimeters) by the end of
the century, and continued melting at the poles could add between 4 and 8 inches (10 to 20
centimeters).
Hurricanes and other storms are likely to become stronger.
Species that depend on one another may become out of sync. For example, plants could bloom
earlier than their pollinating insects become active.
Floods and droughts will become more common. Rainfall in Ethiopia, where droughts are already
common, could decline by 10 percent over the next 50 years.
Less fresh water will be available. If the Quelccaya ice cap in Peru continues to melt at its current
rate, it will be gone by 2100, leaving thousands of people who rely on it for drinking water and
electricity without a source of either.
Some diseases will spread, such as malaria carried by mosquitoes.
Ecosystems will change—some species will move farther north or become more successful;
others won’t be able to move and could become extinct. Wildlife research scientist Martyn Obbard
has found that since the mid-1980s, with less ice on which to live and fish for food, polar bears
have gotten considerably skinnier. Polar bear biologist Ian Stirling has found a similar pattern in
Hudson Bay. He fears that if sea ice disappears, the polar bears will as well.

Global Warming effects

Green house gases stay can stay in the atmosphere for an amount of years ranging from
decades to hundreds and thousands of years. No matter what we do, global warming is going to
have some effect on Earth. Here are the 5 deadliest effects of global warming.
5. Spread of disease As northern countries warm, disease carrying insects migrate north, bringing
plague and disease with them. Indeed some scientists believe that in some countries thanks to
global warming, malaria has not been fully eradicated.
4. Warmer waters and more hurricanes As the temperature of oceans rises, so will the probability
of more frequent and stronger hurricanes. We saw in this in 2004 and 2005.
3. Increased probability and intensity of droughts and heat waves Although some areas of Earth
will become wetter due to global warming, other areas will suffer serious droughts and heat
waves. Africa will receive the worst of it, with more severe droughts also expected in Europe.
Water is already a dangerously rare commodity in Africa, and according to the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change, global warming will exacerbate the conditions and could lead to
conflicts and war.
2. Economic consequences Most of the effects of anthropogenic global warming won’t be good.
And these effects spell one thing for the countries of the world: economic consequences.
Hurricanes cause do billions of dollars in damage, diseases cost money to treat and control and
conflicts exacerbate all of these.
1. Polar ice caps melting The ice caps melting is a four-pronged danger.
First, it will raise sea levels. There are 5,773,000 cubic miles of water in ice caps, glaciers, and
permanent snow. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, if all glaciers melted today
the seas would rise about 230 feet. Luckily, that’s not going to happen all in one go! But sea
levels will rise.
Second, melting ice caps will throw the global ecosystem out of balance. The ice caps are fresh
water, and when they melt they will desalinate the ocean, or in plain English - make it less salty.
The desalinization of the gulf current will "screw up" ocean currents, which regulate temperatures.
The stream shutdown or irregularity would cool the area around north-east America and Western
Europe. Luckily, that will slow some of the other effects of global warming in that area!
Third, temperature rises and changing landscapes in the artic circle will endanger several species
of animals. Only the most adaptable will survive.
Fourth, global warming could snowball with the ice caps gone. Ice caps are white, and reflect
sunlight, much of which is relected back into space, further cooling Earth. If the ice caps melt, the
only reflector is the ocean. Darker colors absorb sunlight, further warming the Earth.

Prevention for Global Warming

Global warming refers to the Earth’s air and oceans gradually heating up to a point that disrupts
balance, a problem that is continually getting worse. It sounds like a problem too massive for any
one individual to take on, but it really isn’t. Combining any few of these suggestions can make
more of a dramatic effect than most people understand. The goal is to emit less carbon dioxide
into the atmosphere.

Drive less. Take bikes, walk or carpool whenever possible.

Consider investing in a hybrid or electric vehicle to help prevent against further global warming.
Replace all the lightbulbs in and around your home with energy-efficient fluorescents that use
fewer watts for the same amount of light.
Clean or replace your filters monthly.
Choose energy-efficient appliances when it's time to buy new ones.
Decrease your air travel.
Wash clothes in cold water and line-dry whenever possible.
Use a low-flow showerhead, which will lessen the hot water used but not drop your water
pressure in the shower.
Cut down on your garbage—buy fewer packaged materials to prevent further global warming.
Unplug electronics when they are not in use, because they still take up energy. At the very least,
turn items off when they’re not being used.
Run the dishwasher and clothes washer only when you have a full load, and if available, use the
energy-saving setting.
Insulate your home better, and don’t forget to repair or replace worn caulking or weather-
stripping. Insulate your water heater.
Buy recycled paper products and recycle as much of your waste as possible.
Bring your own reusable canvas grocery bags when grocery shopping.
Plant a tree.
Have an energy audit done on your home so you can find the trouble areas and fix them.
Use nontoxic cleaning products.
Shop locally for food. A farmer’s market is an excellent place to visit. And choose fresh food over
frozen foods. Fresh takes less energy to produce.
Keep your car tuned up, and check tire pressure often to save gas.
Eat less meat and more organic foods in your diet to do your part in preventing global warming.