Global Warming

Description:

Global warming is the trend of increasing temperatures on a global scale. The source of this heating is believed to be the greenhouse effect, which is the culmination of CO2 in the atmosphere acting as a warm blanket keeping the heat in.

Dynamics: The sun heats the earth's surface using its solar radiation. The heat coming from the surface can be seen as infrared radiation which under normal conditions can easily escape back again. However, large amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere prohibit the infrared heat-rays to escape quickly, causing global warming.

Enablers:

• Increasing CO2 output, fossile fuel usage: Caused by population growth, and the related increase in oil demand/consumption.
• Growing economy
• United States' attitude against Kyoto treaty

Inhibitors:

• Global Dimming
• Kyoto treaty: Although this will not reduce the CO2 emission enough to stop global warming
• More efficient energy/green energy
• Powersaving light bulbs ;)

Paradigms:

Solar radiation X passes through our atmosphere and heats the earths surface. The surface absorbes the energy and warmth (radiation Y) flows through the air, heating it. However CO2 prevents radiation Y to escape quick enough.

Increasing amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere increases earths temperature.

Experts:

Climatologists.

Timing:

Industrialization started this mess.

Web Resources:

• [1] The EPA Global Warming Kids Page