Global Warming

The slow rise of the earth’s temperature caused by the greenhouse effect and responsible for changes in global climate. Global warming has occurred in the past, but the term is most often used to refer to the warming predicted to occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases form a shield around the Earth, trapping heat and raising temperatures on the ground. This is steadily changing our climate; for example, more frequent droughts, new hurricane pattern, melting of glaciers is already occurring in some regions of the globe. Gases that contribute to global warming include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and halocarbons (the replacements for CFCs). The carbon dioxide emissions are caused by the use of fossil fuels for energy.