Military

Global Warming

It is frightening to watch Hollywood's prediction of what the affects of Global warming will do to the Earth. Even though their prediction is slightly over dramatic, it is time for people to acknowledge the problems that global warming will cause in the future.

Global warming starts with the sun. The radiation from the sun heats the Earth surface. For several years, as a matter of fact, for several centuries, the amount of radiation from the sun that reaches the Earth has been pretty consistent. However, the Nation Center for Atmospheric Research projects how temperatures will possibly rise 2.6 degrees Celsius if the counties continue to emit large amounts of carbon dioxide. If we do not curb our greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, rain and drought patterns across the world could change, hurricanes could become more frequent and El Ninos could become more intense.

Not all of the energy given from the sun is absorbed by the Earth. Actually about 30 percent of the total solar energy that strikes the Earth is reflected back into space by clouds, atmospheric aerosols, reflective ground surfaces, and even the oceans surf. The other 70 percent is absorbed by the land, air and the oceans.

The temperature of the Earth is determined by the balance between the amount of energy received from the sun and the amount of energy radiated from the surface. After the solar energy heats the plants surface and atmosphere, it is later released from rocks, the air and sea heat through thermal radiation. The energy then travels directly out into space, leaving the Earth and allowing it to cool. Sometimes, the energy is re-absorbed by water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases produced from our power plants, cars, factories, burning of gasoline and coal. Once the solar energy is reabsorbed it is put back into the Earth surface. When carbon-based greenhouse gases get into the atmosphere, they stay for decades or longer.

Temperature data gathered from many different sources all across the globe show an increase in the surface temperature of the Earth. Readings that were gathered from glaciers show a steady recession of the world's continental glaciers. With this taken to consideration, data collected suggest that over the last century, the Earth has experienced the largest increase in surface