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= = = The Earth is Warming = = THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT = The greenhouse effect is the build-up of heat and gases in our atmosphere close to our surface. Some of the heat going back to space is absorbed by water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone and many other gases in the atmosphere and is reradiated to the Earth’s surface. If those gases rise the temperature of the lower atmosphere will slowly increase. The greenhouse effect is important for our survival because it keeps the heat in our atmosphere and keeps us from being extremely cold.



GLOBAL WARMING: THE BIG PICTURE
Global warming is the average increase of the temperature and the change of the climate patterns. It happens because “There is too much Greenhouse Effect”. That means that there is too much heat trapped in the surface and the surface is overheating. In the several years in the future the earth's temperature will gradually increase. Global warming is not a good thing because after a while it will have some really bad effects. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane contribute to global warming because they help heat up our surface.

-One contributing factor to global warming is driving cars. Driving cars effects global warming because it releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. To stop that, people should walk or ride their bikes to go short distances. Another contributor to global warming is cows. Cows waste gives out methane which is another greenhouse gas. Besides these two there are plenty of other things that contribute to global warming.
 * GLOBAL WARMING: CONTRIBUTING FACTORS **

Global warming is also scary, yet important because it will affect us here in Massachusetts. Since Massachusetts has a lot of coastline, after a while, the coasts will become smaller. Since the average temperature is rising, it is causing the polar ice sheets to melt and the ocean levels to rise. Since the ocean level will rise it will overflow the coasts. That is very scary because if your live on the coast your house will be underwater in the future. Some other effects are obvious because most people don't like to live in the scorching heat. Overall it will just be uncomfortable to live because it will be so hot. Most people like the temperatures now, but in the future it will become to hot. Attention all drivers! If you have the chance you should switch over to bio-diesel cars called hybrids. Driving regular gas cars are bad because they give off carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas. There is becoming too much carbon dioxide which is starting to heat the surface of Earth. It is important to change to hybrid cars because they do not give off as much carbon dioxide. In fact, hybrids giver off 30-50% less greenhouse gases as a diesel car. Other things you could use are bikes, rollerblades, scooters, or just walking. Hybrids are also 25 to 40 percent more fuel efficient.
 * GLOBAL WARMING: LOCAL EFFECTS **
 * WHAT YOUR AUDIENCE CAN DO DIFFERENTLY: One specific area of focus **

-After doing this research I have learned a lot about the greenhouse effect and global warming. Overall I learned that the build up of greenhouse gases is causing global warming. There are plenty of things that humans can do to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases. The point I am trying to make by doing this project is to teach people how they effect the world and how the can fix those things. So if you read this make sure you go home and change the things that you do that make greenhouse gases. BIBLIOGRAPHY **
 * A SUMMARY OF YOUR RESEARCH **

"Glossary of Climate Change Terms." __Environmental Protection Agency.__ Wednesday, March 25, 2009.June 1, 2009. http://epa.gov/climatechange/glossary.html#Greenhouse_effect "The Greenhouse Effect." __UNEP.__ June 1, 2009. June 1,2009. http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/greenhouse-effect

"Global Warming Graph and MapInformation." __Geology News.__ 2005-2007. June 2,2009 http://geology.com/news/2006/01/global-warming-graph-and-map.html

Debbie Miles. "Blythe Pictures." __Greenville County Schools Online.__ June 2,2009.http://teachers.greenville.k12.sc.us/sites/dmiles/Blythe%20pictures/Forms/AllItems.aspx