EnviMM

EnviMM

 Global Warming...Real or Myth?



The greenhouse effect is good, because it traps the heat from the sun in Earth’s surface, but also reflects some heat back. If we didn’t have the greenhouse effect, during day, it would be extremely hot, and during the night, it would be freezing. If there was no greenhouse effect, Earth wouldn't be able to support life.

Global Warming: The Big Picture

“Human activities have substantially added to the amount of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere”. This means that more and more heat will be trapped in our atmosphere. This is bad because the polar ice caps can melt, and water will go over a lot of land, especially land close to water, like Massachusetts, Florida, California, and Texas, and other places that border water, however, this will happen gradually. This is a picture of temperature increases in 2050.  CO2 (72%), Methane (18%), and Nitrous Oxide (9%) are the three biggest man-made contributing gases in global warming. Water vapor (55%), clouds (17%), and other gases (28%) make up the natural greenhouse gases. The 8 sectors are the 8 top contributing things humans do to make these gases.
 * Sector: || % of annual greenhouse gases || ||
 * Power Stations || 21.3% || ||
 * Industrial Processes || 16.8% || ||
 * Transportation Fuels || 14.0% || ||
 * Agricultural Byproducts || 12.5% || ||
 * Fossil Fuel Retrieval, Processing, Distribution || 11.3% || ||
 * Residential, Commercial, and Other Sources || 10.3% || ||
 * Land Use and Biomass Burning || 10.0% || ||
 * Waste Disposal and Treatment || 03.4% ||  ||



“Since 1860, global CO2 emissions have increased by more than 1000%” “Humans are changing the CO2 cycle by burning fossil fuels and biomass (e.g., forests). These increases in CO2 are linked to increased warming in our atmosphere” “This rise in CO2 will increase the Earth's temperature… and will impact the climate that we actually "feel" in the future.”

Global Warming: Local Effects

Global warming has many effects on us. Massachusetts loses 65 acres of land to rising sea levels each year. If the water keeps rising, water may rise to Boston, and submerge Cape Cod. We would also get more rain on rainy days, snow on snowy days, and it will be hotter on hot days. Heat related deaths would increase 50% (in Boston during a normal summer) by 2050. There are even some effects already happening, like a precipitation increase of 20% in some parts of the state. Yet another effect of Global Warming, is that it expands the habitat of disease-carrying insects, making it easier for them to spread diseases, including Lyme disease, the West Nile Virus, Malaria, and more.

What You Can Do Differently

 We can all do something to take a part in stopping global warming. We can: Find a way to more efficiently use solar power, use hybrid cars, replace our light bulbs with energy efficient ones, Use AC and heating less, and when we do, set them 2 degrees higher. We can clean and replace filters, turn off appliances- don’t leave them on/in standby, insolate your home to keep heat in, cover pots while cooking, take quick showers instead of baths, recycle, buy fresh foods instead of frozen correctly maintain cars, and have them checked every once in a while. We can all do something to help stop Global warming, whether it’s setting your AC lower, re-using water bottles, or maintaining a car.

If you were to insulate your home, it would save you about 25% of your home heating bill, and about 2,000 pounds of carbon a year. Heating and cooling account for about 50% of energy used in homes today. It costs about 920$ for heat made with a gas furnace, and insulation would save 230$ a year. If you did this for 10 years, you have 2,300$ saved. With this money, you could put lights on timers, pay someone to maintain your car, buy energy efficient lightbulbs, and more!

Summary

This webpage is all about Global Warming, and its effects on Earth. The first part has a picture of the Greenhouse effect, and an explanation of how it works. The next part shows temperature increases on Earth. After that, are contributing factors to Global Warming, like carbon. Local effects and what you can do differently to help stop global warming is after that. Help save the Earth, by using less electiricty, and in turn, less gasses!

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