Envimaz

 __ Green Team __  __ The Greenhouse Effect __ What is the Greenhouse Effect? The Greenhouse Effect begins when some of the sun’s energy goes through the atmosphere, while the rest is reflected back into space. The energy that goes through the atmosphere heats up the Earth. The Earth radiates the heat back out. The greenhouse gases trap some of the heat. This warms the Earth. Is it good or bad? This is a good thing for our planet. Why is it necessary for our survival? This is good because if we didn’t have it we would burn. The sun would be able to reach us without the gases holding some of them back. This would then cause us to roast. How does it affect our planet? It heats up the Earth.

Global Warming: The Big Picture What is Global Warming? Global Warming is an increase in the Earth’s atmosphere’s average temperature. It increases the number of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. These gases are methane, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. What is causing it to happen? This happens because there are too many greenhouse gases. Why are people concerned? This is concerning people for many reasons. One reason is because if the Earth gets too hot, the ice caps will melt. This will cause the sea levels to rise, drowning homes and businesses all over the world. Another reason is because many plants and animals will become extinct. They won’t be able to adapt to the sudden climate change, and they will end up dying. What is happening as a result of Global Warming? Many animals and plants are becoming extinct. Also, the sea level is rising because the ice caps are melting.

__ Global Warming: Contributing Factors __ What types of gases are contributing to Global Warming? Carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor all contribute to Global Warming. Who or what are causing these gases to form? Many different things cause these gases to form. When we burn fossil fuels like coal and oil, carbon dioxide is released into the Earth’s atmosphere. Methane’s main producers are cows. When they burp and pass gas, they are creating methane. This methane is in our Earth’s atmosphere along with the carbon dioxide and water vapor. How are we impacted locally by Global Warming? Global Warming can impact us locally in many ways. One way is because many animals and plants can become extinct from it. As the climates and temperatures on the Earth change, it becomes harder and harder for the plants in animals in certain regions to adapt. This causes them to die and eventually become extinct. Also, Global warming can change the weather. In the winters, there will be less snow as Global warming continues. There will be less and less until it eventually doesn’t snow at all. This could happen because the Earth’s atmosphere’s average temperature is rising.  What do schools do that impacts the Earth and contributes to Global Warming? Schools use up a lot of energy. Many rooms have multiple lights in them that don’t need to be on at all times. Also children throw out thousands of water bottles each week during school lunches.  Global Warming is constantly affecting billions of people’s daily lives. Some ways are big and some small. There are many ways to help stop it. If each person does a little, we can make a huge difference. By recycling and turning off lightbulbs, we can reduce the number of greenhouse gases. Help save our planet, before it’s too late. __ Bibliography __ "Impacts of Global Warming." Encyclopedia of the Atmospheric Environment__.__. June 1, 2009 < http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/eae/Global_Warming/Younger/Impacts.html> ---"Greenhouse Effect Definition."MyClimatChange.net Your Global Warming Blog__.__ 2009. June 1, 2009
 * Global Warming: **
 * Local Effects **
 * Ways to Change **
 * Why is it important for people to change their ways? ****If people do not start to change their ways now, it will be harder to stop Global warming in the future. **
 * How can they help stop Global Warming in schools? ****Schools can help stop Global Warming by doing many easy things. One thing they can do is turn off all computers and lights when they aren’t being used. These use up a lot of energy and do not need to be on at all times. Also, they can just turn on half of the lights in rooms to conserve energy. Most classrooms have two sets of light switches. The lights that they turn on and off are spread out in the room, so if you turn off one switch, students will still be able to see. Also, you can leave the shades open when it is bright out. This will let the suns light in making it much brighter. You can even go one step further and change the light bulbs in the school to ones that use much less energy. If every house in the United States changed their five most used light bulbs to energy saving ones, we would prevent greenhouse gases equal to the emissions of nearly 10 million cars. Think how much we could prevent if schools changed them too. Next, if school had recycling bins with open tops, any kind of recyclable object will be able to fit in. The bins we have now have small openings that fit only thin bottles. These do not fit most bottles, however, if we had bins that do, many more things would get recycled. Even though it may be very difficult to stop Global Warming, there are many things that people can do to help. In 2002, General Motors saved 180 million dollars just by recycling. Think of how much you can save! **
 * What’s in it for you? **
 * Not only do you get to help save the planet, but you are also rewarded in many other ways. If you choose to turn off your lights, you will save a lot of money. If you decide to get new recycling bins for a school, you can be creative and decorate them. **
 * Summary **

"Climate Change- What You Can Do" __U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.__ February 18, 2009. 5/29/09 < [] >

"Global Warming! Causes Ice Caps to Grow." __Arkansas Journal: Arkansas Conservative Blog.__ February 22, 2008. June 2, 2009. < http://arkjournal.com/2008/02/global-warming-causes-ice-caps-to-grow.html>

"What Up In the Environment?." __Thirteen.__ June 2, 2009 <http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/wue/glossary_air.html>

<span style="display: block; font-size: 36pt; color: #3399ff; font-family: Berylium; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; msobidifontfamily: Arial;">