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 * __ YOUR GUIDE TO GLOBAL WARMING __

THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT ** The Greenhouse Effect is what keeps our planet warm so we can survive. The Greenhouse Effect is when the sun’s rays travel through the atmosphere to the Earth and s ome of the energy is reflected and sent back to space. The rest is kept inside our atmosphere and warms our planet so we can survive when the sun is not shining on us during the night and we do not freeze. The three main gases that cause the greenhouse effect are carbon dioxide, methane, and H2O. If these gases in the atmosphere didn’t trap the heat, we would not be able to live on Earth.

 **GLOBAL WARMING: THE BIG PICTURE ** Global warming is the result of us releasing heat trapping gases, or greenhouse houses, by doing things such as burning fossil fuels. These gases such as carbon dioxide increase the greenhouse effect the atmosphere has on Earth and therefore, increase the temperature. In the past 100 years, Earth’s average temperature has increased 1 degree Fahrenheit. Global warming not only increases the temperature, it has other effects such as melting of polar ice caps and decrease in the amount of polar bears, warmer waters and more hurricanes. The polar ice caps melting cause the ocean to expand and cover some of the land, therefore, destroying human developments. Hurricanes can also destroy our developments. Many species will become extinct. These are just a few of the many concerning effects global warming will have on our Earth.

** GLOBAL WARMING: CONTRIBUTING FACTORS **

 ** Burning fossil fuels- creates carbon dioxide( planes, cars, trains, factories, aerosol) **  ** Carbon dioxide- 74% **  ** Methane (cow flatulence, bacteria from bogs, growing rice paddies on flooded fields) **  ** Methane- 16% **  ** Nitrous Oxide (soil and manure management, sewage treatment, combustion of fossil fuels, making of nitric and adipic acids) **  ** Nitrous Oxide- 9% **  ** High Global Warming Potential Gases~ several gases considered to affect global warming (emissions from industrial processes) **  ** High GWP Gases- 1% ** Our greenhouse gas emissions have been increasing globally for more than a hundred years. GLOBAL WARMING: LOCAL EFFECTS **  ** -coastal communities ruined~ denser population in our town **  ** -warmer temperatures **  ** - Less nor’easters and hurricanes that could destroy our towns **  ** -towns could become cities and more densely populated because Boston could get covered in water **  ** -skiing sites decline ** <span style="display: block; font-size: 15pt; color: #2fc400; font-family: Arial; text-align: center; msofontkerning: 0pt;"> ** -dandelion and poison ivy production will greatly increase because of the conditions ** <span style="display: block; font-size: 15pt; color: #2fc400; font-family: Arial; text-align: center; msofontkerning: 0pt;"> ** -More mosquitoes- more will live in pools because there will be less water and there will be fewer predators because of the dryness ** <span style="display: block; font-size: 15pt; color: #2fc400; font-family: Arial; text-align: center; msofontkerning: 0pt;"> ** - less animal species will exist because some will not be able to survive in the conditions ** <span style="display: block; font-size: 15pt; color: #2fc400; font-family: Arial; text-align: center; msofontkerning: 0pt;"> ** - More fires because of dryness ** ** -Lyme disease and West Nile will spread more because there will be no more cold weather to kill ticks or mosquitoes ** <span style="display: block; font-size: 15pt; color: #2fc400; font-family: Arial; text-align: center; msofontkerning: 0pt;"> ** -weather will become warmer ** <span style="display: block; font-size: 24pt; color: #009900; font-family: Baveuse; text-align: center; msobidifontfamily: Arial; msofontkerning: 0pt;"> **<span style="font-size: 24pt; color: #009900; font-family: Baveuse; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">HOW CAN YOU HELP? ...BUY A HYBRID! ** **
 * [[image:http://www.earth-policy.org/Indicators/CO2/CO2small.gif]]
 * <span style="font-size: 15pt; color: #009900; font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hybrids **** are becoming more and more popular as we learn more about what ****<span style="font-size: 15pt; color: #009900; font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">global warming **** is doing to our planet. It’s destroying the world as we know it and we need to stop it. Hybrids run on the combine power of an electric motor and gasoline. A study showed hybrids create only 294 grams of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) per gallon which is 158 grams less than a traditional car. They create less ****<span style="font-size: 15pt; color: #009900; font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">greenhouse gas emissions **** than regular cars and are some of the ****<span style="font-size: 15pt; color: #009900; font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">most fuel efficient cars **** . This allows them to greatly increase the miles per gallon. Hybrids usually get about 50-60 miles per gallon and use only one third of the amount of gas a non-hybrid car uses. Hybrids are very quiet when they run. Hybrids do not need to be plugged in and they recharge as you drive. Also, although the cost of a hybrid may be greater than a normal car, the government offers anybody who uses a hybrid a tax rebate. Some hybrids offer a rebate of up to $3,400. A ****<span style="font-size: 15pt; color: #009900; font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">hybrid car **** is a great investment because even thought you will spend a lot of money up front, the money you save on gas will keep adding up.

**<span style="font-size: 24pt; color: #0cbc14; font-family: Baveuse; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Summary ** [|Click here to view a Global Warming Animation] " What is Global Warming? ." __ National Geographic ____. __ 1996-2009 . June 1st, 2009. < http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-overview.html (No author ). "Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect." Earthguide (Scripps Institute). 1999-2009. June 1 st, 2009. < http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/greenhouse/ > (no author)
 * If you are looking to purchase a new car, a hybrid is the way to go. You will be ****<span style="font-size: 15pt; color: #009900; font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">helping the environment **** and helping yourself save money in the long run. Most hybrids come with warranties that will replace any of the parts if they break. When you are finished with your hybrid, you have another opportunity to save money because of its fantastic resale value. Also, using a hybrid decreases our dependence on ****<span style="font-size: 15pt; color: #009900; font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">fossil fuels **** which decreases their price. The number of hybrids bought each year is rapidly increasing and so is the selection. There are so many kinds for you to choose from. Whether you want to do your part in helping save the environment or just drive a cool car that will save you money, buying a hybrid is your answer. **
 * The greenhouse effect is essential for us to survive. It keeps the Earth warm by trapping some of the heat that comes from the sun into the atmosphere. Global warming is when gases emitted known as greenhouse gases increase the greenhouse effect and make the Earth warmer. The main contributers are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and other high global warming potential gases. There are many local effects from global warming such as hurricanes, less nor'easters, and more ticks and mosquitoes. To do your part and help stop global warming you should purchase a hybrid for your new car. They may cost more, but you will save money on gas because it runs on the combine power or electricity and gas. It emitts 158 less grams of carbon dioxide than a traditional car. Global Warming is going to ruin our world if we don't put a stop to it now. **
 * Bibliography!**

"Greenhouse Gases." __NOAA Satellite and Information Service.__ August 20th, 2008. June 2nd, 2009 < http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/gases.html > (no author)

"The Top 100 Effects of Global Warming." __Center for American Progress.__ September 24th, 2007. June 3rd, 2009 < http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/brochures/greenhouse/Chapter1.htm > (No author)

" Massachusetts Hybrid vehicle purchase Tax Incentives ." __Why Buy Hybrid.__ October 11th, 2006. June 4th, 2009. <http://www.whybuyhybrid.com/Massachusetts-Hybrid-vehicle-purchase-Tax-Incentives.htm> (no author)

"Hybrid Car Facts." __Carjunky.__ September 9, 2007. June 3rd, 2009.< ttp://news.carjunky.com/alternative_fuel_vehicles/hybrid-car-facts-cde867.shtml> (no author) "Global Warming Map Animation." __Geology.com.__ December 20th. June 8th, 2009. <http://geology.com/news/2006/12/global-warming-map-animation.html> (no author)

"Archive for May, 2006." __the reality tunnel.__ Friday May 26th, 2006. June 8th, 2009 http://blogs.terrorware.com/geoff/2006/05/ (no author)

"Global Warming: Historical Temperatures." __zFacts.com.__ April 25th, 2006. June 8th, 2009 <http://zfacts.com/p/202.html> (no author)