Is Global Warming a reality? Will there be more serious disasters and will they be more frequent? And can human activities change the Earth´s climate system? These are questions that everyone is asking in these days. Global warming has become familiar to many people
as one of the most important environmental issues of our day. Vice President Al Gore has divined that the threat of global warming, resulting from human production of greenhouse gases, is „the most serious problem our civilization faces.“ A series of studies on the impacts of climate change have systematically shown that the older literature overestimated climate damages by failing to allow for adaptation and for climate benefits. The scientific evidence is now overwhelming, that climate change presents very serious global risks, and it demands an urgent global response. It threatens the basic elements of life for people around the world.
Access to water, food production, health, and use of land and the environment. Global warming is a reality. The global temperature has risen significantly over the last hundred years. In this past century, the temperature rise was faster and lasted longer than any period over the past ten thousend years. It is one of the most pressing environmental, social and economical problems facing the planet. Numerous studies have already reported changes in nature driven by global warming. The results of a recent study by American researchers suggests that, because of a rapid warming trend over the past decades, the Earth is now reaching, and exceeding, the warmest levels in the current interglacial period, which has lasted nearly 12,000 years. In figure 1 from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, you can see the global variations on the Earth´s surface temperature for the past 140 years, and for the past 1000 years in the Northern Hemisphere. On current trends, average global
temperatures will rise by 2 - 3°C within the next fifty years or so.
The Earth will be committed to several degrees more warming if emissions continue to grow. This may not sound very much, especially when it is compared with normal temperature variations from day to night or between one day and the next. But you have to remember that
it is not the temperature at one place but the temperature average over the whole world. Rising temperatures may sound appealing to people who live in cooler climates, but an increase in temperature will lead to global climate change.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction and overview
- 2. Modelling the climate
- 3. Causes of Global Warming
- 4. Effects of global warming
- 4.1. Sea level rise
- 4.2 More extreme weather
- 4.3 Increased Evaporation
- 4.4 Ocean currents
- 4.5 Glacier Retreat
- 5. The Impacts of climate change
- 5.1 Economic Impacts
- 5.1.1 Agriculture and food supply
- 5.1.2 Cost of more extreme weather
- 5.1.3 Development
- 5.1.4 Migration
- 5.1.5 Other Sectors
- 5.2 Environmental Consequences
- 5.3 Health
- 5.4 Impacts of Glacier Retreat
- 5.5 Fresh Water Supply
- 5.1 Economic Impacts
Objectives and Key Themes
This work aims to explore the multifaceted aspects of global warming, examining its causes, effects, and consequences. It investigates the scientific evidence supporting the reality of global warming and its impact on various sectors, from the environment and economy to human health.
- The scientific reality of global warming and the supporting evidence.
- The causes of global warming and the role of human activity.
- The diverse effects of global warming on various environmental and societal systems.
- The economic consequences of global warming and associated climate change.
- The potential impacts of global warming on human health and well-being.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction and overview: This chapter establishes the context of global warming as a critical environmental issue. It highlights the scientific consensus surrounding the phenomenon, citing evidence of rising global temperatures and the potential for severe consequences. The chapter underscores the urgency of addressing global warming and its multifaceted impacts on human society and the environment, emphasizing the consensus amongst scientists that human activity is a significant contributing factor. The introduction provides a foundation for the subsequent chapters, setting the stage for a deeper examination of the various aspects of climate change and its consequences.
2. Modelling the climate: This chapter delves into the methods used to model and predict climate change. It traces the history of climate modeling, from early attempts to modern sophisticated computer simulations. The chapter explains the complexity of the Earth's climate system, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the atmosphere, ocean, land, ice, and biosphere. The chapter uses this to explain the limitations and uncertainties inherent in climate modeling while underscoring its importance as a predictive tool for understanding future climate scenarios.
Keywords
Global warming, climate change, greenhouse gases, climate modeling, economic impacts, environmental consequences, health impacts, sea level rise, extreme weather, glacier retreat, adaptation, mitigation.
Frequently Asked Questions: Comprehensive Language Preview on Global Warming
What topics are covered in this document?
This document provides a comprehensive overview of global warming, including its causes, effects, and consequences. It covers the scientific evidence supporting the reality of global warming, its impact on various sectors (environment, economy, human health), and explores methods for modeling and predicting climate change.
What is the Table of Contents?
The document includes the following chapters: 1. Introduction and overview; 2. Modelling the climate; 3. Causes of Global Warming; 4. Effects of global warming (Sea level rise, More extreme weather, Increased Evaporation, Ocean currents, Glacier Retreat); 5. The Impacts of climate change (Economic Impacts - Agriculture and food supply, Cost of more extreme weather, Development, Migration, Other Sectors; Environmental Consequences; Health; Impacts of Glacier Retreat; Fresh Water Supply).
What are the main objectives and key themes?
The main objectives are to explore the multifaceted aspects of global warming, examine its causes, effects, and consequences, and investigate the scientific evidence supporting its reality and impact on various sectors. Key themes include the scientific reality of global warming, its causes (including human activity), its diverse effects on environmental and societal systems, its economic consequences, and its potential impacts on human health.
What are the chapter summaries?
Chapter 1 provides an introduction and overview, establishing the context of global warming and highlighting the scientific consensus. Chapter 2 delves into climate modeling methods, explaining the complexity of the Earth's climate system and the limitations of predictive tools. Further chapters detail the causes and effects of global warming, including impacts on various sectors and systems.
What are the keywords associated with this document?
Keywords include: Global warming, climate change, greenhouse gases, climate modeling, economic impacts, environmental consequences, health impacts, sea level rise, extreme weather, glacier retreat, adaptation, mitigation.
What is the intended audience for this document?
This document is intended for academic use, supporting the analysis of themes related to global warming in a structured and professional manner. It is a language preview, providing a comprehensive overview of the content.
Where can I find more information on this topic?
This document is a summary. Further research into the cited topics will allow for a more in-depth exploration of the issues covered.
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- Ralph Fuchs (Autor), 2007, Global Warming - Impacts and consequences of Global Warming, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/78116
