F A C T S
Sources: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. http://unfccc.int/2860.php (accessed December 22, 2009).
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Carbon Dioxide: Greenhouse Gas Emissions." http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/co2.html (accessed December 22, 2009).
- Earth's climate has changed dramatically many times in the past and will almost certainly change many times in the future, over geological time
- Earth's climate is still changing. A large body of research shows that Earth is gradually warming. Although regions vary, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), between 1905 and 2005 the overall average global surface temperature on Earth increased by approximately 0.74°C (1.33°F).
- The vast majority of researchers are convinced the data show unequivocally that global warming is directly related to the increase in greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide.
- The plants warm the air, but the warm air cannot escape, so the temperature in the greenhouse rises.
- As the surface warms, it also emits infrared radiation. However, since the temperature of Earth is much lower than the temperature of the surface of the sun, the infrared radiation emitted by the ground, building, rocks, and plants has a much longer wavelength.
- The natural greenhouse effect is a good thing. If it were not for the greenhouse effect, Earth's average surface temperature would be well below the freezing point of water and life could not exist.
- Recent rapidly rising temperatures on Earth are due to increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These gases have added to the natural greenhouse effect, destabilizing Earth's clima
te.
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