Global Warming

What is Global Warming?

Global warming means that the average temperature of earth is raising either naturally or through an increase in greenhouse gases.

What are the effects of global warming?

While Scientists can't prove why global warming is happening, they can predict the consequences of it. Here is a list of some changes that can result from the earth getting hotter.

• New coastlines would have to be drawn on maps! Water expands as it is heated, and because oceans absorb more heat than land, sea levels around the world would rise. This could cause cities on coasts to flood.
• Temperate places that now receive frequent rain and snowfall might become hotter and drier. Inland lakes and rivers could shrink, and forest fires could occur more often. Frequent periods of drought could make it hard to raise crops for food. There could also be less water available for drinking, showering, irrigation, and even swimming pools!
• Plants and animals unable to take the heat may go extinct and be replaced by heat-tolerant species.
• Hurricanes, tornadoes and other storms caused by changes in heat and water evaporation might occur more frequently and be more intense.

How can we stop global warming?

It is very important that we do all we can to keep global warming at a minimum. There are even some things that you can do to help slow this process:

• Walk, ride your bicycle, or take the bus instead of always going by car.
• Don't waste electricity (turn off the lights, the radio, the TV and the computer when you're not using them).
• Remember the 3R's: reduce, reuse, and/or recycle all kinds of items.
• Plant trees to help absorb excess CO2, and to provide shade and windbreaks to keep buildings at more even temperatures so they will require less energy for heating or cooling.