Global warming

Definition

Global warming refers to the long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to human activities, primarily the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. This warming impacts various components of the climate system, including atmospheric composition, energy balance, and climate classifications, resulting in significant changes to weather patterns and extreme events.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The primary cause of global warming is the increase in greenhouse gas emissions from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes.
2. Global warming leads to changes in Earth's energy budget by altering the balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing heat energy, resulting in a net gain of heat.
3. The phenomenon of albedo plays a crucial role in global warming; as ice and snow cover diminish, less sunlight is reflected back into space, leading to further heating.
4. Climate classification systems are being reevaluated in light of global warming, as shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns can lead to redefinitions of climate zones.
5. The effects of global warming include more frequent and severe weather events such as hurricanes, heatwaves, and heavy rainfall, which can significantly impact ecosystems and human societies.

Review Questions

• How does the chemical composition of the atmosphere contribute to global warming?
  • The chemical composition of the atmosphere plays a crucial role in global warming through the presence of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. These gases trap heat from the Earth's surface and prevent it from escaping back into space. As human activities release more greenhouse gases, particularly from burning fossil fuels and land-use changes, the concentration of these gases increases. This enhanced greenhouse effect results in higher global temperatures and associated climate changes.
• Discuss how albedo affects climate change and contributes to the process of global warming.
  • Albedo refers to the reflectivity of Earth's surface; lighter surfaces like ice and snow reflect more sunlight than darker surfaces like oceans or forests. As global temperatures rise due to global warming, ice and snow cover decrease, leading to lower albedo values. This means more solar energy is absorbed rather than reflected, which further intensifies warming. The feedback loop created by reduced albedo contributes significantly to the acceleration of global warming by enhancing heat absorption.
• Evaluate the evidence supporting global warming and its implications for future weather patterns and climate zones.
  • Evidence for global warming includes rising average temperatures, melting glaciers and polar ice caps, increasing sea levels, and shifts in species distributions. This substantial body of evidence indicates that the climate is changing rapidly due to anthropogenic factors. The implications for future weather patterns include an increase in extreme weather events, altered precipitation patterns, and changes in ecosystems. Additionally, climate zones are likely to shift as some areas become warmer or wetter while others may face droughts or other stressors due to ongoing climate changes.

Related terms

Greenhouse gases: Gases in the atmosphere that trap heat, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming.

Carbon footprint: The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, or product, usually measured in carbon dioxide equivalents.

Climate change: A broader term that encompasses global warming as well as other changes in climate patterns caused by human activity or natural processes.