(c) Anthony K. Grafton 2003

Global Warming

Just about every day, you can read or hear something about global warming. But what does it mean, what do we know (and not know), and what can we do about it all?

Global warming is a term scientists to describe the long term warming of the average temperature of the Earth. By long term we mean over a period of many decades or hundreds of years. And global warming doesn’t refer to a warm spell in Kentucky, it refers to the overall average of the yearly temperature all around the planet.

The vast majority of scientists support the conclusion that the Earth is getting warmer, and that it will warm, on average, at least a couple of degrees over the next century. Now one or two degrees may not seem like much, but that much change could make a surprisingly big difference in many parts of the globe. For instance, it could raise ocean water levels by melting glaciers, resulting in the flooding of large costal areas and islands.

The problem for scientists is that we are basing our predictions on just a hundred or so years of detailed weather information, while the planet itself is around 4.5 billion years old. Its hard enough to predict sunny or rainy weather in Wilmar, Arkansas, two weeks from today, let alone what the global weather will be a hundred years from now. But virtually all available data suggests that the world is ever-so-slightly warming up. And the enormous problems that could result global warming require us to pay attention to it, even if it does not eventually come to pass.

There are many things that could cause global warming, and many of them are natural phenomena completely out of our control. However, nearly all of the world’s scientists tell us that the single best way people can help prevent or slow global warming is by reducing fossil-fuel usage. This means using more renewable energy like solar, wind, and water power, and less oil, gas, and coal. Turning your thermostat up a degree or two this summer may help keep the Earth from running a fever down the road. What other things can you think of to conserve a little energy each day?