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The earth's climate is changing because of human activities altering the chemical composition of the atmosphere. There are three main gases contributing to the changes: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide. Although we do not know how they are directly affecting the earth.
The earth's weather and climate is controlled by the sun. The earth radiates this energy back into space. Water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases trap this out going energy, retaining the heat. With out these gases the earth would be to cold to live on. Thanks to the natural greenhouse effect F. the earth's temperature is about 60°
Most of our problems started around the industrial revolution. The main problems are increased levels of certain heat trapping gases causing more heat to come to stay in the atmosphere. Sulfate aerosols is able to reflect the heat before it enters our earth but it is short lived and varies regionally.
Human activities, such as driving and industrialization, are the reason there is a increased level of carbon dioxide. Although plants produce 10 times that amount. The fossil fuels used to run cars, heat homes and power factories are responsible for 98% of carbon dioxide produce by humans and 24% of the methane. Now we are not asking that you never drive but just pay attention to you environment before it is to late.
The world's temperature has increased about 1° in the last century. And the 10 warmest recorded years accrued in the last 15 years. Snow coverage and icebergs have decreased causing a 4-8 inch sea level in the last ten years. also instead of the snow extreme rainfall has occurred lately due to higher levels of evaporation.
in the next century the temperature is expected to increase 10°F. Farming with have to deal with droughts and low soil moisture. Intense rainstorms will be more frequent. The sea level will rise almost two feet along the coastal regions.
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