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Earth Science

Final Project
Michelle Thompson
University of Phoenix

Global Warming
Global warming refers to climate change that causes an increase in the average temperature of the lower atmosphere. Global warming can have many different causes, but it is most commonly associated with human interference, specifically the release of excessive amounts of greenhouse gases. (EPA, 2006)
Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), water vapor, and fluorinated gases, act like a greenhouse around the earth. This means that they let the heat from the Sun into the atmosphere, but do not allow the heat to escape back into space. The more greenhouse gases there are, the larger the percentage of heat that is trapped inside the earth’s atmosphere. The earth could not exist in its present state (that is, with life) without the presence of some naturally occurring greenhouse gases, such as CO2, CH4, and water vapor. Without any greenhouse gases no heat would be trapped in the atmosphere, so the earth would be extremely cold. (NASA, 2002)
In the past few years global warming and a series of meteorological phenomena have attracted people’s attention. Many people have been wondering how these events will affect life on Earth. Global changes in climate are extremely variable in different parts of the world. Their affects vary according to place and species. For example, robins in the Colorado Rockies migrate to higher altitudes when climate signals tell them spring breeding season has arrived. Also, plant species that typically bloom early are now blooming even earlier in the spring, effectively extending their blooming season. Plant species that typically bloom early are now blooming even earlier in the spring, effectively extending their blooming season. Scientists also believe that some ecological changes can take place gradually until they reach a certain critical point. At this time a sudden catastrophic event could...