Global Warming FAQ

[pmbryant]

From the Union of Concerned Scientists:

http://www.ucsusa.org/global_environment/global_warming/page.cfm?pageID=497

Frequently Asked Questions
about Global Warming
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


What does the greenhouse effect have to do with global warming?
What is causing global warming?
What is the best source of scientific information on global warming?
Is global warming already happening?
Are humans contributing to global warming?
How much warmer is the Earth likely to become?
Would a temperature rise of a couple degrees really change the global climate?
Is global warming connected to the hole in the ozone layer?
Is there anything we can do about global warming?
Will responding to global warming be harmful to our economy?
Why is there a difference between the surface and upper atmosphere temperature records?
More questions?

(snip)

Would a temperature rise of a couple degrees really change the global climate?

An increase of a few degrees won't simply make for pleasantly warmer temperatures around the globe. Even a modest rise of 2° to 3°F (1.1-1.7°C) could have dramatic effects. In the last 10,000 years, the Earth's average temperature hasn't varied by more than 1.8°F (1.0°C). Temperatures of only 5° to 9°F cooler than those today prevailed at the end of the last Ice Age, in which the Northeast US was covered by more than 3,000 feet of ice.

Scientists predict that continued global warming on the order of 2.5-10.4 degrees Fahrenheit over the next 100 years (as projected in the IPCC's Third Assessment Report) is likely to result in:



* a rise in sea level between 3.5 and 34.6 in. (9-88cm) leading to more coastal erosion, flooding during storms and permanent inundation


* severe stress on many forests, wetlands, alpine regions, and other natural ecosystems


* greater threats to human health as mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects and rodents spread diseases over larger geographical regions


* disruption of agriculture in some parts of the world due to increased temperature, water stress and sea-level rise in low-lying areas such as Bangladesh or the Mississippi River delta.

(snip)

[mmm]

1. Excellent source on Global warming

I needed that.

[Boreas]

2. Here's another

from the BBC:

http://newssearch.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/sci_tech/2000/climate_change/default.stm

[Boreas]

3. And one more

for good measure.

http://www.megastories.com/warming/index.shtml

[Jake Wagner]

4. Global Warming.

The world's reserves of fosil fuels are very low. Even if we burnt all the gas/oil/coal etc in the next ten years, the amount of CO2 released in to the atmostphere would not be enough to create the so called "green-house effect".

Graham.

[seasat]

5. That is completely false.

Do you have any research that is not funded by the fossil fuel industries to back this up or are you just making it up?

Without the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the earth would have an average temperature of -18° C. We've increased CO2 by 30% and methane by 100%. Why would not the long accepted part of the natural climate regulation of this earth by greenhouse gases be enhanced by increases in the quantity of these gases?

[CarlBallard]

6. So your non linked screed

with no evidence to the contrary should be enough to disprove the Union of Concerned Scientists? After all Jake, or is it Graham, why back up your argument that nearly 100% of the scientific community is wrong with facts or figures?