Do you think we can stop global warming?

Question

This question is pondering in my mind because we are studying the topic in science.

It is hard to deny global warming IS occcuring around us everyday.

Do you think well be able to stop it and control it, before its too late?

Answer 1

Global warming -- a gradual increase in planet-wide temperatures -- is now well documented and accepted by scientists as fact. A panel convened by the U.S National Research Council, the nation's premier science policy body, in June 2006 voiced a "high level of confidence" that Earth is the hottest it has been in at least 400 years, and possibly even the last 2,000 years. Studies indicate that the average global surface temperature has increased by approximately 0.5-1.0°F (0.3-0.6°C) over the last century. This is the largest increase in surface temperature in the last 1,000 years and scientists are predicting an even greater increase over this century. This warming is largely attributed to the increase of greenhouse gases (primarily carbon dioxide and methane) in the Earth's upper atmosphere caused by human burning of fossil fuels, industrial, farming, and deforestation activities.

Average global temperatures may increase by 1.4-5.8ºC (that's 2.5 - 10.4º F) by the end of the 21st century. Although the numbers sound small, they can trigger significant changes in climate. (The difference between global temperatures during an Ice Age and an ice-free period is only about 5ºC.) Besides resulting in more hot days, many scientists believe an increase in temperatures may lead to changes in precipitation and weather patterns. Warmer ocean water may result in more intense and frequent tropical storms and hurricanes. Sea levels are also expected to increase by 0.09 - 0.88 m. in the next century, mainly from melting glaciers and expanding seawater . Global warming may also affect wildlife and species that cannot survive in warmer environments may become extinct. Finally, human health is also at stake, as global warming may result in the spreading of certain diseases such as malaria, the flooding of major cities, a greater risk of heat stroke for individuals, and poor air quality.

Climate change is very likely having an impact now on our planet and its life, according to the latest installment of a report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). And the future problems caused by rising seas, growing deserts, and more frequent droughts all look set to affect the developing world more than rich countries, they add. The report is the second chapter of the IPCC's Fourth Assessment -- the most comprehensive summary yet of research into the causes and effects of climate change. To read more, visit Effects of climate change tallied up.

Factors

Greenhouse Gases

The increase in greenhouse gases caused by human activity is often cited as one of the major causes of global warming. These greenhouse gases reabsorb heat reflected from the Earth's surface, thus trapping the heat in our atmosphere. This natural process is essential for life on Earth because it plays an important role in regulating the Earth's temperature. However, over the last several hundred years, humans have been artificially increasing the concentration of these gases, mainly carbon dioxide and methane in the Earth's atmosphere. These gases build up and prevent additional thermal radiation from leaving the Earth, thereby trapping excess heat.

Solar Variability & Global Warming

Some uncertainty remains about the role of natural variations in causing climate change. Solar variability certainly plays a minor role, but it looks like only a quarter of the recent variations can be attributed to the Sun. At most. During the initial discovery period of global warming, the magnitude of the influence of increased activity on the Sun was not well determined.

Solar irradiance changes have been measured reliably by satellites for only 30 years. These precise observations show changes of a few tenths of a percent that depend on the level of activity in the 11-year solar cycle. Changes over longer periods must be inferred from other sources. Estimates of earlier variations are important for calibrating the climate models. While a component of recent global warming may have been caused by the increased solar activity of the last solar cycle, that component was very small compared to the effects of additional greenhouse gases. According to a NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) press release, "...the solar increases do not have the ability to cause large global temperature increases...greenhouse gases are indeed playing the dominant role..." The Sun is once again less bright as we approach solar minimum, yet global warming continues.

HUMANS MADE THIS MESS AND WE ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN CLEAN IT UP! SAVE THE WORLD! SEA LEVELS WILL RISE, MORE INTENSE HURRICANES, AND DIRTY AIR! RECYCLE: PAPER, PLASTIC, AND BOTTLES! *YES WE CAN STOP GLOBAL WARMING!*

Answer 2

http"//www.socyberty.com/Activism/First-...  THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TO DELETE GLOBAL WARMING.

Answer 3

We can do anything its just going to take time but it WILL be fixed i mean if we all do a part we can fix it did u know that if every home in America replaced 4 light bulbs with cfls then it would be like taking 7 million cars of the road forever

Answer 4

We should be skeptical about "scientists" who predict climate future based on computer models. People are trying to play God by saying, 'Oh, this computer model told me 50 years from now that this IS going to happen.' That's an arguable point. and I think we should question it. But to say that someone has absolute knowledge of the future seems to me to be playing something more than a mortal.

There is a difference between thinking something is going to happen and deducing something is going to happen. But saying, 'No, I know it; the debate is over' is just plain stupid to say you know something's going to happen 50 years from now

Answer 5

Stop? Not anytime soon.

Slow down and decrease the amount of mitigation that will be needed? Yes.

Answer 6

no , it is the earths natural process that we humans did not creat. it is ignorant of us to even think of the concept that we did . we are just another animal placed on this earth and every couple thousand years give or take a little more  the earth changes. we can adapt we have done this for thousands of years.

Answer 7

For all we know, out minor carbon output is stalling another ice age.

Answer 8

Obviously we can't stop a process that we have drastically increased (there are natural cycles but we have dramatically increased the warming).  The best thing we can do like many others said, mitigate.  I think the first step is getting all of the uninformed people who think its a myth to understand what is really going on.  After that I think some progress can be made.  

But I guess there are people who still think the moon landing is a myth.....

Answer 9

yes, only if we work this out together :).

Answer 10

yes , just get on with life, the world went through the same thing in the thirties,  Global warming is a figment of Poloticians` imagination, ,, another reason for more taxes.

it`s all Bullshit

Answer 11

Like it has done time and time again, global warming will stop without any help from us. The earth will begin to cool, again just as it's done for eons. CO2 is not a significant driver in climate change. Too bad though, if it were, we might be able to save ourselves from a coming ice age. I guess we'll just have to adapt, as animals have done time and time again.

Answer 12

No. Most of the hype about global warming is from people who are uninformed. All they hear is that the earth is heating up and we're all gonna die unless they do something, so they subconciously panic. Global warming is a NATURAL process; the earth goes through warming periods and cooling periods where it heats up or cools down (respectively). Right now we are in a warming period, so the earth is naturally heating up. Humans are making it heat up FASTER than it would naturally, with pollution. So we can slow the process, but no, we cannot stop it.

Answer 13

I don't think we can start it or stop it.

Answer 14

i beleave we can make it better .... if we all picht in

Answer 15

No, depending of course on what "too late" is.  What the models have shown is that the consequences will over-shoot, meaning even after we stop contributing to the problem the symptoms will continue to get worse  - and as ice melts the problems and temperatures will accelerate.  This is why people researching it have been so urgent in their message since the 1960s.  40 years and we have still not fully reacted!

It is difficult because it will take a world wide solution.  This is different than, say, our air and water polution problems which we did finally largely address as a nation.  We didn't have to care whether other countries stopped poluting.  The continuing problem is that many people are totally ignorant on the issue (just read in YA) and/or don't care because they can't imagine the problems or they expect to be dead by then.

Answer 16

Deny global warming.  It is a scam created by the governments aroun the globe to provoke panic and to control societies.

My 2 cents.

Answer 17

Can we stop the Winter or Summer from coming ?  There is only one way that I've read about that would provide almost instant relief from "global warming" but I'm fairly certain no one is willing to give it a try.

If you don't like the weather just wait another millennium