There are several reasons why the Earth temperature and global warming are occurring. One major reason is that the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is increasing. The rate of increase increased rapidly after the industrial revolution. Since then, it has continued to rise.

Earth Surface Temperature

The second reason is that the Earth’s surface is getting warmer. The planet has experienced a gradual increase in temperature since the late 20th century. The rate of warming has increased during the last few decades. The third factor is that the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing.

CO2 Levels on Earth

Atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide have increased as much as 30% in the last 150 years. The last factor is that the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere is increasing.

For water vapor is a natural greenhouse gas. Moreover it increases the heat trapping effect of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
The most important factor contributing to global warming is the Greenhouse Effect. The Greenhouse Effect is a natural phenomenon that occurs because of three things: radiant energy from the Sun, infrared radiation from Earth and other celestial bodies, and gases that trap this energy and re-emit it in different wavelengths of infrared light.

As the Earth’s surface warms up, the amount of infrared solar radiation that is re-emitted by the Earth increases. This warming causes an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Water vapor and other gases in the atmosphere. For they absorb this extra heat then release it in infrared form. All in a process known as “radiative equilibrium.” The greater the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere, the more heat it traps. All so the greater the increase in carbon dioxide.

For the result is an increased amount of infrared radiation being re-emitted back into space. This warming results in an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The effect is magnified especially when these substances are present together in the atmosphere. The schematic above depicts this process.

Warmer

The Earth has been getting warmer in recent decades, with the rate of increase accelerating in the last few years. Scientists are concerned that if this trend continues, global warming will have a significant effect on the planet. The increase in greenhouse gases is causing the planet to warm up. Although global warming is serious and can have devastating consequences for the global environment, there are ways to bring temperatures back down if it becomes necessary.

Earth’s temperature has risen by an average of 0.14° Fahrenheit (0.08° Celsius) per decade since 1880. That’s about 2° F in total.

The rate of warming since 1981. For it is more than twice as fast. That’s 0.32° F (0.18° C) per decade.

For further information on Frequently Asked Questions about Global Warming from the Federal Government. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) please click the link. Let it not be said that the Federal Government does not believe global warming is an issue.