Global warming

Global warming describes an increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans. The terms global warming or anthropogenic global warming are also used to describe the theory that increasing temperatures are the result of a strengthing greenhouse effect caused primarily by man-made increases in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Related Topics:
Average temperature - Earth's atmosphere - Ocean - Greenhouse effect - Carbon dioxide - Greenhouse gas

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The scientific opinion on climate change, as expressed by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and explicitly endorsed by the national science academies of the G8 nations, is that the average global temperature has risen 0.6 ± 0.2 °C since the late 19th century, and that "most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities", most prominently the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). A small minority of qualified scientists contest the view that humanity's actions have played a significant role in increasing recent temperatures. Uncertainties do exist regarding how much climate change should be expected in the future, and a hotly contested political and public debate exists over what actions, if any, should be taken in light of global warming.

Related Topics:
Scientific opinion on climate change - UN - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - G8 - C - Attributable to human activities - Methane - Small minority of qualified scientists - Climate change

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Based on the climate models referenced by the IPCC, temperatures may increase by 1.4 to 5.8 °C between 1990 and 2100 http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/reprint/309/5731/100.pdf. This is expected to result in other climate changes including rises in sea level and changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation. Such changes may increase extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, heat waves, and hurricanes, change agricultural yields, or contribute to biological extinctions. Although warming is expected to affect the frequency and magnitude of these events, it is very difficult to connect any particular event to global warming.

Related Topics:
Climate model - Sea level - Precipitation - Flood - Drought - Heat wave - Hurricane - Agricultural - Extinction

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