Global Climate Change

The earth has undergone period of warming and cooling throughout its history. However, for the last few centuries, there has been a drastic increase in global temperatures, outside of the earth's cyclic norms. Warming occurs when atmospheric greenhouse gasses, like carbon dioxide become trapped between the earth and the ozone layer. Carbon dioxide can absorb solar energy of long infrared wavelengths, preventing it from traveling back into outer space, thus increasing atmospheric temperatures.

Although this is a natural process called the greenhouse effect the sharp increase in the amount of carbon dioxide present in the earth's atmosphere caused by the burning of coal and petroleum, is not. The results of this temperature increase can be see around the globe.

For example, in the Arctic, polar ice caps are melting resulting in sea level rise and island submersion. This not only threatens coastal cities, but also can increase the occurrence of extreme meteorological events, like droughts, hurricanes, and severe storms.

Also migration and breeding patterns of many animals are occurring earlier in the year than they did decades ago and the size of species distributions are decreasing.

As global warming becomes recognized by more skeptics, the increase in environmentally friendly practices by industries may provide opportunities to reverse human impact and help to avoid severe consequences of global climate change.