Global Warming

Global warming has consistently been happening and affecting our planet. Amanda MacMillan answers the basic questions asked about global warming by sharing her knowledge on the subject. Global warming is when the temperature of the earth keeps increasing at alarming rates. In the past 50 years the average global temperature increased at the fastest rate recorded in history. If we do not try and improving the situation now the average temperature will increase about ten degrees Fahrenheit over the upcoming century. Global warming happens when carbon dioxide, other pollutants, and greenhouse gasses collect in the atmosphere and absorb light and radiation that bounces off earth’s surface. Usually the radiation would be left in space but the pollutants (that can last for years to centuries) trap heat and that is what causes the planet to get hotter (aka the greenhouse effect). The United States is one of the biggest contributors of global warming by burning fossil fuels that create electricity. The biggest contributor is coal-burning power plants. Scientists believe that earths increasing temperatures are what causing the longer and hotter heat waves, droughts, heavier rainbow, and dangerous hurricanes. The planet’s oceans temperatures are also getting higher which can cause storms to get more dangerous. Because of global warming a category 3 storms can become a category 4 storms, which are more dangerous. Scientists have noticed an increase in hurricanes since the 1980s. The rising temperatures have caused water sources to melt and droughts to get worse. The sea levels are rising and creating coastal flooding. America is in second place in “biggest polluting country” right after China. We need to stop polluting our planet and start protecting it.

Read the article here: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/global-warming-101