GLOBAL WARMING

Since global warming appeared during the last decade as a serious environmental issue, it has been the subject of a lot of debate. Global warming is defined as the warming of the earth by greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere naturally or by mankind. Global Warming is a problem that is plaguing the world in many ways. Because of wide spread pollution, and negligence with the use of aerosols and other ozone depleting agents, the ozone layer that shields the earth’s surface is steadily being depleted. This deterioration of the ozone layer is allowing for ultra violet radiation, emitted by the sun, to penetrate the protective ozone layer and bombard the earth’s surface with these carcinogenic rays. These are the rays that are staying in the earth’s atmosphere and causing the temperature to rise. This may not seem like a big deal, but in actuality is causing the sea levels to rise about two inches every year. These are several problems that are a cause for worrying ab! out global warming. If this phenomenon continues, Long Gases Page #2 Island could become completely submerged under the ocean in a couple of hundred years. Do you really want to do that to your grandchildren? We should all pull together and help find ideas to better the situation of global warming. The Greenhouse Effect is affiliated with global warming. Certain gases in the atmosphere act as a trap for the infrared-rays (a form of radiation beyond red light). For example, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane, nitrous oxide, CFC’s, along with many other gases, make up our atmosphere. This effect shows that the Earth gets hit by infrared-rays, ultra violet rays, and visible light (sun) but has trouble with them. Visible light enters the earth and gets absorbed, while the infrared rays can not escape.