Global Warming

English Inmersion ProgramEnglish Inmersion Program

Subject:Subject:Golabal WarmingGolabal Warming

supported by:supported by:MaiquelMaiquel

presented to:presented to:Arismendy MercedesArismendy Mercedes

Date:Date:September 9.th, 2009September 9.th, 2009

Global Warming:Global Warming:

Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century and its projected continuation. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes that increasing greenhouse gas concentrations resulting from human activity such as fossil fuel burning and deforestation caused most of the observed temperature increase since the middle of the 20th century.

Temperature Changes:Temperature Changes:  

Two millennia of mean surface temperatures according Two millennia of mean surface temperatures according to different reconstructions, each smoothed on a to different reconstructions, each smoothed on a decadal scale. The unsmoothed, annual value for 2004 decadal scale. The unsmoothed, annual value for 2004 is also plotted for reference.is also plotted for reference.

The most commonly discussed measure of global The most commonly discussed measure of global warming is the trend in globally averaged temperature warming is the trend in globally averaged temperature near the Earth's surface. Expressed as a near the Earth's surface. Expressed as a linearlinear trend,  trend, this temperature rose by 0.74°C ±0.18°C over the this temperature rose by 0.74°C ±0.18°C over the period 1906-2005. The rate of warming over the last 50 period 1906-2005. The rate of warming over the last 50 years of that period was almost double that for the years of that period was almost double that for the period as a whole (0.13°C ±0.03°C per decade, versus period as a whole (0.13°C ±0.03°C per decade, versus 0.07°C ± 0.02°C per decade). 0.07°C ± 0.02°C per decade). 

Global Global WarmingWarming CausesCauses::

Global Warming is caused by many Global Warming is caused by many things. The causes are split up into two things. The causes are split up into two groups, man-made or anthropogenic groups, man-made or anthropogenic causes, and natural causescauses, and natural causes. .

Natural CausesNatural Causes Man-made CausesMan-made Causes

Natural Causes:Natural Causes:

Natural causes are causes created by nature. Natural causes are causes created by nature. One natural cause is a release of methane gas One natural cause is a release of methane gas from arctic tundra and wetlands. Methane is a from arctic tundra and wetlands. Methane is a greenhouse gas. A greenhouse gas is a gas greenhouse gas. A greenhouse gas is a gas that traps heat in the earth's atmosphere. that traps heat in the earth's atmosphere. Another natural cause is that the earth goes Another natural cause is that the earth goes through a cycle of climate change. This climate through a cycle of climate change. This climate change usually lasts about 40,000 yearschange usually lasts about 40,000 years. .

Man-made Causes:Man-made Causes:

Man-made causes probably do the most damage. Man-made causes probably do the most damage. There are many man-made causes. Pollution is one of There are many man-made causes. Pollution is one of the biggest man-made problems. Pollution comes in the biggest man-made problems. Pollution comes in many shapes and sizes. Burning fossil fuels is one many shapes and sizes. Burning fossil fuels is one thing that causes pollution. Fossil fuels are fuels made thing that causes pollution. Fossil fuels are fuels made of organic matter such as coal, or oil. When fossil fuels of organic matter such as coal, or oil. When fossil fuels are burned they give off a green house gas called are burned they give off a green house gas called CO2. Also mining coal and oil allows methane to CO2. Also mining coal and oil allows methane to escape. How does it escape? Methane is naturally in escape. How does it escape? Methane is naturally in the ground. When coal or oil is mined you have to dig the ground. When coal or oil is mined you have to dig up the earth a little. When you dig up the fossil fuels up the earth a little. When you dig up the fossil fuels you dig up the methane as well.you dig up the methane as well.

Effects of Global Effects of Global WarmingWarming: :

Some impacts from increasing Some impacts from increasing temperatures are already happening. Ice temperatures are already happening. Ice is melting worldwide, especially at the is melting worldwide, especially at the Earth’s poles. This includes mountain Earth’s poles. This includes mountain glaciers, ice sheets covering West glaciers, ice sheets covering West Antarctica and Greenland, and Arctic sea Antarctica and Greenland, and Arctic sea ice. ice.

Global Warming Global Warming Solutions:Solutions:

Global Warming is a dramatically urgent Global Warming is a dramatically urgent and serious problem. We don't need to and serious problem. We don't need to wait for governments to find a solution for wait for governments to find a solution for this problem: each individual can bring an this problem: each individual can bring an important help adopting a more important help adopting a more responsible lifestyle: starting from little, responsible lifestyle: starting from little, everyday things. It's the only reasonable everyday things. It's the only reasonable way to save our planet, before it is too way to save our planet, before it is too late. late.

Here is a list of 7 simple Here is a list of 7 simple thingsthings::

Replace a regular incandescent light Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (cfl)bulb (cfl)CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb. This simple switch will save about bulb. This simple switch will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

Don't let heat escape from your house over a long Don't let heat escape from your house over a long periodperiod.. When airing your house, open the windows for When airing your house, open the windows for only a few minutes. If you leave a small opening all only a few minutes. If you leave a small opening all day long, the energy needed to keep it warm inside day long, the energy needed to keep it warm inside during six cold months (10ºC or less outside during six cold months (10ºC or less outside temperature) would result in almost 1 ton of CO2 temperature) would result in almost 1 ton of CO2 emissionsemissions..

Cover your pots while cooking. Cover your pots while cooking. Doing so can save a Doing so can save a lot of the energy needed for preparing the dish. Even lot of the energy needed for preparing the dish. Even better are pressure cookers and steamers: they can better are pressure cookers and steamers: they can save around 70%!save around 70%!

  Be sure you’re recycling at home. Be sure you’re recycling at home. You can save You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide a year by recycling 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide a year by recycling half of the waste your household generates.half of the waste your household generates.

Recycle your organic wasteRecycle your organic wasteAround 3% of the greenhouse gas emissions Around 3% of the greenhouse gas emissions through the methane is released by through the methane is released by decomposing bio-degradable waste. By decomposing bio-degradable waste. By recycling organic waste or composting it if you recycling organic waste or composting it if you have a garden, you can help eliminate this have a garden, you can help eliminate this problem! Just make sure that you compost it problem! Just make sure that you compost it properly, so it decomposes with sufficient properly, so it decomposes with sufficient oxygen, otherwise your compost will cause oxygen, otherwise your compost will cause methane emissions and smell foulmethane emissions and smell foul. .

Plant a tree. Plant a tree. A single tree will absorb one ton A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Shade of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Shade provided by trees can also reduce your air provided by trees can also reduce your air conditioning bill by 10 to 15%. conditioning bill by 10 to 15%. 

Eat less meatEat less meatMethane is the second most significant Methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas and cows are one of the greenhouse gas and cows are one of the greatest methane emitters. Their grassy greatest methane emitters. Their grassy diet and multiple stomachs cause them to diet and multiple stomachs cause them to produce methane, which they exhale with produce methane, which they exhale with every breath.every breath.

If we do these If we do these simple things, wesimple things, we´ll have a world ´ll have a world like thislike this

IF WE DO NOT DO IF WE DO NOT DO THESE THINGS WETHESE THINGS WE´LL HAVE A WORLD ´LL HAVE A WORLD LIKE THISLIKE THIS