What is Global Warming?

Global Warming is caused by the presence of what are known as greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These Greenhouse gases have been present for many millions of years in a delicate balance that has enabled life as we know it to evolve. Since the industrial revolution however mankind has been producing excess greenhouse gases which have been tipping this delicate balance and causing the climate to change.

Carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas that most of us have heard of but their are other greenhouse gases such as Methane, Ozone, CFC’s, Nitrous Oxide and even Water Vapour!

The reason that these gases cause global warming and are known as greenhouse gases is that they act like the glass in a green house which allows energy in the form of light and heat from the sun to pass through but does not allow an equal amount of energy to escape therefore there is a rise in temperature.

What is extremely worrying about global warming is that it has what is known as an adverse accumulative effect or is self perpetuating! This is due to the fact that water vapour is also a green house gas. As global warming increases so does the level of water present in the atmosphere as the increased heat causes more water to evaporate! This in turn increases the level of global warming which again increases the level of water vapour and so on! Water vapour is not the same as clouds however as these are formed when water vapour condenses!

Recent research has uncovered proof that global warming is also effecting ocean currents and circulation which is now known to contribute further to global warming due to the disturbance of methane deposits on the sea bed. This is extremely worrying as if these methane deposits were fully released the consequences would be immediate and disastrous!