Global warming has been in the news a lot lately. While some people argue whether or not the phenomenon is man-made, the evidence of global warming effects is undeniable.

Polar ice caps melting
According to NASA & The Natural Resources Defense Council, more than 20% of the polar ice cap has melted away since 1979. The melting appears to be accelerating. 19 of the 20 hottest years on record have occurred since the 1980s. The North and South poles feel these global warming effects most acutely – this is reflected in the melting of the polar ice caps and the rapid crumbling of the glaciers. (more…)

Only in the last 50 years have scientists recognized the link between global warming and carbon dioxide, CO2 for short. Carbon dioxide, along with methane, water vapor, and some other gases care called greenhouse gases, because they have the effect of trapping in heat on the Earth like a greenhouse. In a greenhouse, glass panels allow the heat and light of the sun to enter, but prevent them from escaping, boosting the temperature inside, allowing plants to grow year round despite the conditions outdoors. Similarly, greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun. (more…)

The impact of climate change on our planet is the subject of fierce debate. While some skeptics continue to deny that global warming is man-made or that there will be any climate change effects, for many climate scientists the question is not whether we will see changes, but how severe they will be. (more…)