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Disappearing Opportunities Global Warming in a Nutshell Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide are transparent to in-coming shortwave solar radiation. This radiation reaches the earth's surface, heats it, and re-radiates it as long-wave radiation. Greenhouse gases are opaque to long-wave radiation and therefore, heat is trapped in the atmosphere. As greenhouse gases buildup, this opacity is increased and more heat is trapped in the atmosphere. Interestingly, the temperature of the stratosphere (the upper part of the atmosphere that extends 10-50 km above the surface of the earth) actually cools during warming events. Some global warming opponents have meretriciously cited this phenomenon as evidence of current global cooling. Global warming is believed to have a time lag of around 50 years due to the thermal inertia of oceans. Thus the effects from the emissions of the postwar period are not yet apparent today. |
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Consequences of Deforestation |
Local Climate Regulation Loss of Species, Disease Climactic Role Extinction |
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