Global Warming is the increase in the average temperature at the Earth’s surface and in the oceans. The atmosphere is collecting carbon dioxide and other air pollution every day. The more being collected, the more of the Sun’s heat it traps causing our planet to warm up. This process is known as Global Warming. In the last century the temperature of our planet has risen uncommonly fast, about 1.2 to 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit. The 10 hottest years in recorded history have occurred since 1990; 1998 was the hottest, 2005 was second. Many scientists believe that human activity is responsible for the recent trend upwards.

The largest U.S. source of carbon dioxide pollution is thanks to our many coal burning power plants, producing an astronomic 2.5 billion tons every year. The second largest source is our automobiles, creating nearly 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually. If we continue our lives as we have in the past, the concentration of carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases, and air pollution in our atmosphere will continue to rise. Scientists are predicting an increase of 2 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century.

Although we are unaware of the full-scale impacts the future will hold for our planet, but if current trends continue many Scientists agree with certain consequences. We are already seeing the arctic sea ice shrink before our eyes. NASA has found that it’s declined by 10% in the past thirty years. Hurricanes could intensify with the warmer sea surface temperatures. Warmer areas could experience severe droughts. And species that are unable to adapt to the warming conditions could face extinction.

Global Warming 101: National Geographic Environment – Global warming could do more than just melt polar ice. It could change our maps, and displace people from cities and tropical islands.

There are many simple steps you can take right now to cut global warming pollution. Click here to read How to Fight Global Warming available thanks to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Also, see Climate Change - A Quick Explanation.