The
average surface
temperature on Earth was 58.02F in 2005, which makes the warmest year since accurate record keeping began in 1880. It just barely beat out 1998, when global temperature averaged 58F. Historical climate data shows us that the global temperature is about 1F higher than it was 100 years ago.The 10 hottest years on record have all been since 1990.( For the U.S only, 2005 was the 49th wettest year and the 13th hottest on record, with an average temperature of 54F). This gradual rise is called the global warming. on that much,
scientist agree. What they can''t agree on is the cause. Some think it is just a part of a
natural cycle of
warming and cooling. But most scientist believe that an increase on certain
gases in the air generated by human activity plays a big role.The
greenhouse effect is a natural process, needed for life to exist on Earth.certain gases in the atmosphere act like the glass walls of a greenhouse: they let the rays of the sun pass through the Earth''s surface but hold in some of the heat that radiates from the sun-warmed Earth. These naturally occurring greenhouse gases include water vapor,carbon dioxide,methane,nitrous oxide, and ozone. Without these gases,Earth''s average temperature would be much colder.Human activity is putting more of these"greenhouse gases" in to the air. As cities have grown in size and population,people have needed more and more electricity,cars, and manufactured things of all kinds. As industries have grown, more greenhouse gases have been produced by the burning of fossil fuels such as oil,coal, and natural gas. the increase in these gases make the greenhouse glass thicker, causing more heat to be trapped than in the past.It doesn''t seem like much,but a slight warming could cause changes in the climate of many regions. If the climate changed enough, plants and animals would not be able to survive in their native habitats. Many scientist think average temperatures could rise as much as 6F over the next 100 years. This warming could cause the North and South Poles to melt, making more water go into the oceans and causing flooding along coasts.
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