Climate models
referenced by the IPCC project that
global surface temperatures are likely
to increase by
1.1 to
6.4 °C
(2.0
to 11.5 °F) between 1990 and
2100.
The range of values results from the use
of differing scenarios of future
greenhouse gas emissions as well as
models with differing climate
sensitivity. Although most studies focus
on the period up to 2100, warming and
sea level rise are expected to continue
for more than a millennium even if
greenhouse gas levels are stabilized.
This reflects the large heat capacity of
the oceans.
An increase in global
temperatures is expected to cause other
changes, including sea level rise,
increased intensity of extreme weather
events,
and changes in the amount and pattern of
precipitation. Other effects of global
warming include changes in agricultural
yields, glacier retreat, species
extinctions and increases in the ranges
of disease vectors.
Remaining scientific
uncertainties include the amount of
warming expected in the future, and how
warming and related changes will vary
from region to region around the globe.
There is ongoing political and public
debate worldwide regarding what, if any,
action should be taken to reduce or
reverse future warming or to adapt to
its expected consequences. Most national
governments have signed and ratified the
Kyoto Protocol, aimed at reducing
greenhouse gas emissions.
Global warming. (2007,
October 3). In Wikipedia, The Free
Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:13,
October 4, 2007, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Global_warming&oldid=162047838
All text is available under the terms of
the
GNU Free Documentation License.
(See
Copyrights
for details.)
You may also hear the
term "Climate Change" used synonymously
in place of the term Global Warming.
For more information
on Global Warming or Climate Change, the
following websites offer additional
information:
From The US Environmental
Protection Agency
Climate Change
Past Climate Change
Recent Climate Change
Future Climate Change
State of Knowledge
NASA has an excellent website that allows you to play a series of short
videos on this subject
Others
Dynamic Map showing affects in the world
Natural Resources Defense
Council
Global
Warming.Org
Photographic
Documentation of Climate Change
EarthGuide provides a nice graphical
presentation
