Global Warming Clock by MagikUnicorn
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Description
Global Warming
What Causes Global Warming?
Scientists have spent decades figuring out what is causing global warming. They've looked at the natural cycles and events that are known to influence climate. But the amount and pattern of warming that's been measured can't be explained by these factors alone. The only way to explain the pattern is to include the effect of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted by humans.
To bring all this information together, the United Nations formed a group of scientists called the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC. The IPCC meets every few years to review the latest scientific findings and write a report summarizing all that is known about global warming. Each report represents a consensus, or agreement, among hundreds of leading scientists.
One of the first things scientists learned is that there are several greenhouse gases responsible for warming, and humans emit them in a variety of ways. Most come from the combustion of fossil fuels in cars, factories and electricity production. The gas responsible for the most warming is carbon dioxide, also called CO2. Other contributors include methane released from landfills and agriculture (especially from the digestive systems of grazing animals), nitrous oxide from fertilizers, gases used for refrigeration and industrial processes, and the loss of forests that would otherwise store CO2.
Different greenhouse gases have very different heat-trapping abilities. Some of them can even trap more heat than CO2. A molecule of methane produces more than 20 times the warming of a molecule of CO2. Nitrous oxide is 300 times more powerful than CO2. Other gases, such as chlorofluorocarbons (which have been banned in much of the world because they also degrade the ozone layer), have heat-trapping potential thousands of times greater than CO2. But because their concentrations are much lower than CO2, none of these gases adds as much warmth to the atmosphere as CO2 does.
In order to understand the effects of all the gases together, scientists tend to talk about all greenhouse gases in terms of the equivalent amount of CO2. Since 1990, yearly emissions have gone up by about 6 billion metric tons of "carbon dioxide equivalent" worldwide, more than a 20 percent increase.
The planet is warming, from North Pole to South Pole, and everywhere in between. Globally, the mercury is already up more than 1 degree Fahrenheit (0.8 degree Celsius), and even more in sensitive polar regions. And the effects of rising temperatures aren’t waiting for some far-flung future. They’re happening right now. Signs are appearing all over, and some of them are surprising. The heat is not only melting glaciers and sea ice, it’s also shifting precipitation patterns and setting animals on the move.
Comments (38)
MagikUnicorn
Réchauffement climatique planétaire Le réchauffement climatique, également appelé réchauffement planétaire, ou réchauffement global, est un phénomène d'augmentation de la température moyenne des océans et de l'atmosphère, mesuré à l'échelle mondiale sur plusieurs décennies, et qui traduit une augmentation de la quantité de chaleur de la surface terrestre. Dans son acception commune, ce terme est appliqué à une tendance au réchauffement global observé depuis le début du xxe siècle. En 1988, l'ONU crée le Groupe intergouvernemental sur l'évolution du climat (GIEC) chargé de faire une synthèse des études scientifiques sur cette question. Dans son dernier et quatrième rapport, auquel ont participé plus de 2 500 scientifiques de 130 pays, le GIEC affirme que le réchauffement climatique depuis 1950 est très probablementc dû à l'augmentation des gaz à effet de serre d'origine anthropique. Ces conclusions ont été approuvées par plus de 40 sociétés scientifiques et académies des sciences, y compris l'ensemble des académies nationales des sciences des grands pays industrialisés. Dans une étude publiée fin 2012, qui a compilé et comparé des simulations issues de 20 modèles informatiques différents et des informations issues des observations satellites, une équipe de climatologues du Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory du DOE et de 16 autres organisations a conclu que les changements de température de la troposphère et de la stratosphère sont bien réels et qu'ils sont clairement liées aux activités humaines. Les projections des modèles climatiques présentées dans le dernier rapport du GIEC indiquent que la température de surface du globe est susceptible d'augmenter de 1,1 à 6,4 °C supplémentaires au cours du xxie siècle. Les différences entre les projections proviennent de l'utilisation de modèles ayant des sensibilités différentes pour les concentrations de gaz à effet de serre et utilisant différentes estimations pour les émissions futures. La plupart des études portent sur la période allant jusqu'à l'an 2100. Cependant, le réchauffement devrait se poursuivre au-delà de cette date, même si les émissions s'arrêtent, en raison de la grande capacité calorifique des océans et de la durée de vie du dioxyde de carbone et des autres gaz à effet de serre dans l'atmosphère. Des incertitudes sur la hausse de température globale moyenne subsistent du fait de la précision des modélisations employées, et des comportements étatiques et individuels présents et futurs. Les enjeux économiques, politiques, sociaux, environnementaux, voire moraux, étant majeurs, ils suscitent des débats nombreux, à l'échelle internationale, ainsi que des controverses. Néanmoins l'impact économique, sociologique, environnemental voire géopolitique de ces projections est globalement négatif à moyen et long terme.
knupps
A warning sign Magic.
bebopdlx
This is cool. well hot. LOL Neat work and info.
adrie
Cool design and amazing work Magik, thanks for the info also.
sharky_
Warning well taken...hope we do something. Aloha
drifterlee
Very cool, Magik!
MarciaGomes
Brilhante criação meu amigo o relógio é fantástico,o que esta acontecendo com nosso planeta é muito triste,os cientistas e os governantes estão sempre falando em aquecimento global,mas não param de perfurar poços de petroleo que as vezes tem vazamento no mar ,e as industrias de carros estão produzindo com grande escala,e os testes com bombas nucleares isto ninguém fala e os vazamentos nucleares isto é pior que tudo o que esta acontecendo,tudo isto é muito triste.+++++++++++5
Lenord
Times up and were well on our way to our own destruction, I only hope it's due to Global Warming since it's the slowest, we have our fingers on the triggers of many faster ways, which one will it be. Peace
flavia49
nice
jocko500
wonderful
eekdog Online Now!
one reason of our weather is changing every year and getting worse. cool info and great clock image.
jeroni
Fanstastic fractal
ronmolina
Amazing!
sandra46
GREAT WORK
magnus073
Magik, c'est une image fantastique. J'aime cette horloge vous avez créé
Faemike55
Excellent point you've brought up; unfortunately the Republicans of the US don not believe in it and therefore in their minds it is all a myth (silly idiots)! I try to do my part by just riding my bike where-ever I go Great use of the clock to show how close we are to disaster
Richardphotos
outstanding clock and information
Flint_Hawk
It is scary! Your illustration is fantastic!
barryjeffer
The seconds are ticking away as we twiddle our thumbs... Ah well, the rich and powerful will have their secluded, fortified dwellings equipped with everything needed to survive the harsh environment. And that's all that counts after all, eh? Excellent depiction!
peedy
Fantastic image to go with the info, MU. Corrie
DennisReed
awesome image & write up!
RodS
An excellent render, and interesting - if scary - information, Real! It sure doesn't feel much warmer here at the moment.... :-P 18 deg F Brrrrrrr
jayfar
A dire warning Magik. I worry for my offspring - too late for me I reckon.
rayag
Fantastic image and very interesting!!
jendellas
I would like that on my wall!!!
illkirch
I'm afraid the time is over
mickeyrony
Très beau et bon travail .Mais qui pensent à cela ??Toujours une narration explicative . Bravo encore ((5++))
evielouise
you made that clock??? wow love it and the information is worriesome for sure :
bobrgallegos
Wonderful work and narrative on this scary subject Magik!!
emmecielle
Very beautiful work! Colours are splendid! :)