Global warming is caused by greenhouse gases trapping heat in the atmosphere. The main greenhouse gases are released by human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation. This is accelerating the natural greenhouse effect and causing average global temperatures to rise rapidly. Effects of climate change include changes in weather patterns, melting ice caps and glaciers, and the spread of diseases. To mitigate these impacts, humans must transition away from fossil fuels to clean and renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power.

1. Global Warming: Causes and EffectsA presentation by:Emily SwainSteve TownsendAmanda WashingtonKeenan WhitesidesLinsdey Williams

2. What does Global Warming mean?Over the past 140 years, scientists have noticed the following:Increased global temperature

3. Patterned increases and decreases throughout the yearStudying Earth’s core samples,paleoclimatologists know:Earth’s temperature is increasing at a rapid rate.

4. Global Warming and Cooling is a cycle.

5. Humans are altering and accelerating that cycle. Studies of Global Warming:Notice that there are increases and decreases every year.

6. The average temperature is rapidly accelerating.Year vs. Average Global Temperaturehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/images/global_temp_graph.gif19601940198019202000190018801860

7. How are humans accelerating the trend?Global Warming is caused by the inability of the Sun’s heat to escape our atmosphere.

8. That inability is caused by the thickening of the Ozone Layer in our atmosphere.How are humans accelerating the trend?The thickening of the Ozone Layer is caused by an abundance of Greenhouse Gases in our atmosphere.

9. Those Greenhouse Gases are released when humans burn fossil fuels – fuels containing Carbon.http://www.lilithgallery.com/articles/environmental/images/Global-Warming-02.jpg

11. How are humans accelerating the trend?Production of farm animals

12. Waste from farm animals (like cows) releases large amounts of methane into the atmosphere.

13. Deforestation

14. When trees are cut down they release the carbon that is inside them into the atmosphere and no longer absorb the carbon dioxide for photosynthesisThe Effects of Our Actions:Changes in Weather Patterns As the temperature of the atmosphere increases, so will the temperature of the ocean and this will cause disruption of ocean currents.

15. This temperature increase will cause the climate and weather to change all over the Earth.The Effects of Our Actions:Melting of polar ice caps and glaciers As temperature increases it causes glaciers to melt, which leads to sea levels rising.

16. There will also be an abundance of freshwater from caps in oceans

17. This could also lead to loss of habitats for animals.The Effects of Our Actions:Spread of Disease As temperatures increase, disease causing bacteria, viruses, and organisms will spread to new places.What can we do?Unfortunately, the damage has been done.