Global warming is caused by carbon emissions thickening the atmosphere and trapping more of the sun's rays, increasing Earth's temperatures. As the effects of global warming intensify, glaciers and ice sheets are melting, cyclones and hurricanes are becoming more severe, and heat waves and droughts are occurring more frequently. If no action is taken to reduce carbon emissions, the global temperature could increase beyond any point in Earth's history, with devastating consequences such as sea level rise flooding coastal cities and disruptions to ocean currents. Individual actions like changing light bulbs and reducing driving can help address the problem, as well as volunteering with environmental groups and encouraging others.

1. Global Warming By Rae Porter-Blackwell

2. What is global warming? Global warming by definition is an increase in the average temperature of both land and sea. To understand how global warming works you must first have an understanding of how the sun, earth, and atmosphere interact:

3. How the sun, earth, and atmosphere layers interact: The basic science of global explains that the suns rays enter the atmosphere and warm the Earth. These rays are reflected back out into outer space, but the atmosphere keeps prevents some of these rays from escaping to keep the Earth warm.

4. How This Applies to Global Warming Global warming is caused by carbon emissions thickening our atmosphere. As our atmosphere thickens, more and more sun rays are trapped, which increases the temperature of the Earth's land masses and oceans.

5. We Can See the Effects Now Global Warming affects everyone, and we can see the effects now. Glaciers world wide are melting. The ice shelves in Antarctica and Greenland are melting. If they melt completely, the sea level world wide would rise 20 ft. Cyclones, Hurricanes, and Typhoons are greater and more deadly. It was once thought that hurricanes could not form in the South Atlantic, the first ever hit Brazil in 2004.

6. More Effects Heat waves will be more frequent and more intense. Droughts and wildfires will occur more often. 100s of millions of people will be displaced and deaths caused by Global Warming will increase to an estimated 300,000 a year. Epidemics of diseases once under control are being seen world wide.

7. How Does It Affect Me? Because of temperature increase, Americans are now at risk for West Nile virus and Malaria Oceans will rise 20 ft and over a million people in the United States will have to be relocated. We are the cause and the solution to Global Warming

8. Why Should I Care? Because if no one cares and no one does anything to help, in fifty years the temperature will increase beyond any temperature recorded on Earth. Greenland will melt, raising sea levels, and shutting of the Gulf Stream causing the delicate balance of the Earth’s ocean current to be thrown off.

9. What Can I Do To Help? The are easy steps everyone can and should take to stop Global Warming. Calculate your carbon emission, find easy steps to reduce your carbon emission, and find new green technologies at http://green.yahoo.com Also, look for ten step guide inside the cover of Al Gore's “An Inconvenient Truth” DVD.

10. Ten Things You Can Do: Change A Light Drive Less Recycle More Check Your Tires Use Less Hot Water Avoid products with a lot of packaging Adjust Your Thermostat Plant A Tree Turn Off Electrical Devices Educate yourself and other around about Global warming

11. Can I Do Anything Outside of My Home? Volunteer with community service groups dedicated to stopping global warming Start a carpool Encourage other to help in the fight against Global Warming

12. Leaders4Earth Activity

13. Written, Directed, and Produced By Rae Porter Blackwell

14. Shady Flower Productions