| Global warming is a serious threat, one that cannot | | | | predatory crustaceans are now moving into waters |
| be taken lightly. This article delves deeper into global | | | | that were previously too cold, disrupting and |
| warming and identifies the causes as well as the | | | | sometimes outright destroying the ecosystems of |
| devastating effects. | | | | the Antarctic sea bottom. |
| Global warming is primarily caused by an imbalance of | | | | While there are a few other non-human causes of |
| the "greenhouse gases." Greenhouse gases in of | | | | global warming, such as volcano blasts and solar |
| themselves are not malevolent; in fact, the earth's | | | | radiation, carbon dioxide is the most potent |
| atmosphere is essentially a by-product of the | | | | contributor to global warming. Carbon dioxide has one |
| greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect keeps | | | | of the highest 'radiative forcing' indexes, meaning that |
| some of the heat generated on earth from escaping | | | | a substantial amount of energy is retained in an |
| into space. Without the greenhouse effect and its | | | | average molecule of carbon dioxide. Although there |
| corresponding gases, the average temperature of | | | | are several other gases in the atmosphere that can |
| the earth would be about zero degrees Fahrenheit, | | | | actually absorb and trap heat more efficiently than |
| and not the current 57 degrees Fahrenheit. However, | | | | carbon dioxide, scientists have observed that there is |
| numerous scientific institutions have concluded that | | | | simply more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than, |
| the ratio of c02 in the atmosphere, as measured in | | | | for example, methane, which has the highest |
| parts per million, is much higher than it was during the | | | | radiative forcing index of any gas. Additionally, once |
| last 650,000 years, and is only projected to increase | | | | carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, it |
| throughout the twenty-first century. | | | | takes an average of one hundred years, and in some |
| The creation of this extreme amount of carbon | | | | cases, up to 800 years, for it to leave the |
| dioxide is linked to recent post-industrial human | | | | atmosphere. Because of this delay, the temperatures |
| activities such as deforestation and fossil fuel | | | | currently being experienced on earth are the result of |
| combustion. Deforestation is a particularly heavy | | | | activities carried out approximately 100 years ago; |
| contributor to global warming. Trees process carbon | | | | the effects of the activities carried out today will not |
| dioxide and release oxygen. As forests are | | | | be felt for roughly another century. |
| destroyed, this natural processing center is | | | | If you want to help the fight against global warming |
| eradicated. Fossil fuel combustion from the burning of | | | | help support the Dot Eco initiative to establish the |
| gas, oil, and coal releases a 'light' isotope of carbon | | | | .eco top level domain. This new initiative powered by |
| into the atmosphere. | | | | Dot Eco LLC, will donate over 50% of domain |
| The oceans have become increasingly acidic from | | | | registration proceeds back to fund scientific initiatives |
| carbon dioxide absorption. Additionally, the trapped | | | | and research in climate change, ocean analysis, |
| heat causes glaciers to recede, which increases sea | | | | economic policy, and other environmentally-related |
| levels. These rapid environmental changes result in | | | | areas. Dot Eco is a powerful and truly innovative |
| the extinction of wildlife. In the case of the arctic, | | | | initiative that can help the fight against global |
| polar bears are dwindling. In the Antarctic, certain | | | | warming. |