
•
Global Warming Fact 1
Life on earth depends on energy from the sun. About 30% of the
sunlight that beams to Earth is deflected by the outer atmosphere
and goes back into space.
• Global Warming Fact 2
The current level of CO2 in the atmosphere is 30%
greater than what it was 150 years ago. Some scientists believe
CO2 levels will rise another 30% during the next 50 years.
• Global Warming Fact
3
For the past 10,000 years, the
earth has had relatively stable temperatures. But, scientists
are noticing that the
Earth seems to be warming up more than usual for the past
100 years or so.
• Global Warming Fact
4
In 1900 the concentration of
CO2 in the atmosphere was 299 parts per million by volume (ppmv).
In the years
1901 through 1958 the CO2 concentration was 299 ppmv or an
approximate
5.6% increase. When last measured in 2004 the CO2 concentration
had risen approximately 19.3% to 316 ppmv.
• Global Warming Fact
5
According to the Special Report on Emission Scenarios
(SRES) from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,
by the end of the 21st century we could expect to see CO2
concentrations of anywhere from 490 ppmv to 1260 ppmv.
That’s 75%
to 350% above the pre-industrial concentration.
• Global Warming Fact
6
As China and India drive to compete
in an increasing global marketplace, the demand for fossil
fuel and energy
has soared. In turn greenhouse gas emissions are expanding
at an
alarming rate.
• Global Warming Fact 7
1998 was the hottest year in recorded history
followed by 2003, 2004 and 2005. As our planet continues to get hotter,
expect dramatic changes sooner rather than later.
• Global Warming Fact
8
It’s a matter of opinion whether or not this
increase is responsible for our most resent weather-related
disasters such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and droughts,
but the numbers are there to support such a theory.
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