Global warming is the long-term heating of Earth's climate

system observed since the pre-industrial period (between 1850 and

1900) due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel burning, which

GLOBAL
increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth's
atmosphere.

WARMING Main greenhouse gases:

Carbon dioxide
Methane
Nitroxide oxide
Fluorinated gases
FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO
GLOBAL WARMING
Burning fossil fuels, cutting down Cutting down forests
forests and farming livestock are (deforestation). Trees help to
increasingly influencing the climate regulate the climate by absorbing
and the earth's temperature. This adds
Burning coal, oil and gas produces CO2 from the atmosphere. When they
enormous amounts of greenhouse
carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. are cut down, that beneficial effect is
gases to those naturally occurring in
the atmosphere, increasing the lost and the carbon stored in the trees
greenhouse effect and global is released into the atmosphere,
warming. adding to the greenhouse effect.

Fluorinated gases are emitted from

Increasing livestock farming. Cows Fertilisers containing equipment and products that use these
and sheep produce large amounts of nitrogen produce nitrous oxide gases. Such emissions have a very
methane when they digest their food. emissions. strong warming effect, up to 23 000
times greater than CO2.
 The greenhouse effect functions to trap heat
within the atmosphere and hence prevent
rapid temperature fluctuations

PROCESS Incoming radiation from the sun is shorter

wave radiation (ultraviolet radiation and the
OF visible spectrum)

GLOBAL The surface of the Earth absorbs short wave

radiation and re-emits it at a longer
WARMING wavelength (i.e infra-red / heat)

Greenhouse gases absorb and re-radiate this

longer wave radiation and hence retain the
heat within the atmosphere
HOW DO
CARBON Outside of a greenhouse, higher atmospheric carbon
DIOXIDE dioxide (CO2) levels can have both positive and
negative effects on crop yields. Some laboratory
LEVELS experiments suggest that elevated CO2 levels can
increase plant growth. However, other factors, such
AFFECT as changing temperatures, ozone, and water and
nutrient constraints, may more than counteract any
GLOBAL potential increase in yield. If optimal temperature
ranges for some crops are exceeded, earlier possible

WARMIN gains in yield may be reduced or reversed altogether.

G
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
Northeast. Heat waves, heavy
downpours and sea level rise pose
growing challenges to many aspects
of life in the Northeast. Infrastructure,
agriculture, fisheries and ecosystems
will be increasingly compromised.
Many states and cities are beginning
to incorporate climate change into
their planning.
Northwest. Changes in the timing of
streamflow reduce water supplies for
competing demands. Sea level rise,
erosion, inundation, risks to
infrastructure and increasing ocean
acidity pose major threats. Increasing
wildfire, insect outbreaks and tree
diseases are causing widespread tree
die-off.
Southeast. Sea level rise poses
widespread and continuing threats to
the region’s economy and
environment. Extreme heat will affect
health, energy, agriculture and more.
Decreased water availability will have
economic and environmental impacts.

Southwest. Increased heat, drought

Midwest. Extreme heat, heavy
and insect outbreaks, all linked to
downpours and flooding will affect
climate change, have increased
infrastructure, health, agriculture,
wildfires. Declining water supplies,
forestry, transportation, air and water
reduced agricultural yields, health
quality, and more. Climate change
impacts in cities due to heat, and
will also exacerbate a range of risks
flooding and erosion in coastal areas
to the Great Lakes.
are additional concerns.