Skye Hart
PHYS 213
11/2019
| Earth's Energy Balance |
Greenhouse Effect |
Greenhouse Gases |
Anthropogenic
Greenhouse Effect |
Bibliography |
Global warming is the long-term increase in Earth's average temperature and is the key component of climate change.
The Earth has warmed super quickly (1.4 F) over
the past century due mainly to human caused emission of green
house gases. The increasing anthropogenic greenhouse effect is
warming the entire planet at a rate of 250 trillion Joules per
second, which is equivalent to detonating four Hiroshima
atomic bombs per second! (Nuccitelli, 2012) The increase in
heat (i.e. energy) directly affects all natural systems on
Earth, such as climate and the oceans.
Figure from: http://4hiroshimas.com/#Trends
It is important to have a basic physical
understanding of how the greenhouse effect works to understand
how global warming is occurring. Global warming impacts every
aspect of society and has and will continue to devastate a
vast portion of nature and society.