Resources for Understanding Climate Change/Global Warming
WHAT IS GLOBAL WARMING/CLIMATE CHANGE?
Global Warming is the name for the global temperature rise that is occurring as human activities contribute to what is known as the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse-effect is a situation where heat-trapping gases such as carbon dioxide(CO2) are concentrated in the Earth’s atmosphere. This has not only caused higher global average temperatures and the melting of Polar Ice Caps but violent changes in local weather and regional climates, affecting specie habitats and human living conditions.
The terms global warming and climate change are essentially interchangeable, however, climate change is becoming the preferred term when discussing this phenomenon.
Although a tiny minority within the scientific community have been reluctant to accept climate change as a legitimate theory, most have recognized it as a genuine threat to the Planet.
TIMELINE
A timeline showing the discovery of global warming from the American Institute of Physics.
NEWS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE
Yahoo News Topic: Global Warming
CLIMATE CHANGE MAGAZINE ARTICLES
"The Physical Science Behind Climate Change" in Scientific American (2008) by Nobel Laureates William Collins, Robert Colman, James Haywood, Martin R. Manning and Philip Mote.
"Climate Change: A Guide for the Perplexed" in New Scientist (2007) by Michael Le Page.
"The Big Thaw" in National Geographic (2007) by Tim Appenzeller.
"How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic: Responses to the Most Common Skeptical Arguments on Global Warming" in Grist (2006) by Coby Beck.
ARE THERE ANSWERS? (MORE MAGAZINE ARTICLES)
"10 Solutions for Climate Change" in Scientific American (2007) by David Biello.
"Multiplication Saves the Day" in Orion (2008) by Bill McKibben.
"Building a Green Economy" in New York Times Magazine (2010) by Paul Krugman.
"Re-Engineering the Earth" in The Atlantic (2009) by Graeme Wood.
USEFUL WEB SITES
Climate Change in Google Earth
Global Climate Change - NASA's Eyes on the Earth
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Frequently Asked Questions about Climate Change
National Snow and Ice Data Center
RealClimate: Climate Science from Climate Scientists
United States Global Change Research Program
FOR KIDS (& GROWNUPS TOO)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Change Kids Site helps kids to learn about climate change -- why, how, and what kids can do about it -- through interactive games and clear explanations of the operative processes.
