Global warming
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Environmental Glossary
A glossary of terms on the Environment, Ecology, Earth Sciences, and Sustainability
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| Warming of the Earth due to increases in the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere |
Brief Description
Increasing of greenhouse gases (especially carbon dioxide) can cause an increase in the greenhouse effect, which increases the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere.
Importance
Increasing the Earth's temperature can have a number of effects:
- Increased drought
- Melting of the polar ice caps
- Rising of sea levels -- this affects low lying coastal regions and deltas. Especially important for small island countries.
- Melting of glaciers. Glaciers in some areas account for much of the fresh water.
- Shifting of crop zones
- In addition, increasing carbon dioxide can cause ocean acidification (not due to temperature, but the direct effect of the gas)
