The Earth derives its natural source of energy and heat from the sun. The light provides electromagnetic radiation, which enters the atmosphere and is absorbed by the Earth's surface. This produces infrared radiation, which goes back out into the atmosphere and often back out into space itself. Natural greenhouse gases, such as methane, carbon dioxide and water, trap some of the infrared radiation, and this heats the Earth's surface.
These gases stay in the atmosphere for a very long time, from decades to hundreds of thousands of years. Thanks to human activity, the production of these gases increased tremendously, particularly in terms of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. This impacted the release of carbon dioxide and methane from the combustion of coal, oil and gas. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the levels of carbon dioxide far exceed the normal range from the last 650,000 years, and as such human activity has had an impact on the phenomenon of global warming.
Thanks to this greenhouse effect that traps heat in the Earth's atmosphere from the increasing levels of these greenhouse gases, the average global temperature has increased. This is the phenomenon of global warming, and is affecting the surface of the Earth in dramatic ways. Ice and glaciers are melting, and this includes polar caps. Mount Kilimanjaro has experienced a loss of 85 percent of its ice since 1912, and a dramatic 26 percent loss from 2000.
Facts show strong evidence that human behavior has exacerbated the problem by contributing to the greenhouse effect and thus causing global warming. Likewise, scientists argue that humans can make small changes to cut their carbon emissions and impact this troubling phenomenon in significant ways. Some tips include using food for fuel, seeking alternative energy through solar and wind technology, and even simply changing your light bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs may cost a little more initially, but use one-quarter the electricity. In a country where only 5 percent of the world's population consumes 24 percent of the world's energy, Americans can cut their carbon emissions simply by consuming less energy. In doing so, you will produce less greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming.