Global warming and climate change

Running Head : Global Warming and Climate Change

Global Warming and Climate Change What are Global Warming and Climate Change

Global warming refers to the average increase in temperature near the Earth 's surface that can trigger or contribute changes to the Earth 's climate patterns . Climate change , on the other hand , refers to any significant change in measures of climate such as temperature precipitation , and wind , that usually lasts for extended periods (decades or longer (EPA , 2007

Although the terms `global warming ' and `climate change ' are often used interchangeably , according to

the National Academy of Sciences , the usage of `climate change ' to describe the global phenomenon that has stirred worldwide controversy , is growing in preference because it conveys that other changes aside from growing temperatures can also occur (EPA , 2007 . By taking the definition above and factoring in the much broader scope of climate change , global warming could then be considered an antecedent to climate change . In the context of environmental policy , `climate change ' refers to changes that are 90-95 likely to have been caused by human activity . This is also being referred as anthropogenic climate change , or more frequently in mainstream media as `global warming ( Climate Change , 2007

According to the WWF , the global conservation organization that spearheads most environmental protection projects , climate change is the biggest threat to nature and humanity in the 21st century Impacts of climate change are now visible around the globe : melting glaciers , stronger storms , rising sea levels , higher floods , less snow in the north , and more drought in the south (WWF , 2007

However , many antagonists of climate change claim that current events are not enough to prove the growing threat and seriousness of climate change . The WWF maintains that although individual events cannot prove their argument , the assembly of multiple events , including observations in nature , and observations made by people regarding the changes in the environment , more than prove their point

Climate Change in Scientific History

In the course of Earth 's history , the planet 's climate has changed many times , from ice ages to long periods of warmth . The climate has been relatively stable during the last 2000 years , and scientists have identified 3 departures from this stability . The 3 departures are known as the Medieval Climate Anomaly (or the Medieval Warm Period , the Little Ice Age , and the Industrial Era (EPA , 2007

The Medieval Climate Anomaly occurred roughly between 900 and 1300 AD with evidence suggesting that Greenland , Europe , and Asia experienced relative warmth . Meanwhile , the American West experienced a very dry period during this time (EPA , 2007

The Little Ice Age occurred between about 1500 and 1850 . This was not really a true `ice age ' since no major ice sheets developed , but average temperatures were possibly up to 2 ?F colder than today (EPA , 2007

In the last 100 years , the Industrial Era had experienced an additional warm period . The global average temperature near the Earth 's surface had risen 0 .74 - 0 .18 ?C (1 .33 - 0 .32 ?F...