GLOBAL WARMING

Here is a very basic set of overview information related to global warming. This page has been compiled by Texas A&M University's Laboratory for Applied Biotelemetry & Biotechnology.

This data is compiled from a variety of online sources. For a detailed introduction to this issue, check out Common Questions about Climate Change (United Nations Environment Programme & World Meteorological Organization).
See also: Statement on the Status of Global Climate in 2000 (1.3 Mb pdf) by the World Meteorological Organization (U.N.)

| Is Global Warming happening? | Are there observable warming effects? | What emissions effect global temperatures? | Have CO2 emissions increased? | How about CO2 prior to industrial revolution? | Who are the biggest contributors to global CO2 emissions? | Is CO2 production directly related to life style and affluence? | What can you do? |

Is Global Warming happening?

Yes:

The above graph shows the departure from the long-term average, of average global temperatures, in degrees Farenheit, since 1880. (Source: EPA)

The figure below shows average global temperatures from 1860 onwards, in degrees Celsius and Farenheit. (Source: United Nations Environment Programme World Meteorological Organization)

Are there observable effects that may be tied to Global Warming?

Yes:

To give one example, the graph above shows the percentage of US area (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) with an unusually large amount of the total annual precipitation originating from extreme precipitation events. (Source: United Nations Environment Programme World Meteorological Organization).

In another example, the figure below shows anomalies in Arctic sea ice extent since 1970. (Source: Statement on the Status of Global Climate in 2000 (1.3 Mb pdf) by the World Meteorological Organization, U.N.)

What emissions have an effect on global temperatures?

Many different emissions have an effect on global temperatures:

The figure above shows the relative importance to global warming and cooling of various gases and particulate matter in the atmosphere. (Source: United Nations Environment Programme World Meteorological Organization)

Have CO2 emissions increased?

Yes, since the industrial revolution:

The figure above shows total fossil CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) emissions for three regions, from 1860 through present. Since 1860, global CO2 emissions have increased by more than 1000%. (Source: United Nations Environment Programme World Meteorological Organization)

How about CO2 emissions prior to the industrial revolution?

The graph above shows CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) concentrations as measured in the atmoshpere and in ice cores. (Source: United Nations Environment Programme World Meteorological Organization)

Who are the biggest contributors to global CO2 emissions?

The single biggest contributor are the United States of America:

How might this be related to population size and affluence?

Generally speaking, richer countries and more affluent life styles contribute more to CO2 production, but there are notable exceptions that proove that affluent living does not automatically result in high CO2 production:

The figure below shows the per capita production of carbon dioxide (in metric tons of carbon per inhabitant emitted per year) in 1997, for all the 31 countries that contributed more than 0.5% to the total global production of fossil CO2. North American countries (U.S. and Canada) average about 5 tons of CO2 carbon per person, most countries in the European Union average less than half that (around 2.2 tons per person), and some of the most highly populated countries (and thus big CO2 producers) including the Peoples Republic of China, India, and Brazil are all below the global average of 1.13 metric tons of CO2 carbon per person.

Two notable countries not listed in the figure below are:
The U.S. Virgin Islands as the country with the highest rate of any on the planet (33.22 metric tons of CO2 carbon per inhabitant, corresponding to 0.05% of global fossil CO2 production in 1997).
Switzerland as the most affluent nation on the planet (based on per capita median income and GDP values for 1997). Switzerland in 1997 produced 1.52 metric tons of CO2 carbon per inhabitant (corresponding to 0.18% of total global production). The example of Switzerland shows that it is possible to maintain an affluent community at per capita CO2 production rates near the global average, or about 28% of the U.S per capita CO2 production rate.

What can you do?

That's actually very simple: reduce the amount of fossil fuels you use:

• Drive less and/or use more efficient cars. These days, it is absolutely not a problem to use cars that obtain at the very least 40 miles-per-gallon efficiency in city driving, and 50 mpg on the highway. Cars with at least that much mileage are made by Toyota, Honda, and Volkswagen, amongst others. The world record for a production car is currently held by the VW Lupo 3L TDI, the first production 3-litre car (a car that uses less than 3 litres of fuel per 100 km, or about 75 mpg, on average). Volkswagen recently accomplished the first "Around the world in 80 days on 1000 litres" trip at an average consumption of only 2.38 l/100 km with a production Lupo (that is 94 mpg, at an average speed of 50 mph).
  
  
• Use energy efficient lighting, including fluorescent and compact fluorescent light bulbs.
  
  
• Lower your thermostats in winter time, raise them in summer time to reduce heating and air conditioning usage.
  
  
• Insulate buildings! It is amazing how much energy and money can be saved with a few efforts at insulating homes.
  
  
• In areas where available, use an energy provider that uses renewable energy resources. In Texas, that is Green Mountain Energy, a provider generating energy from 100% renewable resources (in Texas currently 100% wind power). From an ecological perspective, we support the choice of Green Mountain Energy as an energy provider.

This page is hosted by Texas A&M University's Laboratory for Applied Biotelemetry & Biotechnology (LABB)

LABB Home

LABB Sitemap for disability access