On Global Warming

As 2006 begins, it is worth noting that 2005 tied 2002 for the warmest year on record. The temperature was up .54 degrees Fahrenheit over the long-term average. What does it mean? No one really knows for certain, but most experts agree that if warming continues, we could be in serious trouble. Theories range from larger, more frequent storms to complete annihilation of life on earth.

So, why is it getting so warm? Ask that question to most people, and they'll respond with "Pollution . . . Greenhouse Effect". While it's true that greenhouse gases do have an effect, they are not wholly responsible for the changes. Greenhouse gases have an equal effect on the entire planet. But, the earth is getting warmer unevenly. The temperature difference has been higher in the northern hemisphere, causing the ice cap to melt. Areas of the planet that have been frozen since the last ice age are melting for the first time. And, since 1978, the arctic has warmed 7 times faster than the southern two-thirds of the planet. (link)

While no one is certain what problems will result from global warming, many experts believe the change in climate is the main reason that 2005 was one of the worst years on record for large, devastating storms (link).

Can anything be done? Experts have been arguing that topic for some time, and some interesting and bizarre theories have surfaced in recent years, including this solution of creating an artificial planetary ring about the Earth to shade it.