Global Warming for Kids
Researchers and many scientists are concerned that the earth’s climate and atmosphere are becoming warmer than they should be. Climatologists study the climates and record temperatures, but they do not all agree about what is causing the temperature to rise. What scientists do agree on is that the temperature will continue to increase in warmth if steps are not taken to correct many problems that humans are creating with pollution and emissions from cars and factories.
It is widely agreed that oil and coal create greenhouse gases when they are burned to produce heat or power. These emissions include carbon dioxide gas, and they are the cause of most of the warming problems that are being seen today. The loss of trees in many areas is making the problem worse because trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide gas and release oxygen. The fewer trees that are left standing, the less carbon dioxide can be absorbed.
When someone talks about global warming, they are talking about the increase in the average temperature recorded at the surface of the earth that is due to excessive carbon dioxide and other greenhouse emissions and gases. The term climate change is used to talk about broad, far reaching changes in the climate that include seasonal changes, as well as major differences in average temperatures and rainfall.
Scientists predict that the sea level will rise, ice caps will melt, and some animals and plants will fail to survive because their habitat will disappear and they cannot live in other areas. There may be more deserts and less available farmland because of the dry earth, and there may be more storms and flooding to many countries.
No one can seem to agree on the best way to solve the many problems, but some countries including the UK and the US are taking steps to prevent the situation from becoming worse. There are programs to educate citizens and students about the situation and recycling is becoming more common. New guidelines are also being introduced to try to limit these greenhouse gases from being produced by factories and businesses. The rush is on to use more alternative energy sources and to move away from the use of fossil fuels that produce many of the gases that damage the atmosphere.
One thing that everyone can do is limit their use of energy every day, and you can do this no matter how old, or young, you are. So many things that people take for granted use energy and excessive energy use will contribute to the warming of the planet because more greenhouse gases are being produced. Try to limit the unnecessary use of your electricity and work to conserve energy every day.
Energy Friendly Tips
• Use energy efficient light bulbs in your room and home
• Turn electrical appliances like computers, radios, and TVs off when not in use
• Limit frequent use of washing machines, and let your clothing dry on a line outside on sunny days instead of using the clothes dryer
• Use less water in the shower, and remember that you will use less water for a shower than for a tub bath
• Set the thermostats on lower settings during the cool months, and higher settings during the warm months so you use less energy
• Plant trees in your yard or the neighborhood, you will have to get permission to do this, but trees are our friends and we need them
• Walk more or use a bike to get from one place to another, each time you leave your car at home you are also decreasing the production of greenhouse gases
This is an original news article © The Kids Window
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