Global WarmingTimothy ChanWhat is global warming?Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's surface. Over the past century, the planet's average surface temperature has increased by more than one degree Fahrenheit, while the twelve hottest years on record all occurred after 1998, as shown in the graph below (“Global warming: facing the realities of climate change”). There is a clear indication that the Earth's surface temperature is increasing. The consequences of global warming are numerous. Ice sheets are melting, destroying habitats, endangering many animals that rely on ice sheets, and causing massive sea level rise. Over the past hundred years, sea levels have risen by 4 to 8 inches. This could potentially harm coastal regions such as the Netherlands or the Gulf of Mexico. Another consequence of global warming is the formation of deadly weather conditions. Warmer oceans pump more energy into storms, which could make them stronger and deadlier. While the risks of drought also increase due to greater evaporation, which could lead to numerous forest fires (“Consequences of global warming”). It is therefore important to keep global warming to a minimum in order to make the world safer. Image 1: A graph that shows average global temperatures from 1880 to 2010. The Greenhouse Effect Global warming is caused by greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are essential because they trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, which helps keep the Earth warm. The main sources of greenhouse gases are due to the release of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous (“greenhouse effect”). Humans produce greenhouse gases in many everyday activities such as driving and using electricity. However, releasing too much m...... middle of paper ......g could also happen to many beaches. Rising sea levels will reduce beach space, meaning fewer people will visit beaches while many beachfront restaurants could struggle economically. While some beaches could even disappear forever ("Leisure").Image 6: A melting ski resort which could be economically damagingConclusionGlobal warming could be extremely harmful to our earth and could potentially lead to the extinction of the human race . It is mainly caused by the release of greenhouse gases and deforestation also contributes to the warming of our planet. Global warming is already starting to take its toll, crops are starting to dry out and weather patterns are changing, while global warming could also cause financial hardship for many people and large businesses. People should be aware of this problem and we should try to avoid using fossil fuels..