The average temperature of the earth's surface is about 15°C (59°F). The temperature largely is determined by the amount of energy absorbed from the sun versus the amount of energy emitted into space by the earth. The energy absorbed by the sun mainly covers wavelengths from the ultraviolet (< 400 nm) through the visible (400 to 700 nm) though the ultraviolet (> 700 nm).
Any change in the balance between the quantity of energy absorbed compared to the amount emitted affects climate. The "greenhouse effect" is concerned with the infrared radiation given off by the earth. Part of this radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere, rather than being lost to space. The gases in the atmosphere that absorb infrared light primarily are water (H2), carbon dioxide (http://www.lookchem.com/cas-100/10024-97-2.html) (CO2), ozone (O3), nitrous oxide (NO2) and methane (CH4). The gases act as a sort of insulating blanket for the earth, in the same way they would act to lessen heat loss from a greenhouse, hence the name 'greenhouse effect'. It is estimated that the mean global surface temperature of the earth would be -25°C (-13°F) if not for the absorption of energy by carbon dioxide and water.
The concentration of water vapor in the atmosphere is higher than that of carbon dioxide. Consequently, most of this energy conservation is attributable to water. You can see this effect when you look at how temperature drops less on nights with heavy cloud cover as opposed to clear skies or when you consider how large the temperature difference between day and night is in places with lower relative humidity, like the desert.
Although the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is low (~375 ppm in 2005), it has been increasing appreciably over time. A century ago, the carbon dioxide concentration was less than 300 ppm. Human activites are accountable for this increase, including consumption of fossil fuels and extensive clearing of land (less carbon dioxide can be consumed by photosynthesis). Changes in the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are associated with changes in the earth's climate

The CO2 increase from slash and burn and swampland drainage is nearly as bad as that from the coal fired power plants. The average temperature was 59*F but has risen significantly at the polar regions, 5*F in the north leading to tundra methane release and 3.5* in the south. On the no fly days after 9-11, temperatures in the USA spiked up 2.5*F to 3*F from the loss of commercial aircraft contrails shading much of the country. The global dimming effect hits many areas downwind from the soot and water vapor of coal fired power plants.
The tundra areas temperature rise is enough to cause continuous geometric methane releases which exacerbate the temperature rise toward a point of self sustainability. The ocean CO2 saturation levels is also letting off NO2 from the increased acidity. The ocean warming has slowed the Gulf Stream 30% since the 1950s, and the trend is for methane hydrate deposits to eventually release and succeeding depths. The trend is for temperatures to be too high for the slowdown of the Gulf Stream to have the "Day After Tomorrow" type effect.
The common misconception is that if it is cold, then there is no general global warming. The first effects are of climate fluctuation, going to beyond historic levels. Early fall frosts, late spring frosts, more adverse wind and hail, more flooding, and more droughts conspire to reduce crop yields. This is combined with salinization, citification, soil sterilization by insecticides/herbicides and heavy metals from oil based fertilizers and coal power plant fallout, micro-nutrient depletion from the lack of organic compost, desertification, and erosion from over-use. Plus the increasing demands of overpopulation.
The greenhouse effect, overpopulation, depletions of soil and groundwater, the fisheries depletion, and oil depletion conspire together to form what is called a perfect storm for the cascading eco and population collapses before mid century. The greenhouse effect lasts, and gets worse with the self sustaining oceanic methane releases to a point of biosphere change to malevolent for the vast majority of life, which can not adapt or change fast enough, and the Earth takes several hundred thousand years to recover.

The average temperature of the earth's surface is about 15°C (59°F). The temperature largely is determined by the amount of energy absorbed from the sun versus the amount of energy emitted into space by the earth. The energy absorbed by the sun mainly covers wavelengths from the ultraviolet (< 400 nm) through the visible (400 to 700 nm) though the ultraviolet (> 700 nm).
Any change in the balance between the quantity of energy absorbed compared to the amount emitted affects climate. The "greenhouse effect" is concerned with the infrared radiation given off by the earth. Part of this radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere, rather than being lost to space. The gases in the atmosphere that absorb infrared light primarily are water (H2), carbon dioxide (http://www.lookchem.com/cas-100/10024-97-2.html) (CO2), ozone (O3), nitrous oxide (NO2) and methane (CH4). The gases act as a sort of insulating blanket for the earth, in the same way they would act to lessen heat loss from a greenhouse, hence the name 'greenhouse effect'. It is estimated that the mean global surface temperature of the earth would be -25°C (-13°F) if not for the absorption of energy by carbon dioxide and water.
The concentration of water vapor in the atmosphere is higher than that of carbon dioxide. Consequently, most of this energy conservation is attributable to water. You can see this effect when you look at how temperature drops less on nights with heavy cloud cover as opposed to clear skies or when you consider how large the temperature difference between day and night is in places with lower relative humidity, like the desert.
Although the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is low (~375 ppm in 2005), it has been increasing appreciably over time. A century ago, the carbon dioxide concentration was less than 300 ppm. Human activites are accountable for this increase, including consumption of fossil fuels and extensive clearing of land (less carbon dioxide can be consumed by photosynthesis). Changes in the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are associated with changes in the earth's climate

The CO2 is now close to 390ppm, when the average over the last 1.1 million years in analyzed core samples was 230 ppm, with variation up or down of 50ppm. The warming started methane releases in tundra 2000, and this year oceanic off the Norwegian Continental Shelf down to 400 meters.

you "do" know it is possible if we pich in and save the earth

The CO2 is now close to 390ppm, when the average over the last 1.1 million years in analyzed core samples was 230 ppm, with variation up or down of 51ppm. The warming started methane releases in tundra 2000, and this year oceanic off the Norwegian Continental Shelf down to 400 meters.
Time to bump this educational post up.

The greenhouse effect is caused by an atmosphere containing gases that absorb and emit infrared radiation. Greenhouse gases trap heat within the surface-troposphere system, causing heating at the surface of the planet or moon.This mechanism is fundamentally different from that of an actual greenhouse, which works by isolating warm air inside the structure so that heat is not lost by convection. The greenhouse effect was discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1824, first reliably experimented on by John Tyndall in 1858, and first reported quantitatively by Svante Arrhenius in 1896.

The black body temperature of the Earth is 5.5 °C.Since the Earth's surface reflects about 28% of incoming sunlight, in the absence of the greenhouse effect the planet's mean temperature would be far lower - about -18 or -19 °C instead of the much higher current mean temperature, about 14 °C.

Global warming, a recent warming of the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere, is believed to be the result of an "enhanced greenhouse effect" mostly due to human-produced increases in atmospheric greenhouse gases. This human induced part is referred to as anthropogenic global warming (AGW).

Laura 10 gave a good definition, with an embedded spam link that got her banned. Now you come here with another OK definition and cuban cigar spamming.
This ruins TER, and very little will be tolerated. Does anyone else think I should ban him? A week up to permanent. I'll let the next members replying to this post decide.:smile::notworthy: