The popular thing in environmental science, right now is the greenhouse effect. Which is a specific variable of the Earth’s lower atmosphere making a change to the ground temperatures. Gases such as Carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor, keep ground temperatures on average all across the globe at around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The average though would be under the freezing point of water without these gases.
This effect comes from these gases due to an influx of solar radiation that the surfaces are struck with. Infrared radiation, or heat, is what the ground gives off to keep the gases trapped and near ground level. The term greenhouse effect is derived from these gases because it is so similar to the way a greenhouse traps its heat.
It’s a fear of environmental scientists that humans’ actions eventually could cause the surface of the Earth to heat up to a dangerous degree, because of changes in the atmosphere. Severe environmental distress would occur if even a small rise in the average temperatures happened, because it could lead to melting of polar ice caps, and that means rises in sea level. Venus is a prime example of the greenhouse effect taking control of a planet. It has a thick carbon dioxide atmosphere, making the surface of Venus that is cloud-covered hot enough to melt even lead.
A surprisingly important greenhouse gas is actually water vapor. Humid regions have smaller cooling difference at night than dry regions do, and water vapor is a major factor in that. Carbon dioxide is what in the past has been major in climate changes. Fossil fuels being burnt in the past years have increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Even if all the other things remain relatively constant and just the CO2 levels rise the temperature would still raise.
So in short I do believe that the greenhouse effect is real and a threat. With all the human everyday activities, car and factory emissions putting CO2 out into the environment have to slow...