Global Warming Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Global Warming - Research Paper Example As the paper stresses recent temperature readings worldwide indicate a rapid increase in the temperature of the earth’s surface witnessed during the past century. The information excludes potential causers of the rise in temperature such as the urban heat island effect. The data show a rapid warming trend, especially during the past 30 years. The surface temperature data rhyme with other evidence of warming, for example the shrinking mountain glaciers, evidence of the decreasing polar ice cover, and the increasing ocean temperatures. Extensive research has been done to answer the question as to whether the witnessed warming trend is usual or whether it is due to the 20th century breakdown, which comes with the â€Å"accumulation of excess green house gases† in the atmosphere of the earth. As the discussion explores global warming happens naturally because the climate continuously changes over time. As such, the earth’s rotation gradually increases the sunlight intensity as the earth rotates closer to the sun. The sun acts as the main source of energy to earth. The output of the sun’s energy is constant. However, even the smallest of changes over time leads to climatic changes. Other factors such as slow or fast changes in the orbit of the earth changes the normal distribution of the sun’s energy across the planet, which leads to long term fluctuations of climate such as ice ages. Therefore, scientist cannot say that the sun’s output causes global warming, especially because there has not been an increase in the sun’s output in the last 30 years.