10/26/2014 Global Warming is Human Caused - National Wildlife Federation Search Website WHO WE ARE WHAT WE DO WHERE WE WORK HOW TO HELP NEWS & BLOGS PHOTOS WILDLIFE Wildlife Wildlife Library Global Warming is Human Caused 175 48 Wild Places Wildlife Conservation Scientists have concluded that most of the observed warming is very likely due to the burning of coal, oil, and gas. This conclusion is based on a detailed understanding Threats to Wildlife of the atmospheric greenhouse effect and how human activities have been tweaking it. At the same time, other reasonable explanations, most notably changes in the Global Warming Sun, have been ruled out. What's Happening? The atmospheric greenhouse effect naturally keeps our planet warm enough to be livable. Sunlight passes through the atmosphere. Light-colored surfaces, such as Human Impact Featured Action clouds or ice caps, radiate some heat back into space. But most of the incoming heat Effects on Wildlife warms the planet's surface. The Earth then radiates some heat back into the and Habitat atmosphere. Some of that heat is trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide (CO2). Extreme Weather Habitat Loss Invasive Species Overexploitation Celebrate Success for Polar Bears Pollutants Take action Disease National Wildlife Week Wildlife in a Warming World Adopt an Animal Speak up for Wildlife How is climate change Garden for Wildlife impacting wildlife? Adopt a Wildlife Acre Human activity--such as burning fossil fuels--causes more greenhouse gases to build up in the atmosphere. As the atmosphere "thickens" with more greenhouse gases, Wildlife in a Warming World more heat is held in. Fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas are high in carbon and, when burned, produce major amounts of carbon dioxide or CO2. A single gallon Swimming Upstream: Freshwater of gasoline, when burned, puts 19 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Fish in a Warming World The role of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in warming the Earth's surface was Shifting Skies: Migratory Birds in a Warming World Donate first demonstrated by Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius more than 100 years ago. Scientific data have since established that, for hundreds of thousands of years, Big Game Wildlife in a Warming changes in temperature have closely tracked with atmospheric CO concentrations. Shop 2 World Since the Industrial Revolution, the burning of coal, oil and natural gas has emitted Renew roughly 500 billion tons of CO2, about half of which remains in the atmosphere. This CO is the biggest factor responsible for recent warming trends. Adopt 2 Leave a Legacy Wildlife and Nature by National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Promise Blogs Read Magazine By: Tasharie Bethea [10/19/14] More blogs on global warming>> http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Global-Warming/Global-Warming-is-Human-Caused.aspx 1/2 10/26/2014 Global Warming is Human Caused - National Wildlife Federation Donate | Shop | Magazines | Action Center | About Us | E-Newsletter | Contact Us | Jobs | Kids Fun Things: Helping Wildlife: Magazines: Connect with NWF Wildlife Photos: Activity Finder Join NWF Ranger Rick Facebook Photo Contest Nature Find Renew Membership Ranger Rick Jr. Twitter Kids Photo Contest Animal Games Take Action National Wildlife Google+ Caption Contest Wildlife Library Garden for Wildlife Wildlife News: YouTube Flickr Groups Wildlife Watch Adopt an Animal Wildlife Promise Blog Pinterest Green Your School Media Center © 1996-2014 National Wildlife Federation | PO Box 1583, Merrifield VA 22116-1583 1-800-822-9919 (M-F 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. EST) National Wildlife Federation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Site Map | Contact Us http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Global-Warming/Global-Warming-is-Human-Caused.aspx 2/2.