Climate change affects all of us - and we can all be part of the solution.

Climate refers to the average weather experienced over a long period. This includes temperature, wind and rainfall patterns. The climate of the Earth is not static, and has changed many times in response to a variety of natural causes.

The Earth has warmed by 0.74°C over the last hundred years. Around 0.4°C of this warming has occurred since the 1970s.

The recent Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) leaves us in no doubt that human activity is the primary driver of the observed changes in climate. Scientists at the UK Hadley Centre (which is substantially funded by Defra) made significant contributions to this report.

The main human influence on global climate is emissions of the key greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide (CO2),methane and nitrous oxide. The accumulation of these gases in the atmosphere strengthens the greenhouse effect. At present, just over 7 billion tonnes of CO2 is emitted globally each year through fossil fuel use, and an additional 1.6 billion tonnes are emitted by land use change, largely by deforestation. The concentrations of these gases in the atmosphere have now reached levels unprecedented for tens of thousands of years.

According to AR4, mean global temperatures are likely to rise between 1.1 and 6.4°C (with a best estimate of 1.8 to 4°C) above 1990 levels by the end of this century, depending on our emissions. This will result in a further rise in global sea levels of between 20 and 60cm by the end of this century, continued melting of ice caps, glaciers and sea ice, changes in rainfall patterns and intensification of tropical cyclones.

Discover where some of the worst hotspots and fingerprints of global warming are occuring by visiting the Climate Hotmap.

You can see the various warning signs broken down continent by continent and the region by region.

On Feb. 2, 2007, the United Nations scientific panel looking into climate change stated the evidence of a warming trend is "unequivocal" and it was human activity that had "very likely" been the driving force in that change over the last 50 years. The previous report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2001 had concluded humanity had "likely" played a role.

The addition of that single word "very" reflected mounting scientific evidence that the release of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases from chimneys, exhausts and the burning of forests has played a central role in raising the average surface temperature of the earth by more than 1 degree Fahrenheit since 1900. It also added new momentum to a debate that now seems centered less over whether humans are warming the planet, but instead over what to do about it. In recent months, business groups have banded together to make unprecedented calls for federal regulation of greenhouse gases. The subject had a red-carpet moment when former Vice President Al Gore's documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth," was awarded an Oscar; and the Supreme Court made its first global warming-related decision, ruling 5 to 4 that the Environmental Protection Agency had not justified its position that it was not authorized to regulate carbon dioxide.

Read the full story at the New York Times.

Oslo, 10 December 07 - The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Albert Arnold (Al) Gore Jr. were awarded of the Nobel Peace Prize "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change".

Use of solar energy is becoming more and more popular every day. The price of electricity is rising and the best alternative that we have today is using solar energy. We all know that global warming is on an everyday rise today. The main reason for this being burning of fossil fuels like coal,which in turn is being used to produce electricity,so if we want our future to be safe, this is the time we step forward and start using solar technology

NEED FOR ELECTRICAL POWER

Arguments that have constantly supported that electricity is of utmost importance and needs to remain are:

1) Need for light and power after it becomes dark

2) Need for appliances to work so that the food we eat remains edible.

We would be greatly interrupted in our daily routine if we did not have power or electricity for large portion of day. Not being able to use electricity for either work or entertainment would be a great hamper on life as we know it.

VARIETY OF SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTS

The main reason that many people don't use solar energy is because they are not aware of what all it has to offer. Thsi being stated that they are not aware of what all products are available that can be used with the help of solar energy for an average home. In fact, you can install solar energy systems that range from small portable systems for your vacation home to large permanent solar energy systems that are built right into your home as either a standalone system or a grid system. It is this wide-ranging versatility coupled with the fact that it is a renewable easily available power source that makes it such a great thing.

You can start out small with individual systems such as solar water heater,solar shower, solar lighting, solar fans. That is not all these days we also have solar radios,cookers,purification system. Solar energy is far more useful as it can be used to recharge your batteries and you can also power up every single appliance in your house with the help of the right solar system. It is just a matter of determining where you want to utilize it.

Solar energy can be used in your garden or home. By using it in multiple places around the household you can cut your power bills significantly. There are a multitude of uses for solar energy around the household. It can be used to recharge your batteries, phone and other small appliances. Once you discover solar energy for the home, you will realize that you can power up virtually any electrical appliance or machine with the right solar energy system and supplies.

CONCLUSION

After reading the above article you can quickly start to see where and how utilizing solar energy would benefit you,your pocketbook and your children. Just remember that todays saving could lead to a bright and healthy future. So invest in solar system kits and you can enjoy every aspect of electricity with the help of solar energy, you can work in well lit conditions, you will save your money and you will protect the environment. You can enjoy solar energy for the house by working it in your life gradually.

About the Author: Bruce Campbell makes it easy to use solar energy, quickly & easily. Learn the essential keys to solar energy utilization. To receive more information visit the SOLAR ENERGY FOR HOUSES website.

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