What evidence would you point to, to prove that the greenhouse effect is indeed occurring?

I know the planet is definitely getting warmer, I can see it for myself. What I am looking for is some simple clear examples that I can cite to clearly show to others to convince them that the greenhouse effect is happening now. I usually refer to the reduction in snow cover here in Wisconsin, but I would like some things more global and concrete that people can easily understand.

Asked by wmscott 56 months ago Similar questions: evidence point prove greenhouse effect occurring Environment.

Similar questions: evidence point prove greenhouse effect occurring.

The earth is getting warmer. First, I would use the term "anthropogenic global warming" in place of "greenhouse effect. " The greenhouse effect is simply the atmospheric effect that keeps the world warm and capable of supporting life.

Anthropogenic Global Warming is the term used to describe the human-caused anomalous warming trend observed in the 20th century and today. This is a key distinction because the claim "the greenhouse effect is happening now" doesn’t have a lot of value -- if the greenhouse effect were to stop we’d all die. I take it you don’t just want evidence that the earth is becoming warmer -- plenty of actual temperature measurements from Earth and from satellites can attest to that -- but instead you want some observations that shows that instead of getting along that we’re in fact getting warmer?

And you want "global and concrete" examples? The problem with global examples is that the basis by which global warming is measured is a global average temperature, which means that even if some parts of the world (polar regions, for instance) are getting warmer, other parts are getting colder. A common (but not very valid) objection to global warming stems from the misunderstanding of what a global average involves: "If global warming is real, how come we don’t see record high temperatures in location X?"

Global warming doesn’t suggest that all places are getting warmer all the time. This means that for every example you might provide that shows the world getting warmer, there's probably a counterexample that shows the world is getting colder. Yikes!

This is why some people choose the term global climate change instead of "warming". For an example of how a seemingly counterintuitive example of weather can be used as an example of the sorts of havoc global warming wreaks, consider this past winter’s massive lake effect snowfalls. Warmer air holds more moisture than cold air, and warmer temperatures prevents lakes from freezing.

Put these facts together -- an unfrozen lake and moisture-laden air in winter. Sounds like a recipe for massive snowfalls to me. Global Warming theory predicts more frequent extreme weather events, not just rising thermometers, but in support of thermometers, what better way to show that warming is occurring than to show the actual measured temperature?

The "zero" on this graph is the mean temperature from 1961-1990. There’s no counter-evidence to the claim that the earth is getting warmer. From what source this warming comes is a matter raised by another question you’ve asked, and I will answer it there.In a year when Easter morning was freezing cold in many places, it may be hard to convince people that the earth is in fact getting warmer, and harder still to convince them that humans have any influence on the climate system.

Some more evidence of a warming earth that may be sufficiently "global and concrete": The north polar ice is receding at a rate of 9% per decade, and continued warming may result in ice-free polar summers. Link Another decreasing snowpack for your stable: the pacific northwest snowpack has reduced by 50% since 1950. Link Glaciers all over are shrinking.

(But some are growing; see paragraph 3 above. ) I hope this gives you enough to go on. Good luck!

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It's important not to confuse the greenhouse effect with global warming The two terms are not interchangeable. A greenhouse effect is undeniable and is and always has been occurring ever since carbon dioxide became present in the atmosphere. Global warming is more controversial because the evidence remains contradictory, and the cause is as yet unknown despite many of the claims that are so readily presented in the mainstream media.

Your question sounds to me to be seeking a good example of evidence of global warming, not of the greenhouse effect. One analogy for the greenhouse effect is a simple blanket, with carbon dioxide being the blanket. Some amount of the solar radiation hitting the planet should be reflected out - it simply bounces away.

Some percent is absorbed by the planet. The presence of carbon dioxide acts as a blanket which retains more of the radiation that would normally be reflected away. The result is a warming of the planet.

A good comparison would be the surface of the moon. Since there is no atmosphere there, there's nothing to retain the heat, so that during a lunar night it gets extremely cold despite the fact that during the day it is extremely hot. Almost almost all of the solar radiation escapes because there is no blanket.

A better example would be a car with its windows rolled up - if you say the windows act the same way as carbon dioxide, everyone will agree that the car gets hotter if it's sitting in the sun with the windows rolled up than with them down. So an increase in the windows surface (or carbon dioxide present) increases the temperature inside the car (planet). Global warming, on the other hand, refers to a change in climate in which the planet's atmosphere is getting warmer, in part due to the greenhouse effect.

The idea here is that more carbon dioxide is in the atmosphere which retains more solar radiation which causes the planet's average temperature to rise. However, there are many scientists who believe that global warming (which really is happening by the way) is not due to increased carbon dioxide or the greenhouse effect, but is caused by some other unknown factor. As for examples that global warming is in fact having an effect, this becomes difficult.

You can cite that parts of the arctic and antarctic ice sheets are shrinking. However, it would be deceptive not to also cite that parts of those ice sheets are actually growing. You could also cite the rise of ocean levels, but there are other factors which could also account for this.

If what you're really after is a really easy example that everyone could agree with, like for example to say winters are so much warmer than they used to be or hurricanes are happening so much more frequently than they ever have, then unfortunately no such example exists when taking a long view of things (over 100 years). People can point to very short term changes (the past two summers were hotter than the last two) but that is far from proof of global warming. Sources: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_effect .

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.