Global warming is the increase in the average measured temperature of the Earth`s near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century, and its projected continuation.

The average global air temperature near the Earth`s surface increased 0.74 ± 0.18 °C (1.33 ± 0.32 °F) during the 100 years ending in 2005.[1] The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes "most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-twentieth century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic (man-made) greenhouse gas concentrations"[1] via an enhanced greenhouse effect. Natural phenomena such as solar variation combined with volcanoes probably had a small warming effect from pre-industrial times to 1950 and a small cooling effect from 1950 onward.[2][3]

These basic conclusions have been endorsed by at least 30 scientific societies and academies of science,[4] including all of the national academies of science of the major industrialized countries.[5][6][7] While individual scientists have voiced disagreement with some findings of the IPCC,[8] the overwhelming majority of scientists working on climate change agree with the IPCC`s main conclusions.[9][10]

Climate model projections summarized by the IPCC indicate that average global surface temperature will likely rise a further 1.1 to 6.4 °C (2.0 to 11.5 °F) during the twenty-first century.[1] This range of values results from the use of differing scenarios of future greenhouse gas emissions as well as models with differing climate sensitivity. Although most studies focus on the period up to 2100, warming and sea level rise are expected to continue for more than a thousand years even if greenhouse gas levels are stabilized. The delay in reaching equilibrium is a result of the large heat capacity of the oceans.[1]

Increasing global temperature is expected to cause sea levels to rise, an increase in the intensity of extreme weather events, and significant changes to the amount and pattern of precipitation, likely leading to an expanse of tropical areas and increased pace of desertification. Other expected effects of global warming include changes in agricultural yields, modifications of trade routes, glacier retreat, species extinctions and increases in the ranges of disease vectors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming

Global Warming & The Way Out

A Free Public Talk on Climate Change
presented by Dr Dana Murty
Dr Dana Murty will present an overview of the current global climate change situation, by means of a slide presentation, and with an emphasis on Australia, and on what each of us can do to help alleviate this global climate crisis. The presentation will cover the current and predicted climate change situation and the main causes of this change, followed by the current strategy to alleviate it, and by the environmentally sustainable way of life, the Middle Way. It will conclude with an ecological parable "The Tragedy of the Commons" and open discussion.

Location: Buddhist Library and Meditation Centre, 90 Church St, Camperdown.
Date: Friday, 13th April 2007.
Time: 6:30 for 7pm Start
Cost: Free, with Donations going towards the Library`s Cambodia Education Project

REGISTRATION ESSENTIAL

A Bit about the Speaker: Dr Danuse Murty will present an overview of the current global climate change situation, by means of a slide presentation, and with an emphasis on Australia, and on what each of us can do to help alleviate this global climate crisis. The presentation will cover the current and predicted climate change situation and the main causes of this change, followed by the current strategy to alleviate it, and by the environmentally sustainable way of life, the Middle Way. It will conclude with an ecological parable "The Tragedy of the Commons" and open discussion.

Danuse had worked on the Global Climate Change related issues at the School of Biology, University of NSW, from 1991 until 2002. Her PhD and postdoctoral research formed a part of the UNSW-CSIRO Forest Ecosystem Modeling project. This research project contributed to the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), and it was supported by the National Greenhouse Advisory Committee and the Australian Research Council.