Global Warming
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- Global warming is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth's surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to changes in global climate patterns. Global warming can occur from a variety of causes, both natural and human induced. In common usage, "global warming" often refers to the warming that can occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities. See climate change, greenhouse effect, enhanced greenhouse effect, radiative forcing, troposphere. Source: 2006 U.S. Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: Fast Facts (PDF, 2 pp., 220 KB, About PDF)
EPA - Cite This Source - This Definition - The progressive gradual rise of the earth's surface temperature thought to be caused by the greenhouse effect and responsible for changes in global climate patterns. An increase in the near surface temperature of the Earth. Global warming has occurred in the distant past as the result of natural influences, but the term is most often used to refer to the warming predicted to occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases. See climate change, greenhouse effect, enhanced greenhouse effect, radiative forcing.
EPA - Cite This Source - This Definition - an increase in temperature that occurs globally such as during the transition from a glacial to an interglacial climate state, or that predicted to result from human increases in greenhouse gases.
NCDC National Climatic Data Center - Cite This Source - This Definition - abrupt climate change, adaptation, Carbon Dioxide Fertilization, Climate Change, Climate Lag, Climate Sensitivity, Emissions, forcing, Forcing Mechanism, Irreversibilities, mechanism, Nonlinearities, Radiative Forcing
- An overall increase in world temperatures which may be caused by additional heat being trapped by greenhouse gases.
NOAA National Weather Service - Cite This Source - This Definition - General circulation, Global Temperature Change, Lapse rate, Rocketsonde, Tropopause