Other gases such as nitrogen oxide and man made gases called fluorocarbons get caught in the atmosphere as well. The absorption of infrared energy by the earth and the atmosphere maintains a temperature range on earth that is hospitable to life. Without the greenhouse effect the earth would be a frozen planet with an average temperature of 0?F and -18?C.

The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, in the last hundred years, has increased 28% and could rise by more than 40% in the next hundred years. Nitrogen oxide is the key element of smog.

The EPA has required 22 states to reduce local levels of nitrogen oxide. The compound, produced by power plants, cars, and other sources, contr

This warming increase would alter climates throughout the world, affect crop production, and cause sea levels to rise significantly. If this happens, millions of people will be adversely affected by major flooding. With the melting of polar icecaps, the sea level will rise 1-3 feet resulting in flooding of small islands, shallow rivers and coastal cities. The Everglades in Florida would be almost, if not totally, wiped off the map. The animal life there would have to move northward across very dry land, which they would not be able to endure for long. With the hot temperatures spreading northward and southward, tropical disease will spread with it. Diseases that were originally in Mexico will perhaps occur in the Carolinas or Vermont. These new diseases will be difficult to deal, causing many more deaths and illnesses than before. The flooding will result in the construction of more dams; cities to be rebuilt and the shortage of food will cause prices to go up. Financially, the greenhouse effect is very serious.

The global temperature has been increasing steadily, but slowly. Since 1980 the temperature has risen 0.4?F and 0.2?C. Scientists predict that if the same amount of gas is put into the atmosphere by the year 2030, the temperature will be rising as much 0.9?F and 0.5?C or more per decade. Some scientists attribute the rise to natural fluctuations in the level of carbon dioxide; others attribute it to the burning of fossil fuels, such as oil, gas and coal. The slash and burn clearing

Some common words found in the essay are:
North America, Greenhouse Effect, Carolinas Vermont, Ice Age, Massachusetts Hampshire, Kyoto Protocol, Everglades Florida, European Union, Kyoto Japan, greenhouse effect, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, EPA Hampshire, below 1990 levels, sea levels, 1990 levels, global temperature, below 1990, power plants, north america, infrared radiation,
Approximate Word count = 1012
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)