Human activity has altered the atmosphere in what, geologically speaking, is but an instant. Since the industrial revolution, burning carbon fuels has markedly raised carbon dioxide levels. The Greenhouse Effect is linked to a complicated series of chemical, biological, oceanic, meteorological, and atmospheric events. It seems very likely that in the near future global warming will continue and intensify.

Full introduction to the chapter Go

Selections in this chapter:

• John Houghton, from “The Greenhouse Effect” in Global Warming: The Complete Briefing (1997) [22] Go
• Thomas R. Karl and Kevin E. Trenberth, “Modern Global Climate Change” (2003) [25] Go
• John Gribbin, from “Earth’s Temperature Trends,” “CO2 and Ice Ages,” and “Oceans and Climate” in Hothouse Earth: The Greenhouse Effect and Gaia (1990) [34] Go
• Seamus Heaney, “Höfn” (2004) [49] Go

INTERCONNECTIONS--supplementary readings from other chapters of the anthology  

• All selections in Chapter 3, Nuclear Power: Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and the Future [83] Go
• Peter M. Vitousek et al., from “Human Domination of Earth’s Ecosystems” (1997) (Chapter 11) [365] Go
• All selections in Chapter 13, Air and Water [449] Go
• All selections in Chapter 14, Energy [492] Go
• Thomas H. Tietenberg, from “Using Economic Incentives to Maintain Our Environment” (1990) (Chapter 23) [795] Go

Web Connections Go

Recommended further reading Go