Earth’s temperature caused by increased
emission of greenhouse gases
into the atmosphere (1). The greenhouse
gases, including CO2, form a blanket
in the Earth’s atmosphere that traps
heat and causes global temperatures
to increase (1). This theory of global
warming was first offered by a Swedish
chemist named Svante Arrhenius
in 1896 (2). Arrhenius estimated that
“doubling the level of carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere would raise the mean
global temperature by several degrees”
(2). Even then, his audience was skeptical
as many other factors could also
affect global temperature. Since Arrhenius’
paper, the global warming discussion
has grown convoluted as both scientists
and the media have addressed
the subject. Scientists track climate
change and publish their evidence, but
then the media hypes it up in its articles
to the public. To add to the confusion,
the public tends to avoid thinking much
about the topic unless extreme weather
occurs unexpectedly. However, despite
overwhelming opinions, there are facts
to support both sides of the debate.