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It's a slow drip, but it's melting glaciers and we are to blame. That's according to a new research which finds the earth is now the hottest since it has been in 400 years and potentially the last 2000 or more. And the study says the recent warm is unprecedented. Commission by a congressional committee, The National Academy of Sciences' report says human activities are responsible for much of the recent warming. On Thursday, the panel of top climate scientists presented the findings.
Human activities are increasing the concentrations of certain gases in the atmosphere. Because of the physical properties of these gases, they inevitably cause warming. Over the last century, the warming has occurred with a magnitude of a bit more than one degree Fahrenheit.
Some scientists say these findings are not a matter of debate. Evidence of the warming was taken from nature, retreating glaciers, ice cores, water sediments and other sources. The 155-page report was meant to request questions as to whether global warming is a major threat. The results will challenge the Bush administration the view that global warming is not severe enough to warn new pollution controls. According to the White House, these controls would cost 5 million Americans their jobs.
John Belon, the Associated Press .......
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