The Science
The Evidence and Impacts
The influence of global warming goes far beyond the global average rise in temperatures around the world. While the effects of climate change will be felt by every person across the planet, it does not do so evenly. While one region may be suffering from extended droughts another may be threatened by the coastal rise of ocean sea levels. To get a better understanding of the science behind global warming and to understand how it may affect regions around the world, there are many valuable sources of information in books and web sites.
A great place to start is on the web site of the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) that includes a comprehensive report on climate change summarizing the scientific indicators used in measuring the impact on the US and around the world. You may view a 27 page slide show or download and read the 80 page pdf document. The indicators the EPA uses are as follows:
Greenhouse Gases
- U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Atmospheric Concentrations of Greenhouse Gases
- Climate Forcing
Weather and Climate
- U.S. and Global Temperature
- Heat Waves
- Drought
- U.S. and Global Precipitation
- Heavy Precipitation
- Tropical Cyclone Intensity
Oceans
- Ocean Heat
- Sea Surface Temperature
- Sea Level
- Ocean Acidity
Snow and Ice
- Arctic Sea Ice
- Glaciers
- Lake Ice
- Snow Cover
- Snowpack
Society and Ecosystems
- Heat-Related Deaths
- Length of Growing Season
- Plant Hardiness Zones
- Leaf and Bloom Dates
- Bird Wintering Ranges
Astronomical Factors and Climate Change
Sheldon Schafer, the Vice President of Education at Lakeview Muesum, has been teaching a climate change course around central Illinois for several years. With his background in astonomy, he is uniquely qualified to explain how astonomical cycles drive the climate on the earth and how those cycles cannot explain the unusual changes to the Earth’s climate today. His course covers topics such as the Milankovitch Cycles (shape of the orbit, tilt of the axis, and precession), sunspots, magnetic storms, total solar irradiance, and cosmic rays. For millions of years, these astonomical factors have been driving changes in the Earth’s climate, but now there are anthroprogenic factors driving climate change such as greenhouse gases and aerosols. Stay tuned to our web site for dates of future classes. For now, you may view a pdf version of Mr. Schafer’s powerpoint by clicking the link below.
Astronomical Factors and Climate Change Presentation
Skeptical Science
In today’s political climate, global warming has become a very polarized issue and has hampered efforts to pass a meaningful climate change bill. Despite the fact that scientists agree that climate change is real and is largely caused by humans, that debate is still going on in media reports. Any understanding of climate change must include scientific evidence. The web site www.skepticalscience.com does a great job of presenting a scientific rebuttal to what the naysayers are saying.
Educate yourself
Keeping up with the science behind global warming is a fluid process. Scientific reports continue to present more evidence that not only adds to the original consensus but often shows that it is happening faster than has been predicted. To stay abreast of the latest news, here are some recommended sources in alphabetical order for more information:
- Living on Earth – National news organization
- NASA – Global Climate Change – Government
- NPR Climate Connections – National news organization
- Pew Center on Global Climate Change – Nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working on climate change issues with business leaders, policy makers, and scientists
- Real Climate – Unaffiliated private science web site from working climate scientists
- Sierra Club – The oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization in the United States
- Skeptical Science – Unaffiliated private science web site from Australian physicist
- United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – IPCC – United Nations
- United Nations Environment Program – United Nations
- US EPA Climate Change – Government
- US State Department – Government
- Will Steger Foundation – Environmental foundation from polar explorer working to move governmental policy on global warming issues
Global Warming Solutions Group of Central Illinois 
Excellent! Here in one place are links to all the information I’ve been searching for. I was fortunate to have found this webpage by accident. How can it become more visible to people across the country and the planet?
If you are here in central Illinois, you should come to our next meeting on October 7th at 6:30 PM at Lakeview Library. We are always looking for new voices and new perspectives, and meetings are open to the public. If you have any direct questions, feel free to contact me at todd@gwsolutionsgroup.com. Thanks for the comments!