The science in our daily lives: What is global warming?

Narrabri-based scientist Dr Bec Thistlethwaite will contribute a fortnightly column to The Courier on the science in our daily lives. Readers are invited to send their science questions in to Dr Bec via [email protected]

What is global warming? asks Lucas, age 13.

Wrapping yourself in too many blankets at night is kind what global warming feels like for our planet.

It happens when we pump too many greenhouse gases – like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) – into our atmosphere.

They hang out up high, trapping heat from the sun and slowing down the Earth’s natural cooling process.

Just like that extra blanket keeps you warmer than you might want to be, these gases cause our planet’s temperature to rise!

Right now, the average global surface temperature in 2024 is about 15°C, compared to 14°C just 150 years ago.

At first glance, a 1°C difference might seem tiny, but on a global scale, it packs a punch, especially when it comes to weather patterns.

Among the many greenhouse gases out there, CO2 is the heavyweight champion.

It’s mostly produced when we burn fossil fuels – like the petrol that powers our cars and for every litre of petrol burned, we release about 2.5 kilograms of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Every time you recycle just one aluminium can, you prevent about 100 grams of CO2 from escaping into the air.

And the energy saved from recycling just 10 cans can power your family car for around five kilometres.

Imagine multiplying that by all the cars there are on the roads in Narrabri, let alone the world.

But don’t worry—there’s hope.

While global warming is a challenge we need to adapt to, there are plenty of everyday actions we can take to slow it down.

From driving more fuel-efficient cars to recycling as much as possible, every little bit helps.

In my field of science, we’re also working on developing crops that can thrive in these warmer temperatures.

If everyone does a little bit each day, we can all help to slow down global warming, keep our world happy and cool, and protect it for many generations to come.