Nowadays one of the most alarming topics
in the whole world is “GLOBAL WARMING”. The thing that has been vexing all the
scientists as well as the concerned denizens of the world. The whole world has
been unhappy about what is happening. Global warming has been soaring day by
day and everyone knows this thing but what is really “Global Warming”.
Global warming is the hike in global
temperature since the late 19th century. The effects of global temperature are being
exhibited all over the world. Various features like amount of precipitation,
sea level etc. have been influenced by the variation is temperature patters all
over the world. Warming is expected to be strongest in the
Arctic and would be associated with the continuing retreat of glaciers and sea
ice.
The temperature of Earth has been
continuously incrementing due to various factors like Solar Luminosity,
volcanic eruptions, variation in Earth orbit around the Sun. These factors are
called external forcings which continuously play a significant role in raising
the temperature.
The next thing is Greenhouse effects. Greenhouse effects, proposed by Joseph
Fourier in 1824, is the absorption of infrared radiation and heat by gases
present in the atmosphere. Naturally occurring amounts of greenhouse gases have
a mean warming effect of about 33 °C (59 °F). The major greenhouse gases are water
vapor, which causes about 36–70% of the greenhouse effect; carbon dioxide (CO2),
which causes 9–26%; methane (CH4), which causes 4–9%; and ozone (O3),
which causes 3–7%. Clouds also affect the radiation balance through cloud
forcings similar to greenhouse gases.
Human activity since the Industrial Revolution has increased the amount of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to increased radiative forcing from
CO2, methane, tropospheric ozone, CFCs and nitrous oxide. The concentrations
of CO2 and methane have increased by 36% and 148% respectively since
1750. These levels are much higher than at any time during the last 800,000
years. Fossil
fuel burning has produced about three-quarters of the increase in CO2
from human activity over the past 20 years. The rest of this increase is caused
mostly by changes in land-use, particularly deforestation. Due to various
unethical activities of mankind like non-judicious burning of our fossil fuels,
deforestation for commercial vegetations etc. we are watching such increased
levels of Global Warming. The burning of fuels and natural things like volcanic
eruptions result in huge emission of heat and other gases which are trapped by
the earth’s atmosphere and results in the increased temperature. NASA's Goddard
Institute for Space Studies (GISS) and the National Climatic Data Center show
that 2005 and 2010 tied for the planet's warmest year since reliable due to
huge emission rates and humongous cutting of trees. Due to huge deforestation
the amount of CO2, a major greenhouse gas has increased which also plays huge
role behind the global warming.
EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING
Excess of everything is bad and that’s why now human beings are also
bearing the burden of such carelessness towards the nature.
Due to heating of earth, the mankind has to bear the brunt of. Some effects
of global warming are here:-
1.
Melting of glaciers: Due to the heating of earth our glaciers which give birth to rivers all
around the world are melting at a rate faster than ever. Such a rapid melting
of glaciers results in changed global river patterns. Due to such sharp melting
there has been an immense increase in the amount of waters in oceans and rivers
which results in disasters like tsunami and floods, causing huge damages to the
mankind.
2.
Changed ecological system: Due to global warming, the weather pattern, precipitation pattern all
over the globe has changed, causing huge difficulties to mankind as well as
animals, plants etc. Plants as well as animals like are not able to acclimatize
themselves according to the changed patterns resulting in huge animal losses. For
example Migratory birds are not getting suitable climate for their birth which
is conducive to huge loss of them.
3.
Food security: Future warming of
around 3 °C (by 2100, relative to 1990–2000) could result in increased crop
yields in mid- and high-latitude areas, but in low-latitude areas, yields could
decline, increasing the risk of malnutrition. A similar regional pattern of net
benefits and costs could occur for economic (market-sector) effects. Warming
above 3 °C could result in crop yields falling in temperate regions, leading to
a reduction in global food production. According to a recent study, due to this
phenomenon India could see a drop in crop production of 30%-40% till 2100.
4.
Natural Calamities: The retreat of glaciers
and ice caps can cause increased volcanism. Reduction in ice cover reduces the confining
pressure exerted on the volcano, increasing deviatoric stresses and potentially
causing the volcano to erupt. This reduction of pressure can also cause decompression
melting of material in the mantle, resulting in the generation of more magma.
Earthquakes can also be causes due to huge unloading of glaciers from mountains
etc.
5.
Acidification: About one-third of the CO2 emitted by human being has been
taken up by oceans. The Carbon Dioxide dissolves in ocean leading to
acidification of oceans.
Curbing global warming
Reduce Fossil Fuel Use
Burning
fossil fuels increases the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. There
are two ways to reduce fossil fuel use: Use less energy, or use alternative,
nonpolluting energy sources like solar and wind power. At home, this translates to saving electricity
by using energy-efficient appliances and compact fluorescent light bulbs, as
well as reducing gasoline use and buying green power from your electricity
provider, if available.
Plant Trees
Because
carbon dioxide is the most important greenhouse gas, planting trees and other
plants can slow or stop global warming. Plants take in carbon dioxide and
release oxygen. They use carbon to build their own tissues and return some of
it to the soil in a process called sequestration. Deforestation of rain forests
is a large contributor to global warming and CO2 emissions, but planting new
trees, even in your own backyard, can help to offset this.
Reduce Waste
The
production of garbage contributes to global warming both directly and
indirectly. Decomposing waste in landfills produces methane and other
greenhouse gases. Waste also requires energy to manufacture in the first place.
Reducing your consumption patterns and reusing items whenever possible
minimizes your carbon footprint, since fewer new items need to be made.
Recycling metal, plastic, glass and paper lowers greenhouse gas emissions,
since recycled items take far less energy to manufacture than items produced
from scratch.
Conserve Water
Cities
consume significant amounts of energy when purifying and distributing water,
which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Saving water reduces the amount
of energy used. At home, turn off water immediately whenever you're not using
it, and repair or replace leaky faucets and toilets.