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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 19^th 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.