GLOBAL WARMING
Global warming is the global rise in the temperature of the air and oceans. It is
happening mainly because humans burn coal, oil, and natural gas, and cut down
forests.
Average temperatures today are about 1 °C (1.8 °F) higher than before people
started burning a lot of coal around 1750.[3] In some parts of the world, it is
lower, and in some higher. Most climate scientists say that by the year 2100,
temperatures will be 2 °C (3.6 °F) to 4 °C (7.2 °F) higher than before 1750.
Firstly, it is worth noting that the Earth's temperature has always been changing.
It has been warmer than it is now, and it has been much colder than now. To
discuss global warming means comparison with its fairly recent temperature of
the past - certainly in comparison with the 19th or 20th century.
CAUSES OF GLOBAL WARMING
• GREENHOUSE EFFECT: The greenhouse effect is a natural process that
warms the Earth's surface. When the Sun's energy reaches the Earth, some
of it is reflected in space and the rest is absorbed, warming the planet. The
gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect are known as greenhouse
gases. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor
trap some of this heat, preventing it from escaping into space. This trapped
heat helps to maintain the Earth's temperature at a level that can support
life. However, human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and
deforestation, have increased the concentration of these greenhouse
gases, enhancing the greenhouse effect. This leads to global warming and
climate change, causing a rise in average temperatures, melting of polar
ice, and more extreme weather events.
• DUST: Dust in the air may come from natural sources such
as volcanos, erosion, and meteoric dust. Some of this dust falls out within
a few hours. Some are aerosol, so small that it could stay in the air for years.
The aerosol particles in the atmosphere make the earth colder. The effect
of dust therefore cancels out some of the effects of greenhouse gases. Even
though humans also put aerosols in the air when they burn coal or oil this
only cancels out the greenhouse effect of the fuel burning for less than 20
years, The carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere much longer and keeps
on warming the earth. When people burn stuff like aerosols, for example,
smoke, are bad because when people breathe them, they make people ill.
• ANIMAL BURPS: Livestock such as cows and sheep produce methane as
part of their digestive process, which is released into the atmosphere and
contributes to global warming.
THE CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change is the main effect of global warming. Climate change has
happened constantly over the history of the Earth, including the coming and
going of ice ages. But modern climate change is different because people are
putting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere more quickly than before. There were
enough places to measure temperature so that scientists could know the global
average temperature. In 1979, man-made satellites started measuring the
temperature of the Earth. Before 1850, there were not enough temperature
measurements for us to know how warm or cold it was. Climatologists measure
other things to try to figure out past temperatures before there were
thermometers. This means measuring things that change when it gets colder or
warmer. One way is to cut into a tree and measure how far apart the growth rings
are. This is referred to as dendrochronology. Trees that live a long time can give
us an idea of how temperature and rain changed while they were alive. After the
research, the climatologists have prepared data on the change in temperature in
the Past 2000 years, and in the past which is shown in the graphs below.
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
There are many catastrophic effects of climate change on our world.
• RISING SEA LEVELS: The melting of glaciers and ice sheets contributes to
sea level rise, causing coastal flooding and erosion. Many islands of the
Maldives group of islands like Malé, will be completely underwater till the
year 2050. All the coastal cities and islands are in danger.
• CHANGES IN WEATHER PATTERNS: Global warming leads to more extreme
weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, and storms.
• LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY: Climate change alters ecosystems and leads to the
loss of biodiversity as species are unable to adapt to changing conditions.
• NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON AGRICULTURE: Climate change affects crop yields,
water availability, and pest distribution, leading to negative impacts on food
production.
• INCREASED RISK OF HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES: Global warming increases
the risk of heat-related illnesses and deaths, particularly in urban areas.
• AFFECTING THE POOR: People can change how they live because of the
effect of climate change. For example, they can go to places where the
weather is better, or build walls around cities to keep flood water out. They
cost money, and rich people and rich countries will be able to change more
easily than the poor.
TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change has become an irreversible result of our actions in the past. We
were always cruel to nature, and now nature is being cruel to us. We have to
accept that this climate change is irreversible and has always been a part of our
world, the only thing we can do is slow it and mitigate its impacts. If people burn
fewer fossil fuels by saving energy, and if countries try to emit less greenhouse
gas, this can slow down climate change, if countries make laws and treaties to
slow it down it can be helpful and we should try as much as we can by spreading
awareness amongst our family, friends and relatives. people or saving energy,
because every step counts.
