Global Warming | Fact & Information

Global warming is the gradual warming of the Earth’s atmosphere. it has resulted In an Increase in the sea level. It has also led to changes in climatic conditions all over the world. Warming and cooling of the Earth’s atmosphere has been a natural phenomenon. It has occurred over the ages but the warming of the atmosphere in the last few decades had been faster than before. The atmospheric temperatures have gone up by
three times the average for the 20th century since 1970.

Global warming has been attributed to the increased emission at greenhouse gases. The increase in the amount of greenhouse gases has made Earth warmer than usual. It is also causing great problems tor the survival of planet Earth.

Greenhouse gases

Gases that contribute to global warming are known as greenhouse gases. Water vapour is the most abundant greenhouse gas, followed by carbon dioxide (CO), methane (CH 4), nitrous oxide (N20), halogenated fluorocarbons (HCFCs), ozone (O3), perfluorinated carbons (PFCs), and hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs). Greenhouse gases have increased due to various human activities such as combustion of coal, oil, and gas. Every year, humans add over 30 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Methane traps 20 times more heat than carbon dioxide and each year 350-500 million tonnes of methane are added to the air. The amount of nitrous oxide is also increasing by 7-13 million tonnes every year. Greenhouse gases absorb the infrared radiation in the Earth’s atmosphere. The greenhouse gases act as a natural blanket to the Earth.

Greenhouse effect

The greenhouse effect is one of Earth’s natural processes. It is essential for life on Earth. It helps to regulate the temperature of our planet. Certain gases in the Earth’s atmosphere trap the Sun’s energy. Without these gases all the heat from the Sun would escape back into space.'Ihis would make the Earth an extremely cold and uninhabitable place. This natural process that keeps the Earth warm is known as greenhouse effect.

Indicators of warming

There have been several indicators of global warming such as borehole temperature, melting snow cover, and receding glaciers. Since glaciers are at higher altitudes, the recession of glaciers provide more insight into temperature changes at higher atmosphere.The global sea level has increased at an average rate of 1-2 mm/year over the past 100 years.

Causes

Global Warming is caused by natural as well
as man-made causes. Natural causes such as release of greenhouse gases by wetlands and cyclic climatic changes lead to an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases. Man-made
causes have played a major role in global warming. Burning of fossil fuels, mining coal, increase in population, and deforestation are a few of the many causes of global warming.

Predictions about climate

Global surface temperatures have increased by
about 0.6 °C since the late 19th century, and by about 0.2-0.3 °C over the past 25 years. Current forecasts and studies have predicted that global temperatures will rise between 3.5 and 8 °F and sea levels are likely to rise between 17.5 cm and 57 .5 cm by 2100 if the emission of greenhouse gases is not controlled.

Effects of global warming

The change in climate affects people, plants, and animals. Scientists have already observed many changes because of global warming such as sea level rise, shrinking glaciers, melting of permafrost, and trees blooming before time. Human health is also affected by climate change. Long periods of heat and cold and storms have increased climate-Sensitive diseases such as malaria, dengu fever, yellow fever, and encephalitis. EXtreme temperatures can often lead to loss of life, ecological disturbances, and increase in the number of parasites. The increase in temperature has also increased the air and water pollution.