Global warming is the unusually rapid rise in Earth’s average surface temperature over the past few decadesmajorly due to the greenhouse gasses. It is observed thatglobal surface temperatures have increased by 0.8 °Cover the 20th century; and Earth’s mean temperature is projected to increase by 1.4–5.8 °C during the twenty-first century. Besides sea-level rise of 15–23 cm, there have been substantial shifts in ecosystems.
Anthropogenic activities all over the world related to production, consumption and use of energy are responsible for global climate change. Anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which are now at their highest in history, have led to large increases in the atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) that are considered the dominant cause that lies behind the global warming. As a result of the global warming a substantial change in temperature, precipitation, snow cover, sea level and extreme weather events provide anecdotal evidence of global climate change. Increasing concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere are expected to bring about several changes in climate. Impact can be expected in terms of greater incidence and magnitude of hurricanes, floods, and droughts, affecting productivity, natural ecosystems, agriculture, rangelands, forestry and the society.
What are the major effects of global warming?
These are the most common effect of global warming that we have experienced.
- Melting glacier: You all have heard about the melting of glaciers. One of the major effects of the global warming can be observed in glassier. The melting of glaciers is not only raising the sea level, but also causing serious problem to the artic ecosystem.
- Sea level rise is one of the direst impacts of global warming which is affecting the coastal population of many countries. Sea level rise is causing some serious consequences, which includes coastal flooding, saltwater contamination,erosion, disruption in fresh water supplies, effecting the agricultural soil by increasing its salinity, hurricane storm, and many more. Nearly 625 million people staying in coastal zones (specially in low-elevation) are at risk of exposure to these dangerous effects of sea level rise.
- The effects of global warming on the Earth’s ecosystems are expected to be profound and widespread. Many species of plants and animals are already extinct du to its adverse effect.
- Global warming is an unequivocal phenomenon today. As I have already mentioned, Global warming is most adverse consequences of climate change, and it brings considerable effects on human health.It has been observed that global warming has profound effects on infectious diseases. However, the effect of global warming on infectious diseases is indirect. Among infectious diseases, water- and foodborne infectious diseases and vector-borne infectious diseases are two main categories that are forecasted to be most affected.
The greenhouse effect is the phenomenon by which radiation from a planet’s atmosphere warms the planet’s surface to a temperature above what it would be without this atmosphere. The greenhouse effect is caused by the emission of various greenhouse gases with the major contribution of carbon dioxide. There are variety of sources for the emissions of CO2, including, power plants, cement industries, refineries, fertilizers, natural gas industries, and other commercial and domestic sources, etc.
What are the major greenhouse gases?
The major greenhouse gases are:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Water vapor (H2O)
- Nitrous oxid
- Methane
- Ozone
- Hydrofluorocarbons (includes HCFCs and HFCs)
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) have long received public attention because they affect the Earth’s climate by producing the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), enhance the greenhouse effect by absorbing and re-emitting energy in the low atmosphere.Specifically, CO2 is the most emitted and the most common GHG. CH4 is the second most common GHG and is 34-times more potent as a GHG than CO2 on a 100-year time-scale.
How to reduce global warming?
Yes! We have to put some little effort to change the correct scenario. Making small changes in your daily life can cause a bigger impact on our environment.
- Try to use recycle materials
- Plant tree as much as you can.
- Please try to switch to cleaner form of energy, i.e., renewable energy.
- Use energy efficient devices. For example: use LED bulbs instead of Incandescent light bulb.
- Try to spread awareness in the best way.
