Did you know that the earth’s average surface temperature has risen about 2.12 degrees Fahrenheit (almost 1.18 degrees Celsius) since the late 19th century? Global warming is affecting the earth at an alarming rate, having a negative effect on environmental sustainability. Although many of us are familiar with the topic of global warming, some of us may be unaware of the causes of global warming, as well as the specific effects that it can have on human populations.
What is Global Warming?
Global warming is the rise in average temperatures across the earth due to human activities notably, fossil fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere.
What Causes Global Warming?
Global warming is the cause of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other air pollutants collecting in the atmosphere and absorbing solar radiation and sunlight that have reflected off the earth’s surface. Usually, this radiation would escape into space; however, these pollutants trap the heat and cause the earth to get warmer. These pollutants such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), water vapour (H2O), and synthetic fluorinated gases are also referred to as greenhouse gases, and their impact is known as the greenhouse effect.
Did you know that in the United States, the largest sources of greenhouse gases are transportation, electricity production, and industrial activity? Currently, global warming is the cause of human activity, specifically burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, gasoline, and natural gas which leads to the greenhouse effect.
The Greenhouse Effect
A greenhouse gas is any gaseous compound in the atmosphere that can absorb infrared radiation and thus, trapping the heat in the atmosphere.
The greenhouse effect is a process that occurs when gases in the atmosphere trap sunlight. This process makes the planet much warmer than it would be without an atmosphere!
The Greenhouse Effect works exactly like a greenhouse!
A greenhouse’s glass walls trap the sun’s heat which keeps plants inside the greenhouse warm – even on cold nights. Similarly, during the day, the sun shines through the atmosphere and keeps the earth warm. At night, the earth’s surface cools and releases heat back into the air. However, some of the heat is trapped by the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Thus, this is what keeps our earth at a moderate temperature (58 degrees Fahrenheit/14 degrees Celsius), on average.
How are Humans Affecting the Greenhouse Effect?
Unfortunately, human activities are changing the earth’s greenhouse effect. For instance, burning fossil fuels like coal and oil puts more carbon dioxide into our atmosphere! An excess amount of greenhouse gases can cause the earth’s atmosphere to trap more heat, which makes the earth warmer, leading to global warming.
What Helps to Reduce the Greenhouse Effect on Earth?
Similar to the greenhouse effect, the earth’s atmosphere is also full of plants! Plants help to moderate the greenhouse effect on earth because all plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen.
The ocean is also able to absorb excess carbon dioxide in the air. The increased carbon dioxide in the ocean changes the water and makes it more acidic which is referred to as ocean acidification. The excess amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere also results in warmer waters which can lead to coral bleaching.
How is Global Warming Related to Extreme Weather Conditions?
Scientists have confirmed that the earth’s rising temperatures are causing heat waves, frequent droughts, heavier rainfalls, and more powerful hurricanes.
For instance:
- In 2015, California experienced the worst water shortage/drought in 1,200 years. Scientists believe that this has been intensified by 15-20% by global warming.
- Due to the earth’s rising temperature, tropical storms can pick up more energy. Scientists have discovered that the frequency of North Atlantic hurricanes has increased since the early 1980s, as has the number of storms that reach categories 4 and 5 (the fastest wind speeds).
- Extreme heatwaves cause tens of thousands of deaths around the world in recent years.
- Antarctica has lost nearly four trillion metric tons of ice since the 1990s.
Some Other Effects of Global Warming:
- Disappearing glaciers
- Rising sea levels: leads to coastal flooding.
- Forests and farms face new pests, heat waves, and increased flooding which destroys agriculture and fisheries.
- Disruption of habitats: This can lead to plant or animal species becoming extinct.
- Allergies, asthma, and infectious disease outbreaks: This can become more common due to higher levels of air pollution.
Evidently, global warming has a multitude of effects on the human population and ecosystems. Due to the alarming rise in average temperatures on the earth’s surface, we must be mindful of our lifestyle and environmental choices in order to conserve our environment for future generations! Thus, we must educate ourselves on global warming in order to understand what we can do to help!
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