Amenah Manzoor
It would be no shock if I speculate that the earth may change into a hot sphere making the existence of life impossible. Intense climate change can change earth into the hottest planet. Climate change stems from global warming. Climate change can lead to the destruction of our planet.
Global warming refers to the rise in global temperature as a result of increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Global warming is the significant increase in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere.
Causes of global warming
Many contributing factors lead to ecological imbalance and environmental change. Major factors which are responsible for global warming are greenhouse gases, deforestation, and ozone depletion. Greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and sulfur hexafluoride. These gases are contributing to climate change and global warming. These greenhouse gases formulate a blanket around the earth and trap solar heat in the atmosphere and don’t let the heat back out again. As a result of this, the overall atmosphere’s temperature rises, and global warming prevails.
The foremost reason is the greenhouse gases that cause global warming. These greenhouse gases come from many sources, but the main source is mankind. We use coal, oil, and natural gas without being aware of the fact that they release carbon dioxide, the most important greenhouse gas. Secondly, deforestation also contributes greatly to global warming. The forest decline has resulted in an unstable rainfall pattern and an adverse temperature increase. Trees and other plants use carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. When trees are cut down for developmental and agricultural purposes, they cannot use up the carbon dioxide in the air, rather they start releasing it when they decay. The ozone hole has also contributed to global warming. The ozone layer surrounds the atmosphere of the earth and protects the earth from sun radiations. It protects the earth from overheating. Due to ozone depletion, ultraviolet rays make their way to earth.
Impacts of global warming
Glaciers declination
Mountain glaciers and ice sheets have retreated worldwide. Especially at Earth’s poles. The number of glaciers has declined. It has drastic effects on polar animals and the overall climate is changing due to the melting of glaciers and Sea ice. Ice caps in the Arctic and Antarctic are declining and melting rapidly, contributing to the rise of sea levels.
The rise in Sea levels
The sea level has risen about 20cm in the last century. Many drastic climatic changes are associated with a rise in sea level. According to the prediction of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), the average Sea level of the ocean will increase by approximately 82 cm by 2100 if global warming continued its pace.
Change in precipitation pattern
Climate changes associated with global warming led to precipitation patterns. Precipitation has increased at higher latitudes like polar and sub-polar regions and decreased in the middle latitude of both hemispheres. Precipitation has decreased in the tropics. This change in the precipitation pattern indicates the decline in rainfall in the subtropics. This change may lead to drought and flooding in many regions. Decreased precipitation and higher rates of evaporation due to global warming projects to lead the fall in soil moisture and drought in many regions.
Intense storms
Intense rainstorms and snowstorms have become more frequent to drastic climate Change. IPCC reported that global warming of more than 1.5°C would cause intense storms and rain followed by intense droughts.
Frequent Cyclones and Hurricanes
The number of intense cyclones and hurricanes is increasing. Floods, earthquakes, storms, cyclones, and hurricanes have become more frequent and severe in recent years. Due to the rise in temperature of oceans and seas the intensity of cyclones is increased.
Change in Melting Season
The rise in temperature due to global warming has been projected to increase the annual melt season in the Antarctic by 2 to 3 weeks in the last three decades. This change consequently changes the overall atmosphere of those regions.
The decline in the population of polar animals
The population of polar animals and sea birds like penguins has declined. The decline of winter sea ice and glaciers lead to the decline in the population of polar living beings. The number of polar animals is projected to decline due to an increase in global temperature.
Changes in Agricultural yield
Global warming is more likely to shift the patterns of agriculture. This change can be a risk for the food industry. Climate change can put agriculture and forestry at risk, this would consequently affect food safety. Some other effects are Species Extinction, Changes in Ecosystems, Mass Migrations, and Ecological Imbalance.
Spreading of Infectious diseases
Warmer temperature also has a significant effect on the Spreading of infectious diseases. Warmer weather conditions aid in the outbreak of viruses and increase the population of disease-carrying vectors and insects. Warmer weather propagates the population of vectors like the Anopheles mosquito which carries the Malaria parasite. Global warming thus aids in the propagation of infectious diseases like cholera and leptospirosis.
Author is a teacher and content writer
Email: amenaamena8383@gmail.com
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