CLIMATIC CHANGE

CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change is a large-scale, long term shift in the planet’s climate (weather patterns and temperatures). The overall effect of climate change is termed as global warming.

What is global warming?

Global warming refers to increase of the earth’s average surface temperature due to effects of the greenhouse gases. These gases trap heat that would otherwise escape from the earth.

Since the early 20th century, the global air and sea surface temperature has increased by about 0.8°C, with about two-thirds of the increase occurring since 1980.

The recent rapid warming was caused by human activities which contribute to the production of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, that trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere.

Causes of global warming.

Global warming is mostly caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere like Carbon dioxide.

Combustion of fuel.Burning of fossil fuel such as wood, coal, petroleum and natural gas, releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The gas is produced during combustion of these fuels in car engines, power stations, industries, etc.

Deforestation: Green plants absorb carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphere and use it to manufacture their food through the process of photosynthesis. Cutting down trees means that a few trees are left to absorb carbon dioxide gas from the air. This has led to the increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

 EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING

Global warming is expected to have far-reaching, long-lasting and, in many cases, devastating consequences for planet earth. The following are some effects of global warming:

Increase in average temperatures

One of the most immediate and obvious impacts of global warming is the increase in temperatures on the world. Increase in global temperature will affect both the land and the ocean environment life.

Extreme weather events

Extreme weather events include record-breaking high or low temperatures, floods or intense storms, droughts, heat waves, hurricanes and tornadoes, etc. These are effective measures of climate change and global warming.

Higher or lower agricultural yields.

Melting of arctic ice and snowcaps. This causes landslides, flash floods and glacial lake overflow.

Extinction of some animal and plant species; and

 Increase in the range of disease vectors, that is, organisms that cause diseases.

Change in world’s climate patterns. It is forecasted that global warming will cause climate patterns worldwide to experience significant changing. Rains fall when least expected and at irregular intervals. This has greatly affected the timing of planting and harvesting activities. Sometimes the rains fall so heavily to cause floods, or too little leading to drought.

Rise in sea levels

Continued increase in the global temperature will cause the melting of ice caps in the poles and mountain glacier. If current trends continue, many coastal areas will eventually be flood.

Ocean acidification

As levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide increase, the oceans absorb some of it. This increases the acidity of seawater. Change in ocean acidity will also affect fish and other aquatic animals and plants.

Effects on plants and animals

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 moving their range northward or to higher altitudes as a result of warming temperatures.nesting.

Warmer temperatures will also expand the range of many disease.

Effects on humans

Agricultural systems will likely be affected badly. Though growing seasons in some areas will expand, the combined impacts of drought, severe weather, lack of snowmelt, greater number and diversity of pests, lower groundwater tables and a loss of arable land could cause severe crop failures and livestock shortages worldwide.

This loss of food security might, in turn, create havoc in international food markets and could spark famines, food riots, political instability and civil unrest worldwide.

The effect of global warming on human health is also expected to be serious. An increase in mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever, as well as a rise in cases of chronic conditions like asthma, are already occurring, most likely as a direct result of global warming.