The Cause And Effects Of Global Warming
Introduction
Global warming is the continuous increase temperature of the air closer to the earth’s surface in addition to rise in temperature in oceans. At eh beginning of the 20th century, the temperature of the earth’s surface was raised by 0.180C as compared to 0.740C increase at the close of the last century. Evidence of global warming is indicated by increased melting of snow or ice, a rising sea level and overall rise in global temperatures. A major cause of the increased global temperature was attributed to a higher mount of greenhouse gases which originate from human activities such as burning of fossil fuels. After green house gases have been released into the atmosphere, several effects of the gases are felt such as increased temperatures of the air closest to the earths’ surface. All effects of global warming have created a lot of challenges to the normal human activities with some of them posing health problems to man.
Discussion
Causes of global warming
Human activities are major causes of global warming especially industrial activities among other forms of actions which harm the environment. Deforestation has been considered a great cause of global warming especially when carried out in large scale. Trees usually consume carbon dioxide to manufacture their food and after photosynthesis, oxygen is released into the atmosphere. Presence of large amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reduces the absorption capacity of the ozone such that the infrared radiations from the sun are allowed to reach the earth’s surface. Other than the infrared radiations, more of the sun’s rays get a chance to reach the earth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, (2001).Industrial fumes may also contain a lot of carbon dioxide or else combustion of fossil fuels contributes to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Usually the ocean absorbs a certain level of carbon dioxide for its ecosystem but over the years, very low amounts of carbon dioxide are absorbed by water bodies thus increasing the amount of green house gases Pidwirny, (2006).Other human activities such as waste management have contributed to presence of green house gases in the atmosphere. This involves poor management of wastes from industries as well as wastes from urban centers such that if not well treated, they release a lot of methane into the atmosphere. The exhaust fumes from cars and other automobiles although some natural processes such as volcanicity contribute equal amounts of the same. This indicates that reduction of human activities which contribute large amounts of green house gases may go a long way into reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere Maslin, (2007).
Effects of global warming
Global warming has a great impact on the normal weather conditions such that the weather patterns undergo a series of modifications and changes some of them which have adverse effects on human activities. Increased temperatures may cause increased precipitation which often leads to storms and excess rain falling on the earth’s surface which is not usual. The high temperatures may reduce the amount of precipitation therefore increasing the earth’s surface covered with deserts. Unexpected changes in precipitation may cost farmers and other events organizers huge loses financially due to inconveniences caused by the unpredictable weather Leroux, (2005).Similarly, global warming increases the rate at which ice and snow melts such that the level of seas and oceans increase. An increased amount of water leads to rise in the level of the ocean therefore, creating disturbances to the oceanic plate which causes frequent earth tremors and earthquakes.
Consequently, increased temperatures in the ocean causes the absorption capacity of carbon dioxide to decline hence plants in the aquatic ecosystem lack the necessary raw materials for photosynthesis therefore a great disturbance results in that ecosystem. Lack of food for green plants means that their existence is endangered and so is the existence of aquatic animals which depend on oxygen released by green plants Pidwirny, (2006).As global warming leads to depletion of the ozone such that harmful rays reach the earth, these harmful rays have detrimental effects on the health of human beings. Research has shown that global warming has led to increased cases of skin cancer among other mutations in human beings. Other health problems are associated with consequences of global warming on the environment such as low rainfall in some areas causing drought and eventually malnutrition Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, (2001).
Conclusion
One of the major causes of global warming is increased production of green house gases and their release into the atmosphere. Human activities are major sources of green house gases such that in order for the entire world to counteract this problem, the various human activities releasing significant amounts should be cut down. The effects of global warming are quite adverse and all of them affect human activities as well as human health hence it is important that global warming is taken as a life threatening situation so that it will be curbed.
References
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, (2001), Global warming: early warning signs. Retrieved on May 31, 2010 from: www.climatehotmap.org/
Leroux, M. (2005), global warming: myth of reality: the erring ways of climatology. Springer publishers
Maslin, M. (2007), global warming: cause, effects and the future. Voyager press
Pidwirny, M. (2006). “The Greenhouse Effect”. Fundamentals of Physical Geography, 2nd Edition. Retrieved on May 31, 2010 from: http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/7h.html.
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