The longer
we wait to take drastic action against global warming and climate change, the
more of a menace they are. Though its effects are already being seen in
droughts, storms, wildfires, and previously unheard-of temperature extremes on
both ends of the spectrum, it's not too late to slow it down and lessen the
consequences.
The gradual
increase in temperature brought on by the rising concentration of greenhouse
gases in our atmosphere is referred to as global warming. These greenhouse
gases include chlorofluorocarbons, methane, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, and
ozone in the troposphere. They enable shortwave solar radiation to penetrate
the atmosphere and warm the surface of the Earth. The same greenhouse gases then trap
longwave radiation, the energy that the planet's surface radiates, warming the
air, oceans, and land. This is referred to as "the greenhouse
effect."
The
greenhouse effect alone has no negative effects. In fact, without it, Earth
wouldn't be warm enough just to support life. The risk comes from the
combination of the cumulative effects of fossil fuels and greenhouse gases.
Burning coal, oil and gas results in massive emissions of greenhouse
gases, the most common of which is CO2. Our planet's ability to keep a constant
temperature is hampered by the gases produced since they accumulate more
quickly than the atmosphere can absorb them. Our world is seeing rates of
gas concentration in the air not seen previously in the 200,000-year duration
of human existence when population growth, industry expansion, and substantial
deforestation are combined.
Global
warming is sometimes wrongly assumed to be much like climate change, however
there are a few fundamental aspects of each that keep them separate. Global
warming is the term used just to describe the planet's increasing temperatures,
although climate change also refers to the occurrences that result from
warming, such as the melting of glaciers, heavier rainstorms, bitter cold
spells, or frequent droughts that spark out-of-control wildfires.
What Consequences Does Global Warming Have?
·
Unusual
Weather
More extreme
weather and climatic occurrences, like heat waves and droughts, will occur as
the earth warms.
·
Polar
Vortexes
The term
"vortex" refers to the counter clockwise air flow that keeps the
colder air near the poles and describes the enormous area of reduced pressure
and cold air that encompasses the Earth's North and South Poles. The polar
vortex is disrupted and weakened as Arctic Sea ice decreases, which allows more
heat to exit from the ocean and sends cold air south.
·
Heat
Waves
Heat waves
are periods of unusually hot weather that linger for days or even weeks. These
have been happening more frequently lately, especially from 2011, when
there were roughly three times as many strong heat waves than there typically
are.
·
Melting
Glaciers
Over the
next 100 years, according to the International Panel on Climate Change, Earth's
surface temperatures will rise by nearly 12°F. As a result, many areas will
completely lose their snow cover and icecaps, and the sea ice there at poles
will continue to melt, raising sea levels.
A few ways
you can help:
·
less
driving
·
Change
to a (used) hybrid or electric vehicle
·
Using
solar panels
·
Reducing,
Reusing, and recycling
·
Use
renewable energy instead
Even
if you may not realize it, the majority of us produce massive amounts of
greenhouse gas emissions when we use the resources we require, which has an
impact on the climate of the planet. Make the best effort possible to keep the
earth clean so that you and your future generations can enjoy a healthy
environment.
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