Global Warming

A combination of light and heat energy from the sun reaches Earth and warms the land, ocean and air. When Earth’s surface warm up, it radiates heat which rises towards the sky. A few gases in the atmosphere called the green house gases (water vapour, carbon di oxide, methane ozone etc.), absorb this heat and prevent it from escaping into space, thus warming Earth. Green House gases from Earth warm for all living things to survive; without this warmth, Earth would be about 33’C colder than it is today! However, when the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increase they trap excess heat. However, when the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increase in the temperature of Earth.

Since 1880, large scale burning of fossil fuels and the other human activity led to an increase in the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As a result, Earth has warmed by 0.8’C

Effects of Global Warming

      Since 1980, Earth has experienced 19 of it 20 hottest years on record. The sea levels are rising faster, threatening to flood coasts, wetlands, and many low lying islands. On an average, rainfall and snowfall patterns have changed across the globe. Around the world, glaciers are melting rapidly. Raised temperature has also triggered the extinction of many animals and rare species.

                                         Will we exist?

 It is projected that the Artic Summer might become ice free by 2040. This could prove dangerous for animals like Polar Bears that rely on ice for hunting. According to a report “two thirds of the Polar Bear population will become extinct by 2050. “

In order to survive rising temperature, all the animals and birds will be forced to adapt to their changing habitat. If the warming is gradual many, of them is successful in doing this. If it is sudden most of them will be unable to adapt, and will become extinct. As the earth heats, 25% of Earth’s species could vanish by 2050. The population of Antarctic Emperor Penguins has dropped by 50% over the past 50 years. The Himalayan glaciers are the source of some of Asia’s biggest rivers. They provide water to one third of the world’s population. Now these glaciers are receding faster than glaciers anywhere else in the World. According to the intergovernmental Panel on climate change (IPPCC) the melting of glaciers caused by climate change “could seriously affect half a billion people in the Himalayan Hind Kush Region”. Warmer temperature also increases air and water pollution, therefore a 2’C rise in temperature or more, will result in Health problems for us. According to World Health Organization (WHO) , conditions directly related to climate change cause 5 millions illness every year .