GLOBAL WARMING THE GREATEST PROBLEM

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INTRODUCTION
Climate change is any long-term change in the statistics of weather over durations ranging
from decades to millions of years. It can be manifest in changes to averages, extremes, or
other statistical measures, and may occur in a specific region or for the Earth as a whole. In
recent usage, especially in the context of environmental policy , climate change usually refers
to changes in modern climate .Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of
the Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century and its projected
continuation. The greenhouse effect is the process by which absorption and emission of
infrared radiation by gases in the atmosphere warm a planets lower atmosphere and surface.
Higher temperatures lead to glacier melts with consequent rise in sea levels. It also leads to
changes in the quantity and timing of rainfall, affecting agricultural yields. Other
consequences include extreme weather conditions, desertification of large land areas and
increases in mosquito-borne diseases.
DEFINITION
Global warming is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the
Earths surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to changes in global climate
patterns. Global warming can occur from a variety of causes, both natural and human
induced. In common usage, global warming often refers to the warming that can occur as a
result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities.
GREENHOUSE GASES
Greenhouse gases play an important role in the regulation of the Earths energy balance.
Green house gases basically consist of following elements
Water vapour
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Nitrous oxide
Ozone
CFCs etc

Reasons of increase in Greenhouse gases
There are 3 important ways that Human activity is changing the amount of greenhouse gases
in the atmosphere:
1. Rain forests are being cut down:
Trees absorb carbon dioxide so with fewer trees more carbon dioxide builds up in the
atmosphere. Also the agriculture and industry that replaces the forests can often be a
source of emissions. The International panel on climate change (IPCC) estimates that

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deforestation produces 5.9 billion tonnes of CO2 per year or 18 per cent of global
CO2.

2. Fossil fuels are being burned :
Burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas to generate heat or to power transport for
example, releases greenhouse gases. In 2005, burning fossil fuels emitted about 27
billion tonnes of carbon dioxide.

3. The worlds population is growing:
A growing population is leading to an increased demand for food, livestock and
energy which is in turn leading to increased emission.

CAUSES OF GLOBAL WARMING
Earth absorbs most of the heat radiated by the sun and reflects back the remaining
part. Greenhouse gases such as water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and ozone trap
the reflected heat. Thus prevented from escaping, the reflected heat adds to the
warmth of surface air.
An overwhelming majority of our scientific community agrees that human activities
have a significant impact on global warming. Factories emitting smoke, fossil-fuel-
burning vehicles and even the burning of firewood lead to increased emission of
carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is one of the "greenhouse" gases that trap the heat
from the sun.
The warmer air leads to increased water evaporation, and water vapour is another
greenhouse gas that traps the heat. Another human activity that leads to global
warming is the felling of trees for timber and firewood.

EFFECTS OF GOBAL WARMING
Global warming effects are diverse and highly disruptive to human existence, this effects are
as follow:
Warmer air temperatures cause glaciers to melt, with the resultant water flowing into
the oceans. This leads to rise in sea levels that can submerge populated areas,
including whole countries such as the Maldives.
Global warming leads to changes in climate. Climate change reduces agricultural
yields and increases the intensity of extreme weather events such as flooding and
cyclones.


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Tree felling has its own impact. Unless each tree cut down is replaced by planting one
or more trees in its place, formerly wooded areas become deserts (or hot concrete
jungles). Trees absorb carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Lesser numbers of trees
mean higher concentration of carbon dioxide.
Changes in weather, precipitation levels and land use patterns can lead to extinction of
species, and increase in the incidence of mosquito-borne and other kinds of diseases.

SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING
Global warming consequences are thus is too serious to be ignored. Remedial action is
complicated by the fact that some individual scientists disagree with the consensus.
According to some, the cyclical climate patterns are nothing new. The earth has gone through
such cycles and survived several ice ages. (Earth might have survived, but not earth dwellers
such as dinosaurs).
Despite the controversy, governments are taking steps to protect the environment. An attempt
is being made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to penalize the emitters. In several
countries, the law requires that each felled tree must be replaced by planting two new
saplings.
At an individual level, we too can contribute. For example, we can:
Burn less fossil fuel by going in for fuel-efficient small cars, or even better, using
public transport
Reduce energy consumption by switching off appliances when not needed
Use energy-efficient light bulbs and heating devices
Minimize the use of timber-based products such as paper, and fossil-based products
such as plastic
Recycle paper and plastic products.
The general consensus is that human activities such as fossil-fuel burning, tree-felling and
other practices lead to global warming. Global warming has several disruptive effects as
outlined above. In addition to governments, we as individuals can do much to reduce global
warming.







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FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR GLOBAL WARMING
All around the world, it seems that humanity is beginning to adapt to a new, eco-friendly way
of life. People use recycle bins to conserve Earth's resources, and new technology, such
as hybrid cars are used to save fossil fuels. The film An Inconvenient Truth, produced by and
starring Al Gore, shows that although the general public realizes the presence of global
warming and greenhouse gases, they do not know the impact the human species can have on
the Earth's atmosphere or the possible effects that may come from such a change.
An Inconvenient Truth points out a strong connection between the CO levels in the
atmosphere and the temperature. Throughout recordable history, the two have been linked
together, high CO correlating to high temperatures. The burning of fossil fuels in factories
and automobiles has contributed much CO to the atmosphere. An as one can expect, in
recent years, CO levels have reached higher levels than ever before, which leave many
fathoming the possible disastrous results this may have on the lives of future generations.
Scientists have already begun to see major effects of global warming presently. All-time
records for heat are being set every day in cities around the world. Other irregular weather,
such as droughts, has been seen in Asia and Africa, leaving thousands dead. Although global
warming has killed thousands of lives, excessive heat is not it's only effect.
Global warming can have even greater effects on humanity through the melting of polar ice
caps. Antarctica, the earth's largest body of floating ice is now in the process of melting.
Countless species living in Antarctica may be killed due to this drastic climate change. Even
more importantly, if the entire body of ice would melt, the earth's sea-level would rise twenty
feet. In low sea-level cities, this would have terrible ramifications. Places such as the
Netherlands, India, Florida, and the Bay Area would be completely flooded. After
contemplating the seriousness of this issue, one would think that political measures would be
immediately used to stop the process of global warming, but this is not the case.
When Al Gore presented the issue of global warming to Congress, they laughed in his face. It
was considered a hoax and a way to scare the public. After seeing the numbers and the charts
about CO levels, as well as the research of any refutable scientist, certain politicians denied
the validity of the issue. Although steps have been taken now by Congress to stop global
warming, such as the Clean Air Act, Congress acted extremely deliberately.
Now after the general public realizes the possible effects of global warming, the only way to
stop global warming is for people to do something about it. In the super-sized American
lifestyle, the world of SUVs and 60 inch TVs, people do not realize that the little things are
what count. A simple act of car pooling or taking the bus, or remembering to turn off
the lights when you leave the room; these things are important. In this world, people can no
longer hide from the truth, because immediate action is needed to save the world for
posterity.