What is Global Warming?
Global warming is the gradual increase of the Earth's temperature due to the greenhouse gases promulgated by human activities such as burning of fossil fuel, which pumps methane, carbon dioxide (CO2), and other dangerous gases into the atmosphere; (this has been the case since the Industrial Revolution). These dangerous gases are trapped at the Earth atmosphere through a naturally-occurring process called the greenhouse effect.
According to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment; Greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the earth’s surface. When the sun’s energy reaches the earth’s atmosphere, some of it is reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases. This process maintains the Earth’s temperature at around 33 degrees Celsius, allowing life on Earth to exist.
Evidence of Global Warming
The evidence of Global warming is everywhere; a good example is the melting of glaciers in the artic sea. According to a NASA report, the Artic sea ice has shrunk by 10% in the last 30 years . The rates at which glaciers are disappearing have caused the rise in sea level resulting to flooding in coastal areas around the world. Other evidences include increase in ocean heat content and the recent string of very warm years.
A report from the Centre for global development states that developing countries are responsible for 63% of current carbon emissions. China emits 27% of the world’s greenhouse gasses at 7.18 metric tons. Furthermore, researchers have prognosticated that the temperature will rise to about 2 - 10 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century.
What will be the fate of Earth if this trend continues?
If humans continue emitting greenhouse gases, our eventual doom is inevitable. The future of our planet is in jeopardy due to human negligence. Some of the changes to our environment include:
- Increase in greenhouse gas concentration
- Temperature changesShrinking Glaciers
- Permafrost
- Rising sea-level
- Change of pattern of precipitation and storm events
- Future ocean acidification
These changes will have a big impact in our environment, infrastructure, water supply, food supply, our health, and the things that surround us.
Save Earth, Stop Carbon Emissions
Let’s face the truth; we humans have contributed to this global warming hysteria. Our influence on the weather can be traced back to the industrial revolution, even though; according to some researchers, our weather is constantly changing.
We can compensate our involvement in this, by playing a positive role in in our environment. We can save the earth by minimizing our consumption of energy, avoid driving, recycling materials, avoiding products with a lot of packaging, adjusting the thermostat, planting trees, turn off electronic devices, and equally important, speak and advocate about the proper of preserving our nature. These may be little steps, but we should set in mind that our little steps could be the product of greater things. Our mother earth is screaming in devastation, and as her ever loving inhabitants, our job is to protect and preserve it at all energy.
Written by Sarah Jane Sederiosa