An E.S.T. project by 4 Science 1.
Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-twentieth century, and it is projected to continue.
Increasing global temperature will cause the sea levels to rise, and is expected to increase the intensity of extreme weather events. Other effects of global warming include changes in agricultural yields, trade routes, glacier retreat, many species extinctions and increases in the ranges of diseases.
The increasing frequency of heat waves in the temperate zones, typhoons, hurricanes and floods are signs of the changing weather and climate patterns and all these come about largely due to global warming -a combination of the greenhouse effect and other natural phenomena like solar variation and volcano eruptions. Unless drastic measures are taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, global warming will continue to worsen.
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 77,000 deaths are recorded annually in the Asia-Pacific region due to health problems arising from global warming. Among the potential hazards of global warming would be the appearance of mosquitoes in areas where they are previously absent with the accompanying threat of malaria and dengue fever. There is also the risk of reduced rainfall in some regions causing a shortage of fresh water thus introducing the danger of waterborne diseases.
Causes of Global Warming
The Earth's climate changes in response to external forcing, including variations in its orbit around the Sun (orbital forcing), changes in solar luminosity, volcanic eruptions, and atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. The detailed causes of the recent warming remain an active field of research, but the scientific consensus is that the increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases due to human activity caused most of the warming observed since the start of the industrial era. This attribution is clearest for the most recent 50 years, for which the most detailed data are available. Some other hypotheses departing from the consensus view have been suggested to explain most of the temperature increase. One such hypothesis proposes that warming may be the result of variations in solar activity.
None of the effects of forcing are instantaneous. The thermal inertia of the Earth's oceans and slow responses of other indirect effects mean that the Earth's current climate is not in equilibrium with the forcing imposed. Climate commitment studies indicate that even if greenhouse gases were stabilized at 2000 levels, a further warming of about 0.5 °C (0.9 °F) would still occur.
Effects of Global Warming
Although it is difficult to connect specific weather events to global warming, an increase in global temperatures may in turn cause broader changes, including glacial retreat, Arctic shrinkage, and worldwide sea level rise. Changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation may result in flooding and drought. There may also be changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Other effects may include changes in agricultural yields, addition of new trade routes, reduced summer streamflows, species extinctions, and increases in the range of disease vectors.
Some effects on both the natural environment and human life are, at least in part, already being attributed to global warming. A 2001 report by the IPCC suggests that glacier retreat, ice shelf disruption such as that of the Larsen Ice Shelf, sea level rise, changes in rainfall patterns, and increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, are being attributed in part to global warming. While changes are expected for overall patterns, intensity, and frequencies, it is difficult to attribute specific events to global warming. Other expected effects include water scarcity in some regions and increased precipitation in others, changes in mountain snowpack, and adverse health effects from warmer temperatures.
Increasing deaths, displacements, and economic losses projected due to extreme weather attributed to global warming may be exacerbated by growing population densities in affected areas, although temperate regions are projected to experience some benefits, such as fewer deaths due to cold exposure. A summary of probable effects and recent understanding can be found in the report made for the IPCC Third Assessment Report by Working Group II. The newer IPCC Fourth Assessment Report summary reports that there is observational evidence for an increase in intense tropical cyclone activity in the North Atlantic Ocean since about 1970, in correlation with the increase in sea surface temperature (see Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation), but that the detection of long-term trends is complicated by the quality of records prior to routine satellite observations. The summary also states that there is no clear trend in the annual worldwide number of tropical cyclones.
Additional anticipated effects include sea level rise of 180 to 590 millimeters (0.59 to 1.9 ft) in 2090-2100 relative to 1980-1999, repercussions to agriculture, possible slowing of the thermohaline circulation, reductions in the ozone layer, increased intensity (but less frequent) of hurricanes and extreme weather events, lowering of ocean pH, and the spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. One study predicts 18% to 35% of a sample of 1,103 animal and plant species would be extinct by 2050, based on future climate projections. However, few mechanistic studies have documented extinctions due to recent climate change and one study suggests that projected rates of extinction are uncertain.
Global warming is expected to increase the potential geographic range and virulence of tropical diseases. Climate change could cause a major increase in insect-borne diseases such as malaria throughout Europe, North America and North Asia.
However, global warming can be reduced by using garbage enzymes. So do your bit and help reduce global warming for a cooler and healthier living environment for all of us! Help save Our Earth!
Adapted from:
- http://www.o3enzyme.com/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming
Picture taken from:
- http://www.effectofglobalwarming.com/
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