Global Warming

Introduction

Global warming is one of the major concerns for every country in the world today . Global warming refers to an increase in the average temperature of earth because of the greenhouse effect . It can result in climate change , increased temperature of land and sea , rise of sea level , rise or fall of precipitation , droughts , floods , erosion and inundation of coastal areas and spread of diseases . Mankind , flora and fauna will have to face adverse effects of global warming . Uncontrolled human activities like deforestation , burning of fossil fuels for industrialization and

transportation are major causes responsible for global warming

Global Warming

Earth has an envelope of gases called the atmosphere . Atmosphere has many gases like carbon dioxide , oxygen , nitrogen and so on . As Sun 's rays fall on earth , some of the gases trap this heat in the atmosphere and do not allow it to escape as shown in fig . 1 . This is called the greenhouse effect and the gases responsible for greenhouse effect are carbon dioxide , methane , water vapor , and nitrous oxide and so on Greenhouse effect is essential for sustaining life on earth . Without it the earth would have been a cold planet ( Environmental Protection Agency -- Global Warming and Climate Change

Fig . 1 ( Environmental Protection Agency -- Global Warming and Climate Change

Human activities like the combustion of fossil fuels such as petrol gas and coal and deforestation are increasing the amount of green house gases , mainly carbon dioxide , in the atmosphere . Industries and transportation contribute maximum to the production of CO2 . Fig . 2 shows the sectors contributing greenhouse gases to the atmosphere . More carbon dioxide implies more heat trapped in the atmosphere and increased temperature of earth 's surface and oceans . Industrial revolution that has led to the cutting of forests for commercial purposes and for clearing up land and setting up industries and urban communities is the prime culprit to be blamed for global warming

Fig . 2 (Peterson and Rohrer , Cause and effect for global warming Time for change

Global warming leads to climate change , sea level rise and changes in precipitation around the globe . Increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will lead to an increase in the temperature of earth . Land will be more heated than oceans . According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change , the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere will double than its levels prior to the Industrial Revolution by mid-to late 21st century . The temperature of earth is estimated to increase by 1 .0-4 .5 ?F in the next fifty years and 2 .5 to 10 .4 ?F by the year 2100 . The fig . 3 shows projected temperature change in the next 100 years ( EPA : Global Warming : Climate : Future Climate : Global Temperature

Fig . 3 ( EPA : Global Warming : Climate : Future Climate : Global Temperature

Worldwide sea levels have risen by approximately 15-20 cm in the last century . Many factors may have contributed to this rise but one of the prominent factors is global warming . Because of the increased...