What is greenhouse effect and which are
the greenhouse gases?
The greenhouse effect is the way in which heat is
trapped close to Earth's surface by “greenhouse gases.”
These heat-trapping gases can be thought of as a blanket
wrapped around Earth, keeping the planet toastier than
it would be without them. Greenhouse gases include
carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, and water
vapor. (Water vapor, which responds physically or
chemically to changes in temperature, is called a
"feedback.") Scientists have determined that carbon
dioxide's warming effect helps stabilize Earth's
atmosphere.
Is global warming man-made?
Some people argue that global warming (or, more accurately, global
climate change) is simply a result of cyclical climate changes that take
place naturally throughout time. However, in the past 30+ years,
scientists have accumulated lots of data that points to human activity
as the main contributor to the big worldwide climate changes.
The earth's atmosphere is now the warmest that it has ever been in
recorded history. And it continues to get warmer with each passing
year. This warming just happens to coincide directly with the increasing
levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide released
into the atmosphere every year. (These are also known as "greenhouse
gasses.") Some levels of greenhouse gasses in the earth's atmosphere
are natural, but natural sources are tiny compared to the huge amounts
that come from man-made sources.
The greatest amount of man-made greenhouse gasses is generated by
the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas. Think power plants,
automobiles, manufacturing, land development, and industrial farming.
All of these human activities result in tons of CO2 and other greenhouse
gasses being released into the atmosphere every day.
Since the dawn of the Industrial Age (just under 300 years ago), when
humans first began relying on fossil fuels as a main source of energy,
the world's population has managed to alter the earth's atmosphere
significantly. As we humans continue to learn about the impact of
climate change on our planet, we will also figure out new ways to
counter its effects.
What other climate changes are taking
place?
Temperatures are rising world-wide due to greenhouse gases trapping
more heat in the atmosphere.
• Droughts are becoming longer and more extreme around the world.
• Tropical storms becoming more severe due to warmer ocean water
temperatures.
• As temperatures rise there is less snowpack in mountain ranges and
polar areas and the snow melts faster.
• Overall, glaciers are melting at a faster rate.
• Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean around the North Pole is melting faster
with the warmer temperatures.
• Permafrost is melting, releasing methane, a powerful greenhouse gas,
into the atmosphere.
• Sea levels are rising, threatening coastal communities and estuarine
ecosystems.
What measures can we take to mitigate
or combat these changes?
Here are 10 simple things you can do and how much carbon
dioxide you'll save doing them.
Change a light
Replacing one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent
light bulb will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
Drive less
Walk, bike, carpool or take mass transit more often. You'll save
one pound of carbon dioxide for every mile you don't drive!
Recycle more
You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide per year by
recycling just half of your household waste.
Check your tires
Keeping your tires inflated properly can improve your gas
mileage by more than 3 percent. Every gallon of gasoline saved
keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
Use less hot water
It takes a lot of energy to heat water. Use less hot water by
taking shorter and cooler showers and washing your clothes in
cold or warm instead of hot water (more than 500 pounds of
carbon dioxide saved per year).
Avoid products with a lot of packaging
You can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide if you reduce your
garbage by 10 percent.
Adjust your thermostat
Moving your thermostat down just 2 degrees in winter and up 2
degrees in summer could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon
dioxide a year.
Plant a tree
A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its
lifetime.
Turn off electronic devices
Simply turning off your television, DVD player, stereo, and
computer, when you're not using them, will save you thousands
of pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
What are the likely consequences of
global warming?
Global warming can result in many serious alterations to the
environment, eventually impacting human health. It can also cause a
rise in sea level, leading to the loss of coastal land, a change in
precipitation patterns, increased risks of droughts and floods, and
threats to biodiversity. The effects are already evident in areas like
Nunavut, Canada, where Inuit hunters are facing survival challenges
due to the thinning of the ice. Explorer Will Steger gives an account of
hunters in the Baffin Island, who are faced with the dilemma of unsafe
hunting due to ice loss, risking their lives to get in contact with sea
animals.
Besides the visible effects on people's livelihoods, global warming is
predicted to have a strong and adverse impact on human health. The
populations of countries that have contributed the least to global
warming are the most vulnerable to death and diseases brought about
by higher temperatures. The coastlines along the Pacific Ocean and the
Indian Ocean and in sub-Saharan Africa will be at higher risk of
enduring the health effects of climate change.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that climate change is
responsible for at least 150,000 deaths per year, a number that is
expected to double by 2030. The effects of global warming will cause
dire health consequences
