Chapter # 8
Global Warming and
Climate Change
Introduction
The industrial revolution has drastically
changed the relationship between man and
the nature.
Due to this, It is opinioned by
environmentalists and experts that , by the
year 2010 human activates will have
changed almost all the essential condition
that have allowed life to thrive on the earth.
Global warming
The earth receives solar energy in abundant
qualities. This energy reaches the earth in
the form of short wave radiation, which in
turn heats up the earth surface.
Sufficient quantities of heat energy are
absorbed by the earth’s mantle. Some
quantities of heat are re-radiated back into
the space.
Certain gases known as Green House Gases
(GHG), that include carbon dioxide ,
methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and water
vapor prevent the heat from escaping the
earth atmosphere. This leads to an increase
the atmospheric temperature, known as
greenhouses effect.
Certain natural process like volcanic
eruptions also contributes too GHG
emissions.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) like methane
released from human and animal waste,
garbage dumps and rice fields, etc. have
caused large scale depletion of the ozone
layer.
The per cent of GHGs that contribute of
global warming is carbondioxide
(15%),chlorofluorocarbons (11%)nitrous
oxide(4%) and other gases(9%)thus, it cane
seen that CO2 is the most significant
greenhouse gas that contributes to global
The abnormal increase in the concentration of GHGs
has led to a situation, wherein the global temperature
has become warmer. The average temperature of the
globe has become warmer over the least 100 years.
It is opined that, if the GHG emissions continue at this
rate, by 2030 the temperature will rise by 1.5 0C-
4.50C. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) states that the human induced change
in atmospheric chemistry will increase temperatures
By 1.40C- 5.80C by the year 2100(IPCC, 2001).
Global Warming Potential
Global warming Potential (GWP) is an index
that describes that describes the radioactive
characteristics of well mixed GHGs.
It represents the combined effect of the
differing times these gases remain in the
atmosphere and there relative effectiveness
in absorbing outgoing infra-red radiation.
GWP is the amount of CO2 in kilograms that
would cause global warming equivalent to 1
kg of the substance emitted.
The index approximates the time integrating
warming effect of a unit mass of given
Greenhouses gas in today’s atmosphere,
relative to that of CO2.
Effects of Global Warming
Global warming will have a number of
adverse effects on the climate, agriculture
and human beings.
Some of the effects could be unpredictable,
and will be of astronomical proportions.
Some of the effects of global warming are
discussed in the following sections:
Effects on Climate
Global warming can lead to a number of effects on
the climate. They include increases global
temperature, severe and extreme weather
conditions, disruption of rain fall pattern, warmer
oceans, warmer winters, melting of glaciers and
rising sea levels.
1. Increase in Global Temperature: With global
warming the average global temperature has
increased steadily during the last 100 years. It has
increased by about 0.60C. This increase in
temperature has occurred in almost all regions
around the world.
2. Severe and extreme weather conditions. Global warming
will lead to changes in the flow of ocean currents and the air
circulation patterns and consequent effect on weather across the
world. There may be changes is the distribution of solar energy
which can bring about unpredictable climatic conditions. There
may be serve drought at places which used to get abundant
rainfall.
3. Disruption of rainfall pattern: There will be changes in
rainfall worldwide, due to changes in surface temperatures of
oceans and land areas. Warm temperatures will lead to more
evaporation and the resultant increased precipitation, with heavy
rainfalls at certain places leading to flood damages. While some
regions will receive much higher levels of rainfall, other regions
will receive less rain fall. Rainfall may occur at different times
and for shorter or longer periods than it used to be in past.
4. Warmer oceans: As the global temperature
increase, the oceans will become warmer.
Warm oceans surfaces can cause more
damage, and it will have a cascading effect on
global warming with temperatures continuing
to climb. Warmer ocean waters will sound the
death knell of a number of marine beings.
Useful and edible fish varieties may be
replaced with useless varieties of fish. Fishing
will come down drastically and can affect food
security.
5. Warmer winters: The winter will become
longer. Since the 1960s this has been observed
in Europe with spring plants blooming earlier
and the fall colors coming earlier. There are
positive aspects in the winters getting warmer
that growing season in these areas will last
longer which may lead to better crops and
harvests. There will also be reduced
wintertime deaths due this. However, there is
possibility that the heat wave conditions in
other areas may become more intense.
6. Melting of glaciers: Glaciers are also
found on very high mountains. Global warming
will result in the melting of more and more
glaciers. This melting ice will lead to global
changes in winter circulation. Many mountain
glaciers are also melting because of warmer
temperature and exposing the dark surface
which results in further rise in temperature.
7. Rising sea levels: Sea level is the height of the
surface of the ocean. In the last 100 years, the
average global sea level has risen about 6 inches.
Sea levels have risen because warmer
temperatures cause the oceans to expand, and the
polar ice to melt. The melting ice adds considerable
quantities of water into oceans causing sea level to
rise.
Coastal areas are said to contain some of
the world’s most productive ecosystem, which
include mangrove forests, coral reefs, and sea
grasses.
Weather
Weather is defined as the temperature, rainfall,
or storms in a specific place on a specific day or
over a very short period like one season.
For example a person is talking about weather
when he says that it is warm today or its raining
day.
The weather measure aspects like temperature,
rain fall, wind and cloud conditions that happen
on a day or a season.
There can also be extreme weather condition
like heavy rains storm and hurricane.
Climate
Climate is the average weather or weather
conditions that occur over a considerably
long period of time.
It is a very complex natural process that
includes the interaction of the air, water and
land of particular area.
Climate can be influenced by a number of
factors like the direction of the air in the
atmosphere, the water currents and distance
from mountains and oceans.
When climate is measured, it takes into
account a number of aspects like the average
temperature, the average rainfall or snowfall
and the storms, in an area or over long period
time.
The time factor may be of a number of
decades or even centuries. For example,
when someone says, south-western monsoon
occurs during the month of June or it never
snows in the plains, he is talking about the
climate of that place.
Causes of Climate change
Climate change is caused due to that impact the
natural composition of the global climate elements
(natural causes), and anthropogenic activities
(man-made causes).
The natural causes that lead to global warming
are as follows.
1. The sun’s energy: the quantum of solar energy
that reaches earth varies over a period of time, and
makes an impact on the temperature. Earth become
warmer or cooler based on the solar energy it
receives. This will ultimately results in changes to
the climate.
2. Atmospheric gases: Certain gases (GHGs)
have a strong effect on the climate. These gases
trap the heat in the earth’s atmosphere. Climate
change is due to the trapping of sun’s heat energy
by the gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. This
trapped energy is then radiated or redistributed
on the earth’s surface altering the temperature
and climate. Among the GHGs, CO2 has a major
role to play in driving climate change. A
continuous buildup of GHGs will significantly
change the climate with widespread ramifications
for periods to come.
3. Oceans currents: The water in oceans is constantly
in movement in regular patterns due to the activity of
winds. These movements of water in oceans are called
ocean currents. This movement plays a significant role in
heating up of globe. For example, when water moves up
from the colder, deeper parts of the oceans to warmer
surface, the heat is carried around the globe.
4. Volcanic eruptions: The eruption of volcanoes
release tiny particles, dust, fumes, etc. Into the
atmosphere. These particles on reaching the upper parts
of the atmosphere and staying there for fairly long
periods can directly affects the earth’s temperatures and
climate.
5. Snow and ice: The earth has a cover of ice
and snow at the poles and at mountains, as
glaciers. The snow and ice beings light in
color have the ability to reflect solar energy
back out to the atmosphere. When snow and
ice melt as earth’s climate warms up. Less
energy will be reflected and this will lead to
further warming.
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