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Global Warming

Introduction

The world as we know it keeps changing on a daily basis. Every year we see more natural catastrophe the n the last. These include tsunami, volcanic eruption, tornadoes, which all but sweep away precious lives and leave a wake of destruction behind them. The main reason behind these disasters is none else than global warming. The adverse effects of global warming are quantifiable, and in truth frightening.

Global warming, thus, is the biggest environmental hazard faced by our planet according to World Meteorological Organization (WMO). With each passing decade, the changes caused due to global warming and the resultant ecological imbalance will become all the more evident. In order to effectively reduce the global warming, and thus, save the planet from environmental deterioration not only do we must take environment friendly steps on a worldwide basis, but we need to understand the consequences of the past environment damaging actions (Töpfer, p. 5).

Discussion

How does global warming take place? The main reason behind it is the increase in the burning of fossil fuels and changes in land usage, which emits high quantities of greenhouse gases into the earth's atmosphere. These greenhouse gases cause a rise in the amount of heat that earth's atmosphere withholds. Thus, the heat that should be radiated back into space gets trapped and results in global warming (UNFCCC, p. 8).

Additionally, internationally people need to be educated about the harmful effects of global warming and how it brings on a severe climatic change. Awareness should be spread among the general populations to cope and mitigate the effects of global warming.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global warming leads to climatic changes that have scientific, environmental, technical, and socio-economic impact. Global warming has manifested itself in various forms across the globe including climate induced physical and biological changes in the earth's composition, higher temperatures that melt the permafrost, intense rainstorms, tropical cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons, excessive, severe tornados, heat waves, and frozen rivers.

Earlier ripening of crops, insect infestation, melting glaciers, rising sea level, land erosion, and deforestation are all but consequences of the ever rising global warming. Global warming can be curbed by reducing the greenhouse gas emission. However, its effect will continue our ecological system for decades to come. The expected climatic rate changed for the next century or so is unparalleled in human history.

The rapid global warming will affect vital earth systems that all life on the planet depends upon. Global warming disrupts reproduction, oceanic circulations, hydrological, carbon, and nutrient cycles. Alongside it also upsets the natural and managed ecosystems, which ensure the provision of water, food, and fiber. This will result in extreme environmental pressures like desertification, poor water quality, stratospheric ozone depletion, and air pollution according to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The phenomenon of global warming can be measured by Land-Ocean Temperature Index, Global Mean Surface Temperature Anomaly, Antarctic Ice Core Time Series Data, Ice Age Climatic Forcing, Sea Level from Red Sea Analysis, Ice Sheets ...