What is Global Warming?

 Saadatu Ibrahim, Green Blogger, Student Nigerian Army University Biu, Nigeria,

What Is Global Warming?

Global warming is the increase in atmospheric, earth surface and ocean temperature caused as a result of combination of high amount of carbon monoxide (CO2) and other green house gases.

Green house gases are naturally found in the atmosphere in minute quantity,the industrial activities taken place on the earth surface as a result of human persistency in acheiving development and easy living are the primary source of excess release of the green house gases into the atmosphere,such activities include burning of fossil fuels, gas exhaust from vehicles in form of CO2.

All these gases that accumulates in the atmosphere trap heat that is bounce back from the earth surface to the atmosphere after the required amount is used by both plant and animals.

The heat that bounces back are no longer needed by the earth surface and are meant to escape to outer space.

But because of the green house gases trapping the heat,the earth surface gets hotter and hotter,this is known as the green house effect.

The green house effect gradually results to climate change.

Effects Of Global Warming

1. Climate Change

The Earth's climate has changed throughout history. Just in the last 650,000 years there have been seven cycles of glacial advance and retreat, with the abrupt end of the last ice age about 11,700 years ago marking the beginning of h climate era — and of human civilization. Most of these climate changes are attributed to very small variations in Earth’s orbit that change the amount of solar energy our planet receives.

This graph, based on the comparison of atmospheric samples contained in ice cores and more recent direct measurements, provides evidence that atmospheric CO2 has increased since the Industrial Revolution. (Credit: Luthi, D., et al.. 2008; Etheridge, D.M., et al. 2010; Vostok ice core data/J.R. Petit et al.; NOAA Mauna Loa CO2 record.

2. Global Temperature Rise

The planet's average surface temperature has risen about 2.0 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius) since the late 19th century.

The planet's average surface temperature has risen about 2.05 degrees Fahrenheit (1.14 degrees Celsius) since the late 19th century, a change driven largely by increased carbon dioxide and other human-made emissions into the atmosphere. Most of the warming occurred in the past 40 years, with the six warmest years on record taking place since 2014. Not only was 2016 the warmest year on record, but eight of the 12 months that make up the year — from January through September, with the exception of June — were the warmest on record for those respective months.

The ocean has absorbed much of this increased heat, with the top 100 meters (about 328 feet) of ocean showing warming of more than 0.6 degrees Fahrenheit since 1969.6 Earth stores 90% of the extra energy in the ocean.

3. Sea Level Rise

Global sea level rose about 8 inches in the last century. The rate in the last two decades, however, is nearly double that of the last century and is accelerating slightly every year.

Global sea level rose about 8 inches in the last century. The rate in the last two decades, however, is nearly double that of the last century and is accelerating slightly every year.

Sea level rise is an indicator of impeding danger which include increase in the occurrence of natural disasters (flood, hurricane, tornado, storm etc.).

4. Plants And Animals

Over the years the effect of global warming have been noticed in both plant and animals, starting from changes in the transpiration season in plants, animals migrating toward higher latitude in search of cooler environment.

Though CO2 contribute greatly to the production of crops high level of CO2 can yield crops with less or no nutrients.

 

Humans have witnessed the effect of global warming first hand as their is increase in number of people with chronic diseases like cancer, asthma, given birth to mentally retarded children etc. over the years compare to the cases in recent centuries.

Air and water borne diseases are increasing at an alarming rate with rare cases every years resulting from the massive breeding of vector parasites like mosquito, housefly etc.

Can We Control Global Warming?

After understanding what is global warming and  it's effect you will be wondering if it can be controlled or not.

Human activities are the primary cause of global warming,so technically humans cause global warming.

HOW?

By increasing the amount of green house gases present in the atmosphere.

Global warming can be controlled by substituting or banning the use of materials that produce co2 which has an affinity for trapping heat.

Vehicles can be powered by electricity instead of fuels,solar energy can be used in industries instead of fossils.

About the Author: Saadatu Ibrahim is an enthusiastic environmental blogger and a student of Environmetal Management Technology at Nigerian Army University Biu, Nigeria.