Global Warming
Global warming: Green house effect
Global warming refers to an average increase in the earth’s temperature, which in turn causes changes in climate. During the past 4.65 billion years of its history, earth has warmed many times. But at present it is facing a rapid warming mainly due to human activities. The average temperature of earth is about 59o F (15o C). During the last century this average has risen by about 1o F. By the year 2100, it is believed that the rise would be between 2.5 and 10.4o F. This will cause dramatic changes such as rise in sea level, changes in rainfall patterns, wide range of impacts on plants, wildlife and humans.
Green house gases and Green house effect:-
The trapping of energy from the sun by certain gases in the atmosphere leading to the rise in earth’s temperature is known as Green house effect. Hence these gases are known as green house gases. Some gases such as water vapour, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane act as trap. These gases absorb and reflect infra-red waves radiated by earth. By doing so, these gases conserve heat as the glass in a green house does.
Normally all life on earth depends on this green house effect. If it does not exist, earth would be cooled, and ice would cover earth from pole to pole. But if the green house effect becomes strong it could make the earth warmer than usual. Even al little extra warming may cause problems for humans, plants and animals.
Types of Greenhouse Gases:-
In the environment, greenhouse gases occur (i) naturally or (ii) from human activities.
The most abundant greenhouse gas is Carbon dioxide. It reaches the atmosphere due to volcanic eruptions, respiration of animals, burning and decay of organic matter such as plants by photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide is also absorbed into ocean water. But humans by their activities increase the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Such activities include burning of fossil fuels, solid wasted, wood and wood products to drive vehicles, generate electricity etc. At the same time, due to deforestation, the number of trees available to absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis has been greatly reduced.
Human activities have caused carbon-dioxide to be released to the atmosphere at rates much faster than that at which earth’s natural processes can recycle this gas. There were about 281 molecules of carbon dioxide per million molecules of air (i.e., parts per million or ppm) in 1750. Today atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are 368 ppm, a 31% increase.
Methane traps 20 times more heat than carbon dioxide. It is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas and oil. It is also emitted from rotting organic waste in sand fills, by the cows as a byproduct of digestion. Since 1750, the amount of methane in the atmosphere has more than doubled.
Nitrous Oxide traps 300 times more heat than carbon dioxide. Burning fossil fuels and ploughing farm soils releases nitrous oxide. Since 1750 its level increased by 17%. Hydrocarbons formed from the manufacture of foams, coolants such as chlorofluorocarbons used in refrigerators are the other gases responsible for global warming.
In 2000, scientists discovered an alarming increase in the level of new gas called trifluoromethyl sulphur penta fluoride. Even though the gas is rare, it traps more effectively than all other green house gases. The saddest part of it is that the industrial source of the gas is not yet identified.
Effects of Global warming:-
- Due to the warming of oceans, sea level will rise. Glacier ice will also melt, causing further rise in sea level. As a result in the 21st century sea level will rise from 9 to 88 cm. Such a rise will submerge many parts of countries.
- Growing seasons will be longer in some areas.
- The warmed world will be generally more humid and greater humidity will increases rainfall.
- Storms are expected to be more frequent and more intense.
- Some regions of the world would be more drier than before.
- Wind blows will be harder and in different patterns. Hurricane would be more severe.
- Weather patterns would be less predictable and more extreme.
- Crops and woodlands may be affected by more insects and plant diseases.
- Animals and plants will find it difficult to adjust to the changed environment. Animals will tend to migrate toward the poles and toward higher elevations.
- Some types of forests may disappear.
- More people will get sick or die from heat stress.
- Tropical diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever and encephalitis will spread to other parts of the world.
Efforts to control Global warming:-
Two major ways are there to control global warming one is to keep the carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere by storing the gas or its carbon component somewhere else, a strategy called carbon sequestration. Another way is to reduce the production of green house gases.
Carbon sequestration:-
The simple technique is to preserve trees and plants more. Trees take up carbon dioxide, break it down in photosynthesis, and sore carbon in new wood. It need massive reforestation. Carbon dioxide can also be sequestrated directly into deep ocean water or into oil wells or some aquifer form which it cannot escape.
Usage of alternate fuels such as nuclear energy, solar power, wind power and hydrogen fuel cells which emit no greenhouse gases are being considered.
