Global warming

Source: NASA- Global climate change 


 A simple definition of global warming (And yes, it's really happening.) 

Global warming is the current increase in temperature of the Earth's surface (both land and water) as well as its atmosphere. Average temperatures around the world have risen by 0.75°C (1.4°F) over the last 100 years about two-thirds of this increase has occurred since 1975. In the past, when the Earth experienced increases in temperature it was the result of natural causes but today it is being caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere produced by human activities.

The natural greenhouse effect maintains the Earth's temperature at a safe level making it possible for humans and many other lifeforms to exist. However, since the Industrial Revolution human activities have significantly enhanced the greenhouse effect causing the Earth's average temperature to rise by almost 1°C. This is creating the global warming we see today.


Causes of Global warming:

The cause of global warming is the increasing quantity of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere produced by human activities, like the burning of fossil fuels or deforestation. These activities produce large amounts of greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere to keep the planet warm enough to sustain life, this process is called the greenhouse effect. It is a natural process and without these gases, the Earth would be too cold for humans, plants and other creatures to live.

However, when abnormally high levels of these gases accumulate in the air, more heat starts getting trapped and leads to the enhancement of the greenhouse effect. Human-caused emissions have been increasing greenhouse levels which is raising worldwide temperatures and driving global warming. Most climate scientists agree the main cause of the current global warming trend is the human expansion of the "greenhouse effect".


The future effects of Global warming: 

A change will continue through this century and beyond


Temperatures will continue to rise


More droughts and heat waves


Summer temperatures are projected to continue rising, and a reduction of soil moisture, which exacerbates heat waves. By the end of this century, what have been once-in-20-year extreme heat days (one-day events) are projected to occur every two or three years over most of the nation.

Hurricanes will become stronger and more intense


Increased melting of snow and ice

Around the world, snow and ice are melting at a much faster pace than in the past. This has been seen in the Alps, the Himalayas, Andes, Rockies, Alaska, and Africa but is particularly true at the Earth's poles.

Perennial ice cover in the Arctic is melting at the rate of 11.5% per decade and the thickness of the Arctic ice has decreased by 48% since the 1960s. During the past 30 years, more than a million square miles of sea ice has vanished, an area equivalent to the size of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden combined. The continent of Antarctica has been losing more than 100 cubic kilometers (24 cubic miles) of ice per year since 2002. Since 2010, the Antarctic ice melt rate has doubled. 

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