From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about climate change happening on Earth now. For climate change in general, see Climate change.
Global average temperature, shown by measurements from various sources, has increased since the Industrial Revolution.
Places that got warmer (red) and cooler (blue) over the past 50 years
Global warming is the current rise in temperature of the air and oceans. It is happening mainly because humans burn coal, oil, and natural gas; and cut down forests.[2] Average temperatures today are about 1 °C (1.8 °F) higher than before people started burning a lot of coal around 1750.[3] In some parts of the world it is less and some more. Most climate scientists say that by the year 2100 temperatures will be 2 °C (3.6 °F) to 4 °C (7.2 °F) higher than they were before 1750.[4]
Global warming is a significant and rapidly accelerating issue caused by human activities, such as greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and the burning of fossil fuels. It is having a profound impact on the environment and our planet. The present global warming is mostly because of people burning things, like gasoline for cars and natural gas to keep houses warm. But the heat from the burning itself only makes the world a tiny bit warmer: it is the carbon dioxide from the burning which is the biggest part of the problem. Among greenhouse gases, the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the main cause of global warming. Svante Arrhenius predicted this more than a hundred years ago. Arrhenius confirmed the work of Joseph Fourier 200 years ago.
When people burn fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas this adds carbon dioxide into the air.[5] This is because fossil fuels contain lots of carbon and burning means joining most of the atoms in the fuel with oxygen. When people cut down many trees (deforestation), this means less carbon dioxide is taken out of the atmosphere by those plants. Animals which have four places in their stomachs, like cows and sheep, also cause global warming, because their burps contain a greenhouse gas called methane.[6]
As the Earth’s surface temperature becomes hotter the sea level rises. This is partly because water over 4 °C (39 °F) expands when it gets warmer.[7] It is also partly because warm temperatures make glaciers and ice caps melt. The sea level rise causes coastal areas to flood.[8] Weather patterns, including where and how much rain or snow there is, are changing. Deserts will probably get bigger. Colder areas will warm up faster than warm areas. Strong storms may become more likely and farming may not make as much food. These changes will not be the same everywhere.[9]
In the Paris Agreement almost all governments agreed to keep temperature rise below 2 °C (3.6 °F), but current plans are not enough to limit global warming that much.[10] People in government and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are talking about global warming. But governments, companies, and other people do not agree on what to do about it. Some things that could reduce warming are to burn less fossil fuels, grow more trees, eat less meat, and put some carbon dioxide back in the ground. People could adapt to some temperature change. A few people think nothing should change.
Temperature changes[change | change source]
A graph of temperatures over the past two thousand years. The so-called Medieval Warm Period and Little Ice Age were regional phenomena, and were not experienced worldwide.
Climate change has happened constantly over the history of the Earth, including the coming and going of ice ages. But modern climate change is different because people are putting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere more quickly than before.[11][12]
Since the 1800s, people have recorded the daily temperature. By about 1850, there were enough places measuring temperature so that scientists could know the global average temperature. Compared with before people started burning a lot of coal for industry, the temperature has risen by about 1 °C (1.8 °F).[3] In 1979, satellites started measuring the temperature of the Earth.[13]
Before 1850, there were not enough temperature measurements for us to know how warm or cold it was. Climatologists measure other things to try to figure out past temperatures before there were thermometers. This means measuring things that change when it gets colder or warmer. One way is to cut into a tree and measure how far apart the growth rings are. Trees that live a long time can give us an idea of how temperature and rain changed while they were alive.
For most of the past 2000 years the average temperature of the world didn’t change much. There were some times where the temperatures were a little warmer or cooler in some places. One of the most famous warm times was the Medieval Warm Period and one of the most famous cool times was the Little Ice Age (not really an ice age). Tree ring dating can only help scientists work out the temperature back to about 10,000 years ago.[14] Ice cores are used to find out all the temperature back to almost a million years ago,[15] and for some times to over 4 million years ago.[16]
Greenhouse gases[change | change source]
Fossil fuel related CO2 emissions compared to five IPCC scenarios. The dips are related to global recessions.
There are several greenhouse gases that cause the Earth to warm. The most important one is carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 comes from power plants which burn coal and natural gas to make electricity. Cars also emit CO2 when they burn petrol. About 35 billion tons of carbon dioxide are released into the Earth’s atmosphere each year.[17] The amount of CO2 in the air is about 50% more than it was around 1750.[18] About three-quarters of the CO2 that people have put in the air during the past 20 years are due to burning fossil fuel like coal or oil. The rest mostly comes from changes in how land is used, like cutting down trees.[19]
The second most important greenhouse gas is methane. A tonne of methane is much more warming than a tonne of CO2 but methane stays in the atmosphere for only about ten years.[20] About 40% comes from nature, like wetlands; and the rest is because of humans, like cows, landfill and leaks when oil and gas are produced.[21][22]
Dust[change | change source]
Dust in the air may come from natural sources such as volcanos,[23][24] erosion and meteoric dust. Some of this dust falls out within a few hours. Some is aerosol, so small that it could stay in the air for years. The aerosol particles in the atmosphere make the earth colder. The effect of dust therefore cancels out some of the effects of greenhouse gases.[25] Even though humans also put aerosols in the air when they burn coal or oil this only cancels out the greenhouse effect of the fuel burning for less than 20 years: however the carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere much longer and keeps on warming the earth.[26]
When people burn stuff the aerosols, for example smoke, are bad because when people breath them they make people ill. But some people say that in a climate change emergency the Earth could be kept cool by reflecting some sunlight back into space, for example by putting aerosols very high in the air or making clouds whiter. They say this would give more time to do a proper fix.[27] This is so easy and cheap that even a middle-size country could do it.[28] But there are a lot of problems: for example it might be good for that country but bad for some other countries.[29]
Extreme weather[change | change source]
Global warming can make dangerous heatwaves.[30]
Slowing climate change[change | change source]
Some people burn less fossil fuel. Countries try to emit less greenhouse gases. The Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997. It was meant to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to below their levels in 1990. However, carbon dioxide levels have continued to rise.
Energy conservation is used to burn less fossil fuel. People can also use energy sources that don’t burn fossil fuel, like solar panels or electricity from nuclear power or wind power. Or they can prevent the carbon dioxide from getting out into the atmosphere, which is called carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Dealing with impacts of climate change[change | change source]
People can change how they live because of the effect of climate change. For example, they can go to places where the weather is better, or build walls around cities to keep flood water out. This cost money, and rich people and rich countries will be able to change more easily than the poor.
History of climate change science[change | change source]
Joseph Fourier; first to explain climate change
Svante Arrhenius; believed climate change would take many years
As early as the 1820s some scientists were discussing climate change: sunlight heats the surface of the Earth, and Joseph Fourier suggested that some of the heat radiated from the surface is trapped by the atmosphere before it can escape into space. This is called the greenhouse effect.
In 1856 Eunice Newton Foote did tests which showed that the warming effect of the sun is greater for air with water vapour than for dry air, and that the effect is even greater with carbon dioxide. So she said that «An atmosphere of that gas would give to our earth a high temperature…».[31]
The greenhouse effect and its impact on climate were described in this 1912 Popular Mechanics article meant for reading by the general public.
Starting in 1859, John Tyndall showed that nitrogen and oxygen—together totaling 99% of dry air—are transparent to radiated heat. However, water vapour and gases such as methane and carbon dioxide absorb radiated heat and re-radiate that heat into the atmosphere. Tyndall suggested that changes in the concentration of these gases may have caused climatic changes in the past, including ice ages. In 1896, Svante Arrhenius tried to prove that it would take thousands of years for the industrial production of CO2 to raise the Earth’s temperature 5-6°C.
In the mid 20th century, scientists worked out that there was a 10% increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over the 19th century, which made it a bit warmer. It was at this time that people believed the emissions of CO2 would increase exponentially in the future and the oceans would absorb any surplus of greenhouse gases. In 1956, Gilbert N. Plass decided that greenhouse gas emissions would have an effect on the Earth’s temperature. He argued that not thinking about GHG emissions would be a mistake. Soon after, scientists studying all different kinds of science began to work together to figure out the mystery of GHG emissions and their effects. As technology advanced, it was in the 1980s that there was proof of a rise in CO2 levels. An ice core, captured through drilling, provided clear evidence that carbon dioxide levels have risen.[32]
Effects of global warming on sea levels[change | change source]
Sea level is rising because water over 4 °C (39 °F) expands when it gets warmer.[7] Probably more important is the melting of ice sheets. The Antarctica and Greenland ice sheets are melting. Sea level will rise between half and one meter by 2100, and between 2 and 7 meter by 2300.[33]
Low-lying areas such as Bangladesh, Florida, the Netherlands and other areas face massive flooding.[34][35]
Cities affected by current sea level rise[change | change source]
Many cities are sea ports and under threat of flooding if the present sea level rises.
These and the other cities have either started trying to deal with rising sea level and related storm surge, or are discussing this, according to reliable sources.
- Rotterdam always was below sea level.
- London [36]
- New York City [37][38][39][40]
- Norfolk, Virginia, in Hampton Roads area of United States [41][42]
- Southampton [43]
- Crisfield, Maryland, United States [44]
- Charleston, South Carolina [45]
- Miami, Florida, has been listed as «the number-one most vulnerable city worldwide» in terms of potential damage to property from storm-related flooding and sea-level rise.[46][47]
- Saint Petersburg [48]
- Sydney, Australia [49]
- Jakarta [50]
- Thatta and Badin, in Sindh, Pakistan [51]
- Malé, Maldives
- Mumbai, Buenos Aires, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro [40]
All other coastal cities are in some danger.
Further reading[change | change source]
- What is climate change National Geographic Kids
- What is climate change? A really simple guide BBC
[change | change source]
- Carbon neutrality
- Climate change
- Dike/Levee
- Stern Review
- Pollution
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- Greenhouse effect
References[change | change source]
- ↑ Irina Ivanova (June 2, 2022). «California is rationing water amid its worst drought in 1,200 years». CBS News.
- ↑ «What Is Global Warming?». National Geographic. 2019-01-22.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 IPCC (2018). «IPCC SR15 Summary for Policymakers 2018» (PDF). p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2019-09-02.
- ↑ «Long-term Climate Change: Projections, Commitments and Irreversibility» (PDF). IPCC.
- ↑ Thompson (Climate Central), Andrea (May 19, 2016). «Atmospheric CO2 May Have Topped 400 PPM Permanently». InsideClimate News. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
- ↑ Staff, Guardian (2019-06-29). «‘Are a cow’s farts the worst for the planet?’ Children’s climate questions answered». the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mosher, Dave. «A bizarre property of water is flooding coastal cities like New Orleans». Business Insider. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
- ↑ Justin Gillis (3 September 2016). «Flooding of coast, caused by global warming, has already begun; scientists’ warnings that the rise of the sea would eventually imperil the United States’ coastline are no longer theoretical». New York Times. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
- ↑ «Regional fact sheet — Introduction» (PDF). IPCC.
- ↑ «Analysis: Do COP26 promises keep global warming below 2C?». Carbon Brief. 2021-11-10.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ «Is the current climate change unusual compared to earlier changes in Earth’s history?». European Environment Agency. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
- ↑ Lee, Howard (2020-03-19). «Sudden Ancient Global Warming Event Traced to Magma Flood». Quanta Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
- ↑ Hausfather, Zeke (2017-06-30). «Major correction to satellite data shows 140% faster warming since 1998». Carbon Brief.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ «Tree Rings and Climate | Center for Science Education». scied.ucar.edu. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
- ↑ «Ice cores and climate change». British Antarctic Survey. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
- ↑ «World’s oldest ice core could stretch back 5 million years». New Atlas. 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ↑ Ritchie, Hannah; Roser, Max; Rosado, Pablo (2020-05-11). «CO₂ and Greenhouse Gas Emissions». Our World in Data.
- ↑ World Meteorological Organization (2021). WMO Statement on the State of the Global Climate in 2020. WMO-No. 1264. Geneva. ISBN 978-92-63-11264-4.
- ↑ «Climate change 2001: the scientific basis». Grida.no. Archived from the original on 2004-01-03. Retrieved 2010-11-03.
- ↑ US EPA, OAR (2016-01-12). «Understanding Global Warming Potentials». www.epa.gov. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
- ↑ «Methane Tracker 2020». International Energy Agency. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
- ↑ «Methane much more sensitive to global heating than previously thought – study». the Guardian. 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
- ↑ «Sun-dimming Volcanoes Partly Explain Global Warming Hiatus». Scientific American. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ↑ Volcanoes that act as air-conditioning for a warming world; Many small eruptions over the past decade or so have helped restrain climate change May 2014 issue Scientific American
- ↑ «Aerosols: Tiny Particles, Big Impact». earthobservatory.nasa.gov. 2010-11-02. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
- ↑ Harrison, Anna. «‘No sudden jump in warming’ from emissions cuts». www.leeds.ac.uk. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
- ↑ «Solar Radiation Management | Wilson Center». www.wilsoncenter.org. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
- ↑ Smith, Wake; Wagner, Gernot (2018-11-22). «Stratospheric aerosol injection tactics and costs in the first 15 years of deployment». Environmental Research Letters. 13 (12): 124001. Bibcode:2018ERL….13l4001S. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/aae98d. ISSN 1748-9326. S2CID 54045721.
- ↑ «Solar Radiation Management (SRM): Who should control the weather?». One Earth. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
- ↑ ««This heatwave is the new normal,» says WMO Secretary-General». public.wmo.int. 2022-07-19. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
- ↑ Foote, Eunice (November 1856). Circumstances affecting the Heat of the Sun’s Rays. The American Journal of Science and Arts. Vol. 22. pp. 382–383. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ↑ «The Carbon Dioxide Greenhouse Effect». history.aip.org. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
- ↑ «RealClimate: Sea level in the IPCC 6th assessment report (AR6)». 2021-08-13. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
- ↑ McKie, Robin (7 March 2009). «Scientists to issue stark warning over dramatic new sea level figures». The Observer. Retrieved 23 January 2017 – via The Guardian.
- ↑ President Trump, Military Split on Climate Change at YouTube
- ↑ Floods in London. [1] Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine Royal Geographical Society
- ↑ «Sea Level Rise — NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation». New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Archived from the original on 27 January 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ↑ interactive map Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine from Climate Central
- ↑ «Mapping Sea Level Rise to Help Recovery after Hurricane Sandy». U.S. Global Change Research Program. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 World Bank, World Development Report 2010, 91.
- ↑ Noguchi, Yuki (2014-06-24). «As Sea Levels Rise, Norfolk Is Sinking And Planning». NPR. Retrieved 2014-11-25.
- ↑ «National Security and the Accelerating Risks of Climate Change». TemplateLab.com. CNA Military Advisory Board. May 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ↑ http://www.iapsc.org.uk/document/R_Crighton.pdf Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine Investigation of Air Pollution Standing Conference
- ↑ Montgomery, David (2013-10-24). «Crisfield, Md., beats back a rising Chesapeake Bay». Washington Post. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
- ↑ Two cities, two very different responses to rising sea levels July 2, 2015 PBS NewsHour
- ↑ Jeff Goodell (June 20, 2013). «Goodbye, Miami». Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development lists Miami as the number-one most vulnerable city worldwide in terms of property damage, with more than $416 billion in assets at risk to storm-related flooding and sea-level rise.
- ↑ Climate Change Economics February 2015 National Geographic
- ↑ «Coastal floods in Russia». Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ↑ «Most at risk: Study reveals Sydney’s climate change ‘hotspots’«. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 April 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ↑ Cities, Connecting Delta. «Cities : Jakarta : Climate change adaptation :: Connecting Delta Cities». Archived from the original on 14 April 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ↑ Khan, Sami (2012-01-25). «Effects of Climate Change on Thatta and Badin». Envirocivil.com. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
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- The Climate Change Guide easy-to-understand information on Climate Change.
Global warming is responsible for climate change, which is affecting many areas in the United States and around the globe. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, better known as NASA, has compiled figures that indicate that the average global temperature has risen two full degrees Fahrenheit since 1880. At the same time, we are losing about 428 billion metric tons of ice sheets from the polar ice caps each year.
Global Warming Definition
The definition of global warming may vary depending on the source. National Geographic notes that global warming consists of a «set of changes to the Earth’s climate.» These changes can affect long-term weather and can have different effects depending on the location being studied.
The online encyclopedia Britannica.com defines global warming as the increase in average air temperatures near the Earth’s surface that has been occurring over the last 100 to 200 years. Britannica.com also links global warming to climate change, which includes a number of different weather events and is attributable to increases in greenhouse gases that are almost certainly the result of human industry and activity.
Many individuals and agencies use the terms global warming and climate change interchangeably. In fact, global warming is just one of several elements of the climate crisis that can be attributed to pollution and the increased amount of greenhouse gases trapped in the atmosphere. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the term global warming refers only to the overall rise in global temperatures caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases. Climate change, by contrast, consists of the long-term changes in precipitation, wind patterns and temperature that are caused by these same factors.
What Is Global Warming?
In simple terms, global warming is the consistent and steady increase in average temperatures around the world and in the United States. Temperatures have fluctuated upward and downward throughout the history of the Earth. However, the temperature increases associated with global warming are more rapid and are directly connected with the pollution produced by humans.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has collected figures that show an uneven but steady rise in global surface temperature since 1880. In 2019, NOAA recorded the second warmest year on record. Only 2016 was warmer on a worldwide scale. Average global temperatures in 2019 were approximately 2.07 degrees higher than those recorded in the years between 1880 and 1900. In fact, the 10 hottest years on record have all occurred between 1998 and the present. Nine of those occurred after 2005.
Individual years with higher-than-normal or lower-than-normal temperatures are a natural part of the weather cycle. Global warming, on the other hand, is a steady increase in the average temperatures that has been monitored and tracked over time. NOAA reports that more areas are growing warmer than are cooling on a worldwide level. This trend has been continuing for at least 100 years.
The Effects of Global Warming
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has identified several important consequences of global warming:
Severe weather events are increasing in frequency and becoming worse. These include hurricanes, droughts, floods and prolonged heat waves. As the Earth warms, the atmosphere becomes capable of absorbing, holding and dropping more water, which usually results in dry areas becoming even dryer and in flooding in already wet areas. This uneven distribution of moisture can lead to increased risks of hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters.
NOAA tracks weather events and the costs associated with them. According to NOAA, there have been 279 climate-related or weather disasters in which the damages and costs met or exceeded $1 billion. Overall, NOAA reports that the total cost of all of these 279 events is more than $1.825 trillion. From January 1 to October 7, 2020, 16 climate and weather disasters have occurred that cost more than $1 billion each. These include droughts, severe storms, tropical cyclones or hurricanes and one wildfire.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also attributes the increased risk of wildfires in recent years to global warming and climate change. According to figures compiled by the National Interagency Fire Center and released by the EPA, the average number of wildfires every year since 1983 is 72,000. Acreage burned by wildfires is showing a steady increase that appears to correlate with higher average global temperatures. Nine of the 10 years in which the highest number of acres were burned have occurred in the period since 2000.
Global warming has been responsible directly or indirectly for a large number of human deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that an average of 702 annual heat-related deaths in the United States were reported from 2004 to 2018. The Guardian reported in June 2020 that the average number of heat-related deaths in Arizona have doubled since 2010. Additionally, between 1999 and 2016, there were more than 10,000 deaths that could be partially or wholly attributed to extreme heat.
People are not the only ones affected by global warming. According to a study published in June 2015 in the scholarly magazine Science Advances, the Earth may currently be experiencing a sixth mass extinction event involving vertebrate species. Over the last century, vertebrate species have been lost at a rate 100 times the normal and expected rate. This indicates that many species of wildlife cannot survive the changes in their environments that have resulted from global warming.
What Causes Global Warming?
According to the scientists at NASA, the greenhouse effect is responsible for most of the measured increase in global temperatures over the last 70 to 100 years. The atmospheric gases that are most responsible for the greenhouse effect include carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, methane, and nitrous oxide. Water vapor is also classed as a greenhouse gas. The moisture in the air, however, is seen as a mitigating factor that can actually respond to the presence of other greenhouse gases and may serve to lessen some of the most serious effects of greenhouse effect warming.
The greenhouse gases responsible for global warming are produced by many human activities:
- Carbon dioxide is naturally produced when animals breathe. Levels of this gas in the atmosphere can also increase when volcanos erupt, when fossil fuels are burned and when vegetation and trees are removed from the land.
- Chlorofluorocarbons are synthetic compounds that are produced when humans engage in certain industrial practices. Also referred to as CFCs, these chemicals are restricted because of their destructive effect on the ozone layer.
- Methane is produced in large quantities by animals during the digestive process. Cattle raised for beef in large herds are responsible for releasing significant amounts of methane into the atmosphere. As waste decomposes in landfills and is used as fertilizer in agricultural applications, it can also produce methane that contributes to the process of global warming.
- Nitrous oxide is usually released during the application and use of organic and commercial fertilizers. It can also be produced and released during the use of fossil fuels and when biomass is burned.
NASA attributes many of the changes in overall global temperatures to increased greenhouse gases, which are increasing the natural heat retention caused by the greenhouse effect.
What Is the Greenhouse Effect?
Essentially, the world’s atmosphere can be seen as a large and complex greenhouse. The gravity of the earth is responsible for keeping air and clouds close to the surface of the planet. The sun’s rays filter through the atmosphere. Light and heat from the sun are absorbed by the surface of the Earth and is then released and reflected upward as infrared heat. Greenhouse gases prevent this heat from leaving the atmosphere by trapping it and returning it once more to the surface of the earth.
When large amounts of greenhouse gases are present in the atmosphere of the Earth, not enough heat can escape. This causes a gradual but inevitable increase in the temperatures experienced in various areas of the world. Greenhouse gases play a large role in trapping heat close to the Earth’s surface.
One example of a runaway greenhouse effect and its results can be found in our own solar system. NASA points to Venus as an example of what can happen when the greenhouse effect is too strong. Because only a small amount of heat can escape from its surface, the average temperature on the planetary surface of Venus is 864 degrees Fahrenheit.
Could Global Warming Be Caused by Changes in the Sun?
Almost all scientists agree that global warming is not the result of changes in the energy Earth receives from the sun. There are several pieces of evidence that disprove this theory:
- According to scientific observations, the heat and light that Earth receives from the sun have changed only slightly or have remained constant since the year 1750.
- Climate change models that do not include changes in the greenhouse effect cannot adequately account for the increases in average global temperatures.
- The changes in the atmosphere’s temperature are primarily felt in the lower atmosphere. Changes in the sun’s activity would affect all layers of the atmosphere equally.
This evidence has been collected and verified by NASA and by many other scientific organizations. It indicates that the process of global warming is primarily caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere.
When Did Global Warming Start?
According to most scientific researchers, global warming started at least 100 years ago. A recent study published in Carbon Brief, however, puts that figure at closer to 1830. This is close to the start of the Industrial Era and may indicate that the Earth’s atmosphere is far more sensitive to greenhouse gas buildup than was previously thought.
As the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere increases, the speed of global warming and the risk of extreme heat and weather events associated with this phenomenon also increase. Taking steps now to address the issue could have long-term positive effects on the livability of many areas of the Earth.
How Can We Stop Global Warming?
There are many ways in which governments and individuals can act to stop global warming. The Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA) has identified five key areas in which governments must act to protect the environment and to halt the progress of global warming:
- Restoring ecosystems can be as simple as replanting trees or as complex as mitigating damage to fragile wetlands. Governments can designate funding for conservation and preservation of these areas to restore ecosystems that have been damaged by human intervention.
- Supporting small farms and agricultural producers who use sustainable methods to produce food is another way in which governments can promote a healthier environment. Stopping deforestation and reforming the meat industry to prevent some of the releases of methane and other greenhouse gases will also go a long way toward slowing the progress of global warming.
- Reducing our use of fossil fuels will lower the number of particulates and short-lived pollutants currently being released into the atmosphere. These chemical compounds and soot particles can play a big role in increasing the greenhouse effect.
- Taking steps to help communities in areas hardest hit by increasing temperatures is also necessary to reduce the human cost of global warming. This may include relocation of vulnerable populations or, in some cases, providing technologies to help make their communities livable again.
- Investing in green energy and converting fossil-fuel plants to wind, solar and other green-friendly power sources is one of the most important ways in which governments can slow the progress of global warming.
It may seem that individuals and families cannot do much about this major issue. In fact, making smarter choices can have a real impact on the environment. The NRDC has offered some practical suggestions for those interested in joining the fight against global warming:
- The most important step you can take to combat global warming and climate change is voting with your dollar. Support sustainable businesses and businesses that follow ethical practices for the earth. The more demand there is for accountability, the more businesses will be forced to clean up their act.
- Obtaining your electricity from a company that makes renewable energy a part of their plan is a good first step toward reducing your carbon footprint. If your local utility company does not offer this service, you can contact them directly to let them know this is a priority for you.
- Adding insulation to your home can keep it cooler in summer and warmer in winter. This can not only lower your utility bills but can reduce your use of fossil fuels and the greenhouse gases they can produce.
- Fixing leaks and conserving water can also lower your personal use of electricity, which can reduce the progress of global warming. Water conservation is also important as part of an overall program to protect the environment.
- Driving a fuel-efficient vehicle or riding on public transport will play a significant role in reducing the release of greenhouse gases. This can slow global warming in a measurable way.
- Eating less meat is another good way to reduce demand for large-scale meat production plants. This will discourage deforestation and will help you and your family feel healthier over the long run.
- Contacting your local, state, and federal representatives to let them know that global warming is an important issue for you and your family will encourage them to make this issue a priority. By engaging your friends and colleagues on the subject, you can put real pressure on government agencies and elected officials to do more about this important environmental problem.
Based on the latest scientific studies, National Geographic forecasts that if nothing is done to slow the progress of global warming, the average temperatures of many U.S. cities will increase significantly. New York City is one example mentioned in the article. By 2050, studies predict that winters in New York City will resemble those in Virginia Beach, a city hundreds of miles to the south. This trend will be seen across the United States and around the world.
Acting now is the best way to prevent these significant changes. By working to mitigate some of the worst effects of global warming and climate change, we can create a brighter future for the whole world.
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Top Questions
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Where does global warming affect polar bears?
global warming, the phenomenon of increasing average air temperatures near the surface of Earth over the past one to two centuries. Climate scientists have since the mid-20th century gathered detailed observations of various weather phenomena (such as temperatures, precipitation, and storms) and of related influences on climate (such as ocean currents and the atmosphere’s chemical composition). These data indicate that Earth’s climate has changed over almost every conceivable timescale since the beginning of geologic time and that human activities since at least the beginning of the Industrial Revolution have a growing influence over the pace and extent of present-day climate change.
Giving voice to a growing conviction of most of the scientific community, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was formed in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), published in 2021, noted that the best estimate of the increase in global average surface temperature between 1850 and 2019 was 1.07 °C (1.9 °F). An IPCC special report produced in 2018 noted that human beings and their activities have been responsible for a worldwide average temperature increase between 0.8 and 1.2 °C (1.4 and 2.2 °F) since preindustrial times, and most of the warming over the second half of the 20th century could be attributed to human activities.
AR6 produced a series of global climate predictions based on modeling five greenhouse gas emission scenarios that accounted for future emissions, mitigation (severity reduction) measures, and uncertainties in the model projections. Some of the main uncertainties include the precise role of feedback processes and the impacts of industrial pollutants known as aerosols, which may offset some warming. The lowest-emissions scenario, which assumed steep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2015, predicted that the global mean surface temperature would increase between 1.0 and 1.8 °C (1.8 and 3.2 °F) by 2100 relative to the 1850–1900 average. This range stood in stark contrast to the highest-emissions scenario, which predicted that the mean surface temperature would rise between 3.3 and 5.7 °C (5.9 and 10.2 °F) by 2100 based on the assumption that greenhouse gas emissions would continue to increase throughout the 21st century. The intermediate-emissions scenario, which assumed that emissions would stabilize by 2050 before declining gradually, projected an increase of between 2.1 and 3.5 °C (3.8 and 6.3 °F) by 2100.
Many climate scientists agree that significant societal, economic, and ecological damage would result if the global average temperature rose by more than 2 °C (3.6 °F) in such a short time. Such damage would include increased extinction of many plant and animal species, shifts in patterns of agriculture, and rising sea levels. By 2015 all but a few national governments had begun the process of instituting carbon reduction plans as part of the Paris Agreement, a treaty designed to help countries keep global warming to 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) above preindustrial levels in order to avoid the worst of the predicted effects. Whereas authors of the 2018 special report noted that should carbon emissions continue at their present rate, the increase in average near-surface air temperature would reach 1.5 °C sometime between 2030 and 2052, authors of the AR6 report suggested that this threshold would be reached by 2041 at the latest.
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The AR6 report also noted that the global average sea level had risen by some 20 cm (7.9 inches) between 1901 and 2018 and that sea level rose faster in the second half of the 20th century than in the first half. It also predicted, again depending on a wide range of scenarios, that the global average sea level would rise by different amounts by 2100 relative to the 1995–2014 average. Under the report’s lowest-emission scenario, sea level would rise by 28–55 cm (11–21.7 inches), whereas, under the intermediate emissions scenario, sea level would rise by 44–76 cm (17.3–29.9 inches). The highest-emissions scenario suggested that sea level would rise by 63–101 cm (24.8–39.8 inches) by 2100.
The scenarios referred to above depend mainly on future concentrations of certain trace gases, called greenhouse gases, that have been injected into the lower atmosphere in increasing amounts through the burning of fossil fuels for industry, transportation, and residential uses. Modern global warming is the result of an increase in magnitude of the so-called greenhouse effect, a warming of Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere caused by the presence of water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, and other greenhouse gases. In 2014 the IPCC first reported that concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides in the atmosphere surpassed those found in ice cores dating back 800,000 years.
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Of all these gases, carbon dioxide is the most important, both for its role in the greenhouse effect and for its role in the human economy. It has been estimated that, at the beginning of the industrial age in the mid-18th century, carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere were roughly 280 parts per million (ppm). By the end of 2022 they had risen to 419 ppm, and, if fossil fuels continue to be burned at current rates, they are projected to reach 550 ppm by the mid-21st century—essentially, a doubling of carbon dioxide concentrations in 300 years.
A vigorous debate is in progress over the extent and seriousness of rising surface temperatures, the effects of past and future warming on human life, and the need for action to reduce future warming and deal with its consequences. This article provides an overview of the scientific background and public policy debate related to the subject of global warming. It considers the causes of rising near-surface air temperatures, the influencing factors, the process of climate research and forecasting, the possible ecological and social impacts of rising temperatures, and the public policy developments since the mid-20th century. For a detailed description of Earth’s climate, its processes, and the responses of living things to its changing nature, see climate. For additional background on how Earth’s climate has changed throughout geologic time, see climatic variation and change. For a full description of Earth’s gaseous envelope, within which climate change and global warming occur, see atmosphere.
“Global warming is a gradual increase in the earth’s temperature generally due to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants. “
Table of Contents
- What is Global Warming?
- Causes of Global Warming
- Man-made Causes of Global Warming
- Natural Causes of Global Warming
- Effects of Global Warming
What is Global Warming?
Global warming is the phenomenon of a gradual increase in the temperature near the earth’s surface. This phenomenon has been observed over the past one or two centuries. This change has disturbed the climatic pattern of the earth. However, the concept of global warming is quite controversial but the scientists have provided relevant data in support of the fact that the temperature of the earth is rising constantly.
There are several causes of global warming, which have a negative effect on humans, plants and animals. These causes may be natural or might be the outcome of human activities. In order to curb the issues, it is very important to understand the negative impacts of global warming.
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Also Read: Environmental Issues
Causes of Global Warming
Following are the major causes of global warming:
Man-made Causes of Global Warming
Deforestation
Plants are the main source of oxygen. They take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen thereby maintaining environmental balance. Forests are being depleted for many domestic and commercial purposes. This has led to an environmental imbalance, thereby giving rise to global warming.
Use of Vehicles
The use of vehicles, even for a very short distance results in various gaseous emissions. Vehicles burn fossil fuels which emit a large amount of carbon dioxide and other toxins into the atmosphere resulting in a temperature increase.
Chlorofluorocarbon
With the excessive use of air conditioners and refrigerators, humans have been adding CFCs into the environment which affects the atmospheric ozone layer. The ozone layer protects the earth surface from the harmful ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun. The CFCs have led to ozone layer depletion making way for the ultraviolet rays, thereby increasing the temperature of the earth.
Industrial Development
With the advent of industrialization, the temperature of the earth has been increasing rapidly. The harmful emissions from the factories add to the increasing temperature of the earth.
In 2013, the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change reported that the increase in the global temperature between 1880 and 2012 has been 0.9 degrees Celsius. The increase is 1.1 degrees Celsius when compared to the pre-industrial mean temperature.
Agriculture
Various farming activities produce carbon dioxide and methane gas. These add to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and increase the temperature of the earth.
Overpopulation
An increase in population means more people breathing. This leads to an increase in the level of carbon dioxide, the primary gas causing global warming, in the atmosphere.
Natural Causes of Global Warming
Volcanoes
Volcanoes are one of the largest natural contributors to global warming. The ash and smoke emitted during volcanic eruptions goes out into the atmosphere and affects the climate.
Water Vapour
Water vapour is a kind of greenhouse gas. Due to the increase in the earth’s temperature, more water gets evaporated from the water bodies and stays in the atmosphere adding to global warming.
Melting Permafrost
Permafrost is frozen soil that has environmental gases trapped in it for several years and is present below Earth’s surface. It is present in glaciers. As the permafrost melts, it releases the gases back into the atmosphere, increasing Earth’s temperature.
Forest Blazes
Forest blazes or forest fires emit a large amount of carbon-containing smoke. These gases are released into the atmosphere and increase the earth’s temperature resulting in global warming.
Also Read: Bergmann’s Rule
Effects of Global Warming
Following are the major effects of global warming:
Rise in Temperature
Global warming has led to an incredible increase in earth’s temperature. Since 1880, the earth’s temperature has increased by ~1 degrees. This has resulted in an increase in the melting of glaciers, which have led to an increase in the sea level. This could have devastating effects on coastal regions.
Threats to the Ecosystem
Global warming has affected the coral reefs that can lead to the loss of plant and animal lives. Increase in global temperatures has made the fragility of coral reefs even worse.
Climate Change
Global warming has led to a change in climatic conditions. There are droughts at some places and floods at some. This climatic imbalance is the result of global warming.
Spread of Diseases
Global warming leads to a change in the patterns of heat and humidity. This has led to the movement of mosquitoes that carry and spread diseases.
High Mortality Rates
Due to an increase in floods, tsunamis and other natural calamities, the average death toll usually increases. Also, such events can bring about the spread of diseases that can hamper human life.
Loss of Natural Habitat
A global shift in the climate leads to the loss of habitats of several plants and animals. In this case, the animals need to migrate from their natural habitat and many of them even become extinct. This is yet another major impact of global warming on biodiversity.
Also Read: Deforestation
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1
What is global warming?
Global warming is the phenomenon of gradual increase in the average temperature of earth . It is caused by the release of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, CFCs etc. into the atmosphere.
Q2
What do CFCs stand for? What is the role of CFC in global warming?
CFCs stand for chlorofluorocarbons. Ozone layer is responsible for protecting the surface of the earth from the sun’s harmful radiations. CFCs destroy the ozone layer of the atmosphere. This makes the way for the ultraviolet rays to reach the earth, thus, increasing the temperature which leads to global warming.
Q3
How does global warming affect climate change?
The change in climatic conditions is a result of global warming. The burning of fossil fuels, cutting down of trees etc. causes the temperature of the earth to increase. High temperature changes the weather patterns, causing the dry areas to get drier and wet areas to get wetter. Thus, increasing the frequency of disasters like floods, droughts etc.
Q4
How can we control global warming?
The release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere is the major cause of global warming. It can be reduced by setting a high price of carbon, increasing the biofuels production from organic waste, use of renewable energy like solar and wind power, safeguarding forests and improving energy efficiency and vehicle fuel economy.
To know more about global warming, its definition, causes and effects, keep visiting the BYJU’S website or download BYJU’S app for further reference.
Global warming refers to the increase in the temperatures of Earth’s oceans and atmosphere. Most scientists believe that the temperature increases are due to the greenhouse effect. Machines that we make and other human activities emit pollution which subsequently exacerbates the greenhouse effect.
In the past 140 years, the average temperature of Earth’s lower atmosphere has risen by 0.6°C. However, by the year 2070, scientists predict that the temperature will have risen by 1.5°C to 2°C. ‘°C‘ stands for degrees Celsius or degrees Centigrade.
If you look at historical temperature charts over the past thousand years, they all look like hockey sticks. There is a long period of relative stability, then in 1900, temperatures start rising.
Scientists from the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory warned that global warming will accelerate. After carrying out a study, they said that we will all have to learn to adapt.
Global warming could dramatically change climate zone patterns. This means that rainfall, snow, winds, and other weather phenomena could significantly change different parts of the world.
For example, rising temperatures could melt the polar ice caps and subsequently push up sea levels across the planet. Low-lying towns and cities might experience serious flooding in decades to come. In fact, there may be permanent flooding in some major cities and other low-lying areas where humans live.
Crop failures may devastate huge areas in the Americas and Asia due to hotter and drier conditions.
According to Collins Dictionary:
“Global warming is the gradual rise in the earth’s temperature caused by high levels of carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere.”
Global warming – a real threat
Over the past two decades, a growing percentage of the scientific community believes that the global warming threat is real. It is not a conspiracy by the deep state or a fictitious theme that scientists promote to gain funding for research.
In other words, while many people and scientists were skeptical a couple of decades ago, virtually everybody today is convinced that global warming is a genuine and serious problem.
In fact, even giant oil and gas companies, such as BP, Shell, and Exxon are no longer global warming skeptics.
Global warming vs. climate change
People today commonly use the two terms ‘global warming‘ and ‘climate change‘ interchangeably. However, their meanings are not the same.
Similarly, people often confuse the terms ‘climate‘ and ‘weather,’ even though they refer to events with different scales of time and geographical areas.
‘Climate‘ refers to long-term regional temperatures, rainfall, and humidity patterns over decades, years, and seasons.
‘Weather,’ on the other hand, refers to atmospheric conditions that occur over short periods, such as days, hours, or even minutes. The term ‘weather’ also refers to local conditions.
Climate change
The term ‘climate change‘ refers to a wide range of phenomena on a global scale. The phenomena are mainly the result of burning natural gas, gasoline, diesel, and coal, i.e., fossil fuels.
The burning of fossil fuels adds greenhouse gases, i.e., heat-trapping gases, to our atmosphere. The major greenhouse gases are methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and ozone (O3).
Climate change also includes the subsequent changes that occur on Earth’s surface, such as rising sea levels. It includes the loss of ice mass in the Arctic, Antarctica, Greenland, and mountain glaciers globally.
We also include extreme weather events and changes in flower/plant blooming under the umbrella term ‘climate change.’
If the temperature of the planet declines, that is a climate change matter, but not a global warming one. Global warming only involves a rise in temperature.
Global warming
According to NASA:
“Global warming refers to the upward temperature trend across the entire Earth since the early 20th century, and most notably since the late 1970s, due to the increase in fossil fuel emissions since the industrial revolution.”
“Worldwide since 1880, the average surface temperature has gone up by about 0.8 °C (1.4 °F), relative to the mid-20th-century baseline (of 1951-1980).”
When policymakers make decisions regarding the environment, they often factor in a gas’ Global Warming Potential. It is a measure of how much heat one ton of an atmospheric gas absorbs compared to carbon dioxide.
An international study found that global warming models have significantly underestimated future temperature rises. Global temperature rises will probably be twice as high as recent predictions.
Video – Global Warming
This National Geographic video explains that global warming might do considerably more than just melt polar ice. It could displace hundreds of millions of people and change our maps. It might also push vast areas of land permanently under water.