Environmental Effects of Global Warming:- The environment changes day to day due to specific factors that take place on the earth. When the environment changes; it means that the climate changes also. Some of the factors that affect the environment include global warming among many other factors like change in rainfall patterns, change in weather conditions to the extreme. Global warming is merely the increase in the atmospheric temperatures above the normal. There are some factors that causes global warming. On the same note, global warming is such a significant threat to the lives of the inhabitants of the earth. When global warming occurs, it affects the average thriving conditions of living things. The most common factors that bring changes to the climate includes human activities such as farming and deforestation.Secondly,the effect of weather conditions such as the sun and rain. Finally, human settlement in the arid or the semi-arid areas. Since global warming is a natural disaster, necessary mechanisms should be put into place in ensuring that it does not occur and if it happens, ways of coping with it as well as ending it should be developed. Global warming as seen in the world today is a proposed major environmental effect. Since everything that lives in the world is directly affected by what takes place in the environment, any change that happen in the environment affects the surroundings also at the same extent.
As earlier discussed, global warming is a major environmental problem. Since it puts the lives of human beings at risk, it is declared as a natural disaster. Specific ecological temperatures are expected in an environment. Any other temperature that exceeds this is abnormal and is risky to the environment. This form of the rise in environmental temperatures above average is known as global warming. Research has shown that globally, many places are experiencing hot days and nights for 50 years consecutively. The heat wave is also a frequent environmental change that can be seen. Such extreme temperatures lead to occurrences of the death of human beings in continents such as Europe. Other changes in the ecological climate include heavy rains and falling of snow in specific areas (Hughes, 97). If precaution is not taken, then the lives of many as well as plants and livestock will continue to perish. Decade by decade, it has been reported that the environmental increase in temperatures double from the previous figure it was initially. Between the year 1880 and 2012, it was noted that the ecological temperatures rose by 0.85 F. This value increased drastically as years progressed. It is true to say that global warming has contributed to the ecological disasters present in the country. Global warming as seen in the world today is a proposed major environmental effect. Since everything that lives in the world is directly affected by what takes place in the environment, any change that happen in the environment affects the surroundings also at the same extent. Global warming as seen in the world today is a proposed major environmental effect. Since everything that lives in the world is directly affected by what takes place in the environment, any change that happen in the environment affects the surroundings also at the same extent.
Unless the causes of global warming are discovered, and the necessary action is taken to curb the situation, then no possible change or improvement in the environment will be seen. It is a universal responsibility to take care of the environment in the best way we know. The government, as well as group initiatives, should come together and fight against this natural disaster.
Causes of global warming are categorized in natural and human made.Some of the causes include greenhouse effect which happens to be the dominant cause; the greenhouses produce harmful carbon dioxide which acts as a covering in the atmosphere, thus hindering any fumes or atmospheric gases to ascend to the sky. This means that all gases, vapors, inhalants released to the atmosphere cannot penetrate via the blanket formed making them to be retained in the atmosphere (Hughes, 67). This, therefore, causes the rise in temperatures since all these substances held in the atmosphere react and produce other harmful gases. Some of the toxic substances include fossil fuel which contains coal and oil. Waste left to decompose in the garbage also produces noxious gases which are mainly methane. Gas methane, when released in the atmosphere, affects the health conditions of many inhabitants. At the same time, once it is trapped and prevented from soaring high above the skies, it contributes to global warming. Human activities are recently discovered to be the most prevalent cause of global warming. Practices such as agriculture have added to the release of harmful gases in the atmosphere. Such harmful gases include methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs). Once these gases are released, they go to form thick layers in the atmosphere resulting in imbalanceof global climate temperatures.
On the contrary, many people mistake that the sun itself causes global warming. Research has shown that there is no way this can happen. The sun produces its normal heat and light day after day. Other factors mentioned above are the significant reasons concerning global warming.
Cutting down of trees is another human-made cause of global warming. Trees are responsible for the uptake of harmful gases such as carbon dioxide. Once the trees are cut, the gases in the atmosphere have no place they can be get rid of and are thus suspended in the atmosphere and therefore result in global warming. When coal and oil are mined underground, harmful gases such as methane and carbon dioxide are produced. The methane is responsible for forming the layer which prevents penetration of other gases in the atmosphere.
A human being breaths in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. When the world is populated, chances of carbon dioxide levels tend to increase. If there are no means to get rid of the harmful gases, then they are left to accumulate in the atmosphere after which they result in global warming. In the recent past, the population of the entire world has been recorded to be increasing day by day. This is a significant threat since it is a possible cause of global warming. The act of rearing cattle, goats, and sheep has also resulted in the release of harmful gases which include methane and carbon dioxide. Research has shown that animal waste produces poisonous gasesto a great extent mostly in the waste they excrete. The above discussed are the man-made causes of global warming.
Thereare also natural causes of global warming. The forest fire is one of the factors. When forests burn, they produce so much smoke which is full of carbon dioxide. It takes time for other new forests to grow to the extent of absorbing harmful environmental gases. Another natural cause that the scientists have found challenging to curb is the freezing of soil. When soils freeze, these are known as permafrost (Emanuel, 45). The earth entangles itself together thus accumulating methane and carbon dioxide. When released into the atmosphere, it results in global warming.
Water vapor from seas and oceans are known to ascend to the atmosphere. However, with the presence of the thick blanket formed by gases such as methane hinder the vapor from ascending. This means that the vapor is suspended into the atmosphere where it accumulates and causes the abnormal increase in the atmospheric temperatures. Sunspots are another primary cause of an increase in environmental temperatures. The unfortunate thing behind sunspots is that they can never be hindered from occurring. Animals fall under the category of living things since they also breathe out carbon dioxide.Take a scenario where the forests have no trees, and the wildlife still lives in there. In the event of forest fire, the levelof carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere increases, and after accumulating, global warming is likely to take place.
The above-discussed factors are the possible reasons as to why global warming is increasing at such high rates. If everyone took the initiative of taking care of the environment, then the levels of global warming would not be as high as it is. Global warming would also not be a natural disaster and a threat to the existence of many livelihoods today.
As earlier said, global warming is such a harm to the environment. Many adverse environmental effects are evident to all. The most common impact of global warming is the increase in atmospheric temperatures. This is also the most notable effect of global warming. This increase in temperatures entails the abnormal rise in temperatures that exceed the normal. [Temperatures often as high as 1.78 F] were recorded in the year 2016 (Emanuel, 70). Over the 100 past years, the NOAA and the NASA released that the temperatures had risen by 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Secondly, the environmental effect brought about by the global warming is extreme weather conditions (Abrahamson,67). This includes having too much heavy rainfall, too much cold at early mornings and late at nights. The atmospheric temperatures being above the ordinary such that humans, as well as animals, find it hard to bear. This is the main reason behind vacation and migration to other countries. This is common in the united states where the winters become cold beyond normal.
Ice melt is one of the many effects of global warming which has at times occurred in countries such as Asia, Europe and North America. The ice melts occur at seasons that it is least expected to.Such similar effectsincludes glacial retreat which entails an absence of cold lakes on top of many big mountains. It is worth noting that migration is another significant effect of global warming. Many people prefer to move away from the equator and go to the poles where they feel comfortable since it is a bit inhabitable. This causes overcrowding in the poles (Dale,34). The birds also migrate to places they feel comfortable as well as the insects. The increased rate of migration of both the birds and insects makes the area they occupy uninhabitable since they invade the land and deprive it of its produce making it vulnerable. This occurs especially during the summer season.
After absorbing too much acidity from gases such as methane and carbon dioxide, heavenly bodies become acidic and cause increase in temperature. This affects the marine life and human beings consuming the water. The likelihood of an atmosphere with such suspendedgases in the atmosphere causes acidic rain. Acidic rain has dire consequences on the plants, human beings, rocks, and iron sheets among many others. This type of rain causes corrosion of metals and when taken it can cause infections (Emanuel, 90). More often when it rains, there is a likelihood of flooding. This means that the flood water has a possibility of containing harmful gases in them. Other environmental effects include drought and diseases which impact the vegetation and the livestock negatively. Once the animals and the plants consume such acidic water, there is a likelihood of sudden deaths and health complications. The increased temperatures damage roads, rails, telephone lines, ports and industrial buildings among many other buildings. Some metallic structures are also at risk of corrosion.
At moments when the extent of global warming is very fatal, any available moisture and the increased temperatures cause a likelihood of forest fires. There may be increased drought which mean death to the livestock as well as plants. Wildfirescause air pollution at a greater extent. This results in the transmission of infections and other possible risks. The drastic changes in environmental climate caused by global warming affect the elderly as well as the young children. The infections many either be caused byacidic rain or air pollution (Dale,94)]. In the United States, for example, the winter occurs at extreme levels than the normal thus putting human lives at risk. Global warming brings about the aspect of survival of the fittest where the most suitable and most fit animal is the only one with a likelihood to survive. Research carried out shows that the penguins in Antarctica had reduced in number from 32,000 to 11,000 in 30 years.
Another effect is that the sea level has been observed to be rising day after day as the global warming increases. The hurricanes, as well as other waves, get as loud as never before. Some places are noted to have continued droughts while others consecutive floods. The trend in climate change is therefore unpredictable since no one is sure of what is likely to happen and at what time as well as the reason behind it (Botkin, 78). Any available water source that people can take water from especially the freshwater lakes has ended up dry. This leaves people suffering due to lack of water to drink. The power supply that depends on the water produced by the water bodies has a likely hood of being in shortage. With the high levels of carbon dioxide increasing in the atmosphere and also in water, the levels of oxygen are expected to decrease thus affecting any available vegetation as well as marine life.
Famine is a long-term effect of global warming. Lack of food occurs due to depletion of any available vegetation by the insects and birds once they migrate to favorable areas. The other cause is due to acid rain which after falling on the plants ends up destroying everything. The droughts and floods have a likelihood of destroying any available vegetation thriving.
Most importantly, it is worth noting that inhaling clean air is a requirement for healthy living. Since global warming is caused by a reaction of several harmful gases which rather than finding their way to the atmosphere are retained in the surrounding. As earlier discussed, the gases are mainly the methane, carbon dioxide which pollutes the atmosphere to a greater extent. Pollution is another significant effect of global warming (Griffin,23). Pollution brings about health complications. Such diseases include lung cancer, bronchitis, and headaches among many others. The levels of such harmful gases keep on increasing once inhaled making the environment an inhabitable place. This should not be the case since human beings depend on good health for survival.
The alarming rate at which the environment is getting polluted is frustrating. With such a trend, then the future doesn't seem as bright. Therefore, everyone should take up the obligation of ensuring that the surrounding is a better place to live in (Botkin, 98). Such practices can be incorporated into the lives of everyone through teaching them on the importance of living in an environment that is free from pollution. The effects of global warming should make us aware of our immediate environment so that we can make it our responsibility of ensuring a clean and safe environment as much as possible for us and our future generations.
In conclusion, it is right to say that the global warming affects the climate negatively to a greater extent. As seen above, most of the causes of global warming are human activities such as polluting the environment with waste. The consequences as seen are very dire as they affect the human beings both directly and indirectly. As earlier discussed, it is evident that the causes are both natural and those brought about by man. Despite this, the effects global warming brings about is threatening. Since the environment is the most affected by the effects of global warming, all that exist on it suffer much. If the rate at which global warming increases continues, then the world in the next years to come will be an inhabitable place. Global warming as seen in the world today is a proposed major environmental effect. Since everything that lives in the world is directly affected by what takes place in the environment, any change that happen in the environment affects the surroundings also at the same extent.
Recommendations however can be made to help improve the environment. The government should take up training initiatives where the members of the public should be enlightened on the causes and the effects of global warming. The government should also enact laws that bind certain practices that pollute the environment and the sometime take action for those who go against the set standards of maintain a clean environment. At large, everyone should work to making the environment a very better place to inhabit.