Global Climate Change

Global Warming

The interchange of outgoing and incoming radiation, which heats the Earth is known as the greenhouse effect since a greenhouse operates similarly. The incoming UV radiation goes through a glass wall of a greenhouse and is engrossed by hard surfaces inside the plants. However, the weaker IR radiation often has a hard time going through the glass walls and gets confined inside, hence heating the greenhouse.

The gas molecules, which absorb the current ultraviolet radiation, are adequate to power the weather system (Seinfeld et al., 2016). Furthermore, the forms of gas molecules are referred to as greenhouse vapors. Carbon dioxide along with other greenhouse vapors function as a blanket, by absorbing IR radiation and averting it from absconding to external space. The net outcome is the regular warming of the earth’s surface and atmosphere, this process is referred to as global warming.

The greenhouse gases comprise of nitrous oxide (N2O), methane, CO2, water vapor, along with other gases. From the time when the emergence of the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s, the burn up of relic fuels such as gasoline, oil, and coal have significantly amplified the intensity of greenhouse vapors in the troposphere, especially CO2.

Moreover, the atmospheric CO2 heights have improved by not less than 40 percent ever since the commencement of the Industrial Revolution, from an estimate of 270 parts for every million (ppm); currently, it is in the 1700s to 500 ppm. Pliocene Epoch was the last period when the Earth’s atmospheric heights of Carbon Dioxide reached 300 ppm.

How do you think future climate change is likely to affect you, particularly considering the environmental problems we may be facing as a result of increased world population?

If by any chance the population rate continues to increase with the current rate, then there is a huge probability that our grandchildren will view the Earth falling into an exceptional environmental catastrophe. In addition, it is well defined by the world’s scientific society that the buildup of methane, CO2, along with other greenhouse vapors in the troposphere are as a result of amassed farming, land usage, as well as, the production, processing, and shipping of the whole thing we were consuming – was gradually causing climate change. Moreover, as a result, individuals have a big problem at hand and finding a solution to the problem is complicated to a few of them. 

Have a discussion with your parents or grandparents and write down the major changes that have occurred in their lifetime as well as yours. Which of these affected our environment at the local, regional, or global level? Which ones were most important to you personally?

Global warming and deforestation were the major environmental changes faced in my parent’s time. As the universal temperature intensifies, the earth’s climate patterns will radically change resulting in weather changes and a prolonged season of drought. Moreover, deforestation was a significant factor since in my parent’s time they depended on timber as a source of heat when cooking. As a result, there was a minimum level of rainfall. In addition, in my time, ocean acidification along with acid rain has greatly affected the environment. Rain acid occurs when people heat coal, and sulfur dioxide, as well as, nitrogen oxides and they are discharged in the air. The gases go up and amass in the mists until the mists become inundated with acid rain, instigating destruction on the earth’s surface. Ocean or sea acidification occurs when carbon dioxide disbands into the sea binding with seawater producing carbonic acid. Consequently, the acid then lessens the water pH levels, altering the acidity of the sea. This has affected both people and the environment locally and globally.

References

Seinfeld, J. H., & Pandis, S. N. (2016). Atmospheric chemistry and physics: from air pollution to climate change. John Wiley & Sons.