Global Warming
Global warming is a gradual process of heating of earth’s surface and whole
environment including oceans, ice caps, etc. According to the Environmental
Protection Agency, in the past century there is increase in the earth’s
surface average temperature by around 1.4-degree Fahrenheit (means 0.8
degrees Celsius). It has also been estimated that global temperature may
increase by another 2 to 11.5 degrees F in the next century.
There are many causes of the global warming, some are natural causes, and
some are human made causes. The most important cause of global warming is
greenhouse gases which are generated by some natural processes as well as
human activities. The increase in the level of greenhouse gases has been
seen in the 20 th century because of the increasing population, economy and
use of energy. Increasing demand of industrialization in the modern world to
fulfill almost each need is causing the release of variety of greenhouse gases
through many industrial processes in the atmosphere.
The release of carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) gas has been
increased in the recent years by 10-fold. The release of carbon dioxide gas
varies according to the natural and industrial processes including
photosynthesis and oxidation cycles. Other greenhouse gases are like oxides
of nitrogen (nitrous oxide), halocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),
chlorine and bromine compounds, etc. Such greenhouse gases get collected
to the atmosphere and disturb the radioactive balance of atmosphere. They
have capability to absorb heat radiations and cause warming of the earth
surface.
Global warming causes lot of climate changes in the atmosphere such as
increasing summer season, decreasing winter season, increasing temperature,
changes in air circulation patterns, jet stream, rain without
season, melting ice caps, declining ozone layer, occurrence of heavy storms,
cyclones, flood, drought, and so many effects.
Sandra Dileep, 6