Poor Ailing Planet

Introduction

Light from the Sun coming to Earth passes through a blanket of thermal, or greenhouse, gases unhindered.

As the light comes in contact with the Earth’s Surface, “Infrared radiation”, unseen by the naked eye , differentiates it from visible light, is reflected of the planet’s surface towards space but does not pass easily through the thermal blanket.

Some of it is trapped and in return, is reflected downward keeping the planet at an average temperature suitable for maintaining life, which is 16°C (60°F).

What Is Global Warming?

It is the gradual ascend of the temperature of the Earth’s lower atmosphere, as the effect of increasing emissions of “greenhouse gases” since the period of Industrial Revolution.

“Greenhouse Effect”, is the natural process in which the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface is warmed.

However, this natural process can be prolonged by the increase of “greenhouse gases” present in the atmosphere due to some human activities.

Sustained increase in temperature for a longer period of time can cause Climatic changes.

What are The Greenhouse Gases?

Greenhouses gasses are found in the Earth’s atmosphere , they are absorb and emit radiation such as Infrared Radiation.

The Greenhouse Gasses are:

Water Vapour
Carbon Dioxide
Nitrous Oxide
Methane
Ozone
Chlorofluorocarbons

1. Water vapour

-Gaseous phase of water(H20)

-Present in the Earth’s atmosphere, especially clouds which are basically visible bodies of fine water droplets or ice crystals.

2. Carbon-Dioxide (CO2)
- Gas found naturally at the Earth’s atmosphere, excreted by animals and humans.

- Required for photosynthesis

-Product of Fossil Fuel combustion and deforestation increases its atmospheric concentration.

3. Nitrous-Oxide(NOx)
-Nitrous oxide is naturally produced by oceans and rainforests.

- colourless, non-flammable gas with a sweetish odour, commonly known as "laughing gas", and sometimes used as an anaesthetic

4.Methane
- Methane is naturally produced by microorganisms called “Methanogens” which thrive in wetlands , and artificially by oil, coal and gas extraction as well as waste treatment and biomass burning.

- Methane is highly flammable.

5. Ozone
- An unstable, toxic form of oxygen or poisonous” allotrope” of oxygen.

- Formed naturally in the Ozone Layer when oxygen is exposed to an electric discharge or ultraviolet ray radiation.

- Is a highly reactive oxidizing agent used to deoxidize air, purify water, and treating industrial wastes.

6. Chlorofluorocarbons
- Chlorofluorocarbons are the most common group of” Haloalkanes” which is any gaseous compound of a halogen like chlorine or fluorine and an alkane like methane or ethane.

- Once commonly used as refrigerants, fire extinguishers, and aerosol sprays, responsible for the deterioration of the Ozone Layer.

Causes of Global Warming

“Greenhouse Effect” is the natural process wherein the temperature of the Earth’s surface is warmed to be able to sustain life. However, Irresponsible human-activities over the years have altered this natural process.

Greenhouse gas emissions have increased by activities such as:

Deforestation
-Concentration of Carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere is caused by the lack of plant life that utilizes the excess carbon-dioxide.

Emissions of greenhouse gasses by Industrial and power plant factories as well as vehicles.

Nylon and Nitric acid production, the use of artificial fertilizers, and vehicles with outdated engines are rich man-made sources of nitrous-oxide

Increasing plots for landfill sites and garbage sites contribute to increasing methane

Effects of Global Warming

1. Climate change increases the vehemence and occurrence of storms
- Due to the higher Ocean temperature, hurricanes and tropical storms are becoming a frightening regularity as they acquire their energy from warm water.

2. Rising Sea Levels
- Global warming is threatening the existence of the polar ice caps in the North and South Poles, the ice melts and results the rising sea levels.

3. Drought
- Higher land temperature increases the amount of moisture that evaporates to the air, eventually leading to a drought

4. Excess Flooding
- Lands which are affected by drought are more susceptible to flooding

5. Emergence of New Tropical Diseases
- Due to the drastic changes, some virus and bacteria are prone evolve in order to adapt to the changing temperature. These viruses develop immunity to certain medicine and antibiotics.

6. Change in Seasonal pattern in different Ecosystems
- Some Ecosystems may experience a longer summer or winter.

7. Migration of people to a suitable environment causes increase in the human concentration on the area.

Consequences of Global Warming

The consequences of Global warming can be categorized into its effect on:

1. On Weather Patterns

- Higher temperatures could lead to heavier rainfall and greater number strong hurricanes.
- Danger and Destruction imposed on low-lying coastal areas as well as reclaimed land by storms and hurricanes.
-Greater evaporation, especially during summer and fall, could amplify drought conditions and increase the risk of wildfires.

2. On Health

-Deadly Heat waves caused by prolonged dry season and increasing temperature on suburban areas and commercial areas will result in heat-related deaths

- Increase in smog pollution in some areas intensifies pollen allergies and asthma. Hotter conditions could also aggravate local air quality problems

-Warm temperature and disruptions in the ecosystem has contributed to more widespread outbreaks of malaria and dengue as warmer temperature allows disease carrying mosquitoes to travel farther distances and live in places which were once uninhabitable.

3. on Wild Life

- Increase in the global temperatures are expected to cause ecosystem disruptions, pushing species which cannot adapt to the verge of extinction.

-Irregular seasonal patterns affect migrating creatures such as birds and fishes like salmon as there will be less time to mate or an inconsistent mating season.

4. on Economy

- Droughts will affect the Agricultural industries as fewer crops can be produced annually.

- The Timber industry is also affected because of the increasing amount of dead trees caused by drought as well as trees in constant threat of forest fires.

- Acidification of rivers and oceans caused by the high carbon dioxide concentration, affects corals as well as shell fish, this can have negative impacts on the fishing industry.