Global warming is a natural phenomenon involving an overall increase in the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere not only localized in a particular region but all over the world (Sharma et al. 2017, p.71). The topic “Global Warming” has recently become interesting not only to me but also to other many people because it is a global issue whose impact is indiscriminate of regions, affecting all of us anywhere. The impact of global warming has now hit new levels and is evident in many countries, if not all, making it a key concern for everyone. The issue of global warming is a new one whose seriousness began to show only in the closing years of the twentieth century. As such, there are many mysteries as well as a series of controversies surrounding the issue, which now takes center stage in this paper.
The greenhouse effect is one of the main contributing factors to global warming. According to Sharma et al. (2017), the greenhouse effect is a process in which some gases such as CO2, NO2, and SO2 found in the atmosphere absorb heat reflected by the earth's surface thus, increasing temperature in the atmosphere. Such gases have a generic name: greenhouse gases. To further explain how this process takes place, Sharma et al. state that radiations coming from the sun first hit the solid earth and are reflected in the atmosphere. The above-mentioned gases in the atmosphere would not let the reflected waves escape into the upper atmosphere (Sharma et al., p.71). Although these gases are naturally found in the atmosphere, their levels are increased by humans through increased emissions of these gases. Burning of fossil fuels and increased deforestation are some of the human activities that hugely contribute to increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
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Ozone layer depletion, like greenhouse gases, has an equal contribution to global warming. The ozone layer is a layer of colorless gas in the upper atmosphere playing a critically important role in preventing powerful waves, Ultraviolet radiation, from the sun from reaching the earth's surface. Such waves have both serious environmental and health consequences. The most notable health impact on humans is the development of several types of cancer, such as skin cancer. The environmental issues related to UV radiation are tremendous, and global warming is no exception (p.72). One such effect is increasing environmental temperature, hence contributing to global warming. The ozone layer does not get along well with CFC3, which is another gas that causes the depletion of the ozone layer. Scientists have figured out that CFC3 gas is released in high amounts when humans involve in activities such as refrigerating, air conditioning, use of farm fertilizers, and motor vehicle emissions.
The occurrence of environmental catastrophes such as tropical cyclones has been on the increase and is scientifically associated with global warming. Cyclones have exceptional natures and great negative implications for societies (Richard et al. 2006, p.2). Cyclones are a variety of strong winds moving at high speeds, such as hurricanes. The first impact of tremendous destruction is obvious because cyclones can destroy anything that comes their way, given that the wind is always profoundly powerful. However, the dangerous impact of cyclones comes through further exacerbating the consequences of other environmental phenomena. One of the best-known environmental catastrophes related to cyclones is the recent massive destruction on the coast of Mozambique in which unusual rains were received only some months ago. Another serious consequence is the California wildfires that have hit news headlines on several occasions since early this year. Wildfires erupted, and a particular hurricane kept blowing the fires, further spreading them. These are just a few of the recent cases, and society is gradually becoming vulnerable to hurricanes. Although cyclones can be viewed as independent phenomena, they are very much rooted in global warming.
Due to increased thermal heating, the melting of ice is taking place at a tremendous speed. The phenomenon is undisputed through a significant rise in sea level (Sharma et al., p.72). The world's glaciers are melting, leading to an influx of high water volumes into the oceans, causing the water levels to rise. Additionally, increased atmospheric temperatures due to global warming have been responsible for the thermal expansion of the water in oceans because water increases in volume once heated. The implication to the humans living near ocean coasts is that their displacement is imminent as they will be compelled homeless. As this condition gets worse, countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh are at risk if recent projections that a great percentage of land in the two countries will be lost to the ocean are found correct. According to Sharma et al., the impact of the rising sea level will be even worse for organisms adapted to coastal environments and coastal plants because they cannot escape when conditions in their locations get worse.
The most painfully piercing impact as a result of global warming is, however, its impact on the world climate. Climate change is currently a major issue in many countries that governments are unsuccessfully fighting. More often than not, the issue manifests inform of increased precipitation or changes in precipitation patterns (Sharma et al. p.73). As a result, some areas receive frequent droughts, while others receive destructive rainfall. The impact has a meaning to the economy of the affected people, as this comes with huge disruptions in farming activities. Food production is now an uphill task for many societies due to changes in climate patterns, compelling governments of such societies to costly spend on food importation. While enough rainfall is crucial to agricultural performance, “there is evidence that the frequency of heavy destructive rainfall has increased worldwide” (Richard et al. p.3). Such a recent trend is attributed to global warming.
In the face of the above-mentioned implications as a result of global warming, society has significantly increased efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of global warming. So far, many countries have developed power plants to trap CO2, the main contributing factor to global warming, to prevent it from getting into the atmosphere. Similar campaigns have also been developed to separate CO2 produced during the burning of fossil fuel (Sharma et al. p.73). Automobile manufacturers have also been encouraged to participate in the fight against global warming by increasing the energy efficiency of automobiles to cut down the level of CO2 released into the atmosphere. In many developing countries, where the costs involved in developing such strategies could be unbearable, campaigns to participate in curbing global warming are mostly witnessed through afforestation programs because trees absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.
Global warming, as a global issue, has been researched and discussed with tremendous controversy, sparking one of the major debates the world has ever seen. The general public has significantly been divided because several aspects of global warming are a puzzle to many people.
According to Smith (2017), numerous previous studies have come up with completely conflicting results on the topic of global warming (p.1). First, a figure has pointed to many factors as some of the contributing factors to global warming. Although the factors leading to global warming can be diverse, several extensive types of research show that global warming is caused by the greenhouse effect, emission of greenhouse gases, and depletion of the ozone layer. Thus, the evaluation of any other factor should be grounded on the above-highlighted factors. This further means that a strong relationship must exist between the above factors and any other new factor to qualify as a global warming factor. Finally, these factors serve to underpin the fact that global warming is completely an environmental issue purely attributable to factors that disrupt the natural environment and, not a religious issue, as some would wrongly argue.
In conclusion, three fundamental factors, namely the greenhouse effect, emission of greenhouse gases, and depletion of the ozone layer, are responsible for global warming. Global warming has effects throughout the world and, thus, efforts to reduce the impact by any country alone prove to be far from enough because the issue requires combined efforts by all nations. We all need a safe, sustainable environment, and we have the power to fulfill this desirable need. It sounds bad that in the wave of increased global warming, this can be difficult to achieve. The secret, however, lies in reducing the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Works Cited
- Anthes, Richard A., et al. “Hurricanes and global warming-potential linkages and consequences.” Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 87.5 (2006): 623-628.
- Sharma, Varsha, and Indu Nashier Gahlawah. “Global Warming: Causes and Effects.” Proceedings of National Conference. 2017.
- Smith, Mackenzie E. “Global Warming: Why is There Debate?” (2017).
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