Global warming occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2) and other air pollutants collect in the atmosphere and absorb sunlight and solar radiation that have bounced off the earth’s surface. These heat-trapping pollutants—specifically carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapour are known as greenhouse gases. Normally this radiation would escape into space, but these pollutants, which can last for years to centuries in the atmosphere, trap the heat and cause the planet to get hotter. This is called the greenhouse effect.
The effects of global warming are the environmental and social changes caused by human existence and the emission of greenhouse gases. There have been drastic changes in climatic conditions due to this in recent times.
The major effects of Global Warming include rise in sea levels due to melting of glaciers in the poles, disruption of animal habitats including forests, coral reefs, frequent and unnatural disturbances in weather causing floods, cyclones etc.
STEPS TO REDUCE THE EFFECT OF GLOBAL WARMING
- Looking for alternative sources of clean and green energy so as to reduce our dependence and usage of fossil fuels.
- Car-pooling, using public transport, cycling etc can be implemented in an effective way to reduce our emissions and thereby control over carbon footprint.
- Using energy sources such as water (for hydrogen cells), renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal energy in a more effective manner.
- Afforestation, i.e, planting trees, in order to increase the green cover of land. This helps in increasing the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere and also prevents soil erosion and helps decrease losses due to damage in floods, earthquakes.
-Keshav Manikernika (Wolves Patrol)