Essay: Global Warming

Essay: Global Warming

It is known that global warming has become a major concern in the world. We have also started facing its effect in recent times. The term global warming denotes a rise in the Earth's average temperature. A steady rise in the Earth's average temperature is noted since the beginning of Industrial Revolution since 1960. Every passing decade has been warmer than the previous one and the earth's temperature is still on rise.

The prime cause of global warming is the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is caused due to the gases which absorb and reflect radiant energy. The gases responsible for the greenhouse effect, are called the greenhouse gases. The greenhouse gases when present in moderate quantities help earth retain the heat received from the sunlight, thus, helping in maintaining moderate temperature necessary for survival of life on earth but human activities such as industrialization, deforestation and environmental pollution causes increase in the greenhouse gases.  This increase in greenhouse gases results in more heat being trapped on Earth's surface increasing the average temperature and causing global warming.

.

There have been many campaigns organized by United Nations and other countries to fight global warming. Several agreements have been signed by many countries to reduce the greenhouse gas emission. There are many ways by which we can prevent the occurrence of global warming. The steps which can greatly help in reducing the greenhouse gases are stopping burning fossil fuels, using electric vehicles, restricting the emission of greenhouse gases from the factories, increase of plantation and promoting reforestation, proper waste management, avoiding wastage of electricity, using the alternative sources of energy and reducing the use of plastic.

To sum up, global warming is a very serious issue.  It's not about a single country or an individual. It's about our earth, our ecosystem and the most important it's about the survival of the human race.  Let's unite and stand together to prevent this man-made curse and make our earth a better place for our future generations.

Global Warming:  Additional Information

Global Warming: Causes
Greenhouse effect
Increase in greenhouse effect results in the increase of the surface temperature of the earth. Carbon-dioxide, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons are the greenhouse gases. These gaseous layers absorb the incident solar rays and also the reflected heat energy is trapped in the atmosphere. Hence the average temperature of the earth's surface will be increased. The capacity of certain gases in the atmosphere to trap heat radiated from the earth's surface, thereby insulating and warming the earth is called Greenhouse Effect. Without the thermal blanketing of the natural greenhouse effect, the earth's atmosphere would be too cold for most living organisms to survive.

Human activity
Means of transportation, chimneys, cement factories, fabric factories, distilleries, etc. use the fuels like petrol, coal, kerosene, etc. Firewood, cow-dung, straws, etc. are used for household purpose. During combustion, carbon-dioxide, sulphur-dioxide, smoke, dust and other harmful gases are mixed up in the atmosphere. These gases help to increase the greenhouse effect as they absorb the reflected heat energy. Thus, the trapped heat energy is responsible for the increment of temperature on the earth's surface.
Deforestation
Deforestation results in the increment of dry land, soil erosion, desertification and imbalance in wetland ecosystem. So, the natural condition of the environment gets spoilt. The dry land becomes hotter, and if the process is continuous, the average temperature of the earth will be increased. Forest absorb C02 for photosynthetic. Deforestation is responsible for temperature increment.
Global Warming: Effects
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was formed in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). In 2013 the IPCC reported that the interval between 1880 and 2012 saw an increase in global average surface temperature of approximately 0.9 ̊. Global warming is already having significant and harmful effects on our communities, health, and our climate. Sea level rise is accelerating. The number of large wildfires is growing. Dangerous heat waves are becoming more common. Extreme storm events are increasing in many areas.

Nepal is ranked as the fourth most vulnerable country in the world due to the impacts of Climate Change. A total of 3,808 glaciers and 1466 glacial lakes have been identified in Nepal. These lakes include 21 potentially dangerous lakes, out of which 6 are under very high risk. Thso Rolpa and Imja Lakes are among them.