- Global warming is the gradual increase in the Earth’s average temperature over an extended period. This phenomenon has been occurring for a long time, but its rate has accelerated significantly in the past century due to human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels. The combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which trap heat and result in the greenhouse effect.
- Global warming has broader implications, giving rise to a phenomenon known as climate change. While global warming refers specifically to rising temperatures, climate change encompasses a range of associated effects, such as altered weather patterns, shifts in precipitation, sea-level rise, and melting ice caps and glaciers.
- These changes disrupt ecosystems, impact agriculture and water resources, and pose risks to human societies through more frequent and severe natural disasters.
Global warming is primarily caused by human activities that release large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
The main causes of global warming include:
- Burning of Fossil Fuels: The combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas for electricity generation, transportation, and industrial processes is a major contributor to global warming. These activities release carbon dioxide (CO2), the most significant greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere.
- Deforestation: Forests play a crucial role in absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. However, extensive deforestation for agriculture, logging, and urbanization reduces the Earth’s capacity to absorb CO2, leading to its accumulation in the atmosphere.
- Industrial Processes: Various industrial activities, such as cement production, chemical manufacturing, and the production of refrigerants and aerosols, release greenhouse gases like methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). These gases have a higher warming potential than CO2, contributing to global warming.
- Agricultural Practices: Agricultural activities, including livestock production and rice cultivation, emit significant amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Additionally, the use of synthetic fertilizers in agriculture contributes to nitrous oxide emissions.
- Land Use Changes: Alterations in land use, such as urbanization, land conversion for agriculture, and the drainage of wetlands, release stored carbon and disrupt natural carbon sinks. This release of carbon dioxide further amplifies global warming.
- Industrialization and Population Growth: Rapid industrialization and population growth have led to increased energy consumption and higher greenhouse gas emissions. As developing countries strive for economic growth, their reliance on fossil fuels often contributes to escalating emissions.
