According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the United Nations, a certain amount of global warming is inescapable and irreversible. This indicates that there is a likelihood of a 1.5 degree Celsius increase in global temperatures during the next 20 years. Global warming is the gradual increase in temperature near the earth's surface due to an increase in greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide, methane, and ozone are examples of greenhouse gases that trap solar energy. This phenomenon has been observed over the last century. This change has disrupted the Earth's climatic pattern. There are several causes of global warming, all of which have a negative impact on humans, plants, and animals. These causes may be natural or the result of human activity. In this article, we will discuss Global Warming which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Global Warming

Major Causes of Global Warming

• Carbon Footprints - An increase in carbon footprints generally refers to an increasing population of humans and other living creatures who contribute to the rise of carbon levels in the atmosphere by releasing carbon into the environment ( like when humans enhance their lifestyles, it is responsible for more release of carbon).
• Pollution - Another major contributor to global warming is rising pollution levels. Pollution occurs when different elements of the atmosphere, such as hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and so on, rise or fall unnaturally.
• Deforestation- One of the primary causes of the unnatural rise in global temperatures is deforestation. Cutting trees and destroying forests have become common practises as modern society thrives and the project of a more civilised environment gains priority. Trees play a critical role in regulating carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. However, fewer trees indicate a higher level of carbon dioxide, which causes temperature to rise.
• Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and CFCs are naturally present in the atmosphere. Nonetheless, abnormally high levels of these gases cause an unnatural rise in temperature.
• Industrial causes- It is well known that industrial wastes are responsible for the majority of pollution on the planet. They also emit a large amount of greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming.
• Agricultural causes- Today, many farmers use chemical-based pesticides and fertilisers for agricultural purposes, which are extremely harmful to our environment and pollute the air, water, and soil. As a result, they bear a great deal of responsibility for global warming.

Causes And Effects of Global Warming

Natural Causes of Global Warming

• Volcanoes: Volcanoes are one of the most significant natural contributors to global warming. The ash and smoke emitted by volcanic eruptions enter the atmosphere and affect the climate.
• Water Vapour: Water vapour is a type of greenhouse gas. As the earth's temperature rises, more water evaporates from bodies of water and enters the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
• Melting Permafrost: Permafrost is frozen soil that has been trapped in it for several years and is found beneath the Earth's surface. It can be found in glaciers. As permafrost melts, gases are released back into the atmosphere, raising Earth's temperature.
• Forest Fires: Forest fires emit a large amount of carbon-containing smoke. These gases are released into the atmosphere and raise the temperature of the Earth, resulting in global warming.

Effects of Global Warming

• The earth's temperature has risen dramatically as a result of global warming. The earth's temperature has risen by 1 degree Celsius since 1880.
• This has resulted in an increase in glacier melting, which has led to an increase in sea level. This could have disastrous consequences for coastal areas.
• Global warming has harmed coral reefs, potentially resulting in the extinction of plants and animals. The deterioration of coral reefs has been exacerbated by rising global temperatures.
• Climate change has resulted from global warming. There are droughts in some areas and floods in others. The cause of this climatic imbalance is global warming.
• Heat and humidity patterns change as a result of global warming. This has resulted in the spread of mosquitos, which carry and spread diseases.
• The average death toll usually rises as floods, tsunamis, and other natural disasters become more common. Furthermore, such events can result in the spread of diseases that endanger human life.
• Several plants and animals lose their habitats as a result of global climate change. In this case, the animals must leave their natural habitat, and many of them become extinct. This is yet another significant effect of global warming on biodiversity.

Causes And Effects of Global Warming

Global Warming and Ozone Layer depletion

• Global warming and ozone depletion are two environmental phenomena that are inextricably linked. The term ozone hole refers to ozone layer depletion.
• This layer acts as a protective layer of the earth, absorbing excessive amounts of UV rays, CFCs, Halon gas, and other harmful substances to the earth's living creatures. The ozone layer's depletion can cause a variety of serious health problems.
• Increased greenhouse gases, heat, pollution, and other factors are contributing to global warming and ozone layer depletion.
• Furthermore, UV rays entering the earth's atmosphere as a result of ozone layer depletion raise the temperature of the planet.
• Both of these concerning environmental phenomena are the result of human activities such as pollution, carbon release, deforestation, increased Greenhouse gases, and so on.

Conclusion

Global warming is a major issue in today's world. The unnatural rise in temperature and ozone layer depletion are primarily to blame for the current environmental crisis. This also has a negative impact on the living conditions. It has a significant impact on the seasonal cycle, rainfall, and air quality. Humans are primarily to blame for this unusual peak in heat and climate crisis. It is up to us to take the necessary steps to protect our environment from destruction.