Introduction
Global warming is a phenomenon that is used to describe the increase in the earth’s temperature (Maslin 9). Global warming as a phenomenon has contributed to climate change. Global warming develops from a situation referred to as the greenhouse effect. According to Maslin (9), energy from the sun that is reflected back to the atmosphere is normally trapped by the presence of greenhouse gases, which then results to the increase in temperature of the earth’s surface. The level of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased rapidly over the years, and this has contributed to increase in global warming.
Causes of Global Warming
Global warming is attributed to many human related factors. These human related factors have resulted to increasing levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons in the earth’s atmosphere. Deforestation is one of the main reasons that has increased or contributed to global warming (Haldar 22). This is because the forests act as carbon sinks, which help to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The process of photosynthesis consumes the carbon dioxide that is in the atmosphere. The deforestation is either manmade or natural. A manmade cause is by cutting trees to establish more land for farming and settlement. Additionally, forest fires can naturally cause it. This is common in tropical countries.
Land use changes also cause global warming. For instance, the increase in rice cultivation results in the production of methane in the rice fields (Haldar 21). Furthermore, in agricultural production, certain nitrogenous fertilizers emit nitrous oxide as it decomposes in the ground. Thus, a combination of rice cultivation and application of nitrogenous fertilizers will increase the amount of greenhouse gases, which in turn increase global warming.
Global warming also results from the combustion or burning of fossil fuels (Casper 15). Burning of fossil fuels is a major source for emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Examples of these fossil fuels include coal and natural gas. Furthermore, use of combustion engines especially in road transport also contributes to the production of greenhouse gases (Casper 15).
Effects of Global Warming
One of the significant effects of global warming is the increase in the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere (Casper 3). This increase in temperature is likely to cause an increase in precipitation (Haldar 26). Further, extreme weather conditions are more likely to increase, for example, tsunamis have been experienced in certain parts of the world such as Japan. Additionally, extreme conditions include increased drought in certain areas, increased tropical cyclones, and increased sea levels (Haldar 26). The melting of ice caps in the North Pole and South Pole has caused an increase in the sea level.
Global warming has also affected the ecosystems. According to Casper (4), several animal and plant habitats have been disturbed following the increase in temperatures. As a result, several migrations have been witnessed as animals move towards the poles. The migration patterns of fish and birds have also been affected as spring arrives earlier in certain areas. Consequently, this has affected the egg laying and other human activities such as planting time in agriculture (Casper 5).
Conclusion
Evidence has shown that the effect of global warming is increasing and is affecting the ecosystem. Extreme weather conditions such as the tsunami in Japan has resulted to loss of lives and major destruction of property. Thus, it is necessary for humans to try to minimize the emission of greenhouse gases that are responsible for the global warming by using technology that is more efficient.
Works Cited
Casper, Julie Kerr. Fossil fuels and pollution the future of air quality. New York: Facts on File,
2010. Print.
Haldar, Ishita. Global warming: the causes and consequences. New Delhi: Mind Melodies,
2011. Print.
Maslin, Mark. Global warming. Updated ed. Stillwater, MN: Voyageur Press, 2007. Print
