Climate Change, Global Warming and their effects

Climate Change

1. The climate is a long-term process compared to weather. Our world has gone through several changes over billions of years by many naturally occurring forces. The various natural forces are ice age, variation in sun’s intensity, volcanic eruptions, naturally occurring greenhouse gas concentrations, glaciation and so on.
2. The change which affects human activity directly or indirectly and modifies the configuration of the global atmosphere is called climate change. Over an approximate period, It also brings variability in the natural climate.
3. Climate change is referred to as a long time change in weather. This change won’t happen in a day. 
4. Climate change harms warming trends. It also affects the pattern of rainfall, temperature,  the pattern of wind and snowfall.
5. Human activities such as deforestation and overconsumption of fossil fuels are also responsible for climate change.

Global Warming

1. An increase in average atmospheric temperature on the earth’s surface is referred to as global warming. Climate patterns get affected due to the effects of global warming in the troposphere.
2. Global warming is mainly due to global activity of emission of greenhouse gases, by industries, vehicles, and many others.

Greenhouse Effect

One of the consequences of the greenhouse effect is a warmer temperature in the earth’s lower atmosphere which makes it inappropriate for survival. There are many cause of the greenhouse effect like deforestation, greenhouse gases and much more

Impact of Climatic Change

Agricultural and Food Security

1. Increase in greenhouse gases affect the cropping pattern from region to region.
2. For example, in the temperate region, moderate warming ( rise of 1 to 3°C in mean temperature) can benefit crop production. But in dry tropical regions, the rise of 1 to 2 °C can have a negative influence on the major cereal crops.
3. Increase in temperature of more than 3 degrees can severely affect crop production.

Sea Levels, Oceans and Coastal Areas

1. Global temperatures have risen about 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) over the last 100 years, with a sea-level response of 160 to 210 mm (about half of that amount occurring since 1993), or about 6 to 8 inches.
2. Many effects have been observed in recent years, including an increase in sea-surface temperature, significant evaporation, glacier melting, and noticeable change in the marine food web.
3. By the year 2100, the sea level will increase by 9 to 88 cm. It is due to the inundation of fresh water from the melting of glaciers and the change in temperature that causes seawater warming.
4. Coastal areas and smaller islands are more prone to the effects of increased sea levels as these areas are more prone to floods and erosion.
5. Saltwater intrusion is one of the major effects of an increase in extreme sea-level events like a tsunami. High tides and heavy storms are also results of sea level rising.

Water Stress and Water Security

1. Warming has created a great impact on glaciers and snow cover in both hemispheres. This prognosis to speed up throughout the 21st century.
2. It has led to the depletion of water resources and hence the potential of hydropower. It also has changed the seasonal flow of water due to the supply of freshwater from glaciers and major mountain ranges (Hindu-kush, Himalayas, Andes)
3. By the year 2050, the availability of fresh water in the south, central, east and southeast Asia will also decline.
4. An increase in atmospheric temperature will scramble the hydrologic cycle. It also affects the rainfall rate.
5. During the 20th century, an increase in floods along river basins was noticed. The frequent flooding causes problems to society, water quality, and infrastructure. Damage to public infrastructure impacts a much larger percentage of the population than those whose homes or businesses were directly flooded. Flood damage to roads, rail networks, and critical transportation hubs like maritime ports, in particular, can have a big impact on regional and national economies.
6. The chemical, physical and biological properties of lakes and rivers are affected due to warmer temperatures, which negatively impact freshwater species.

Biological Diversity

1. Species in the tropical area are at greater risk, according to the World Wildlife Fund(WWF)
2. As the temperature increases, the species starts to migrate to regions of lower temperature. So, the change in temperature forces the species to migrate.
3. According to WWF, one-fifth of the endangered species could be facing a catastrophic loss of biodiversity.
4. The marine ecology will be severely impacted. This may result in changes to the ocean’s circulation, an increase in the ocean’s acid range, and a rise in carbon dioxide levels
5. This level of change affects corals and shell-forming animals.

Health

1. A temperature rise will also increase the air pollutants in the atmosphere. So many diseases may occur due to air pollutants.
2. Climate change adversely affects human health. It also makes the earth’s temperature unfavourable for humans.
3. Increased heat waves and weather events also increase casualty.
4. Climate change is also responsible for the spreading of disease. These diseases spread from one geological region to another. 

Conclusion

Climate change with its adverse effects has reached our doorsteps. It is high time that humans act wisely, to be able to cope with the changes and take precautions to avoid disasters in future and save the environment.