Infographic

GLOBAL WARMING 8

Global Warming

Global warming is the steady escalation of the temperatures of the earth primarily due to the heat which is trapped in the atmosphere. This has resulted in extreme weather patterns and conditions for living organisms on the earth's surface. The greenhouse effect is a situation whereby, harmful gases trap heat in the atmosphere leading to the warming up of the surface. Increased industrial and chemical activities amongst the human population have resulted in the greenhouse effect. This is because fumes such as carbon monoxide are released in the process, leading to adverse effects such as unnatural warming. The ozone layer, which cushions the globe from direct heat from the sun, gets depleted, making life on the planet unbearable (Rahmstorf et al., 2018). Increased ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the surface endangers human existence; thus, a clear indication as to why it is necessary to protect our planet by all means possible. Numerous scientists, scholars, and governments have tried different approaches that focus on ensuring these conditions do not get worse (Cook et al., 2016). Initiatives have been taken to find a better way of ensuring humans do not deplete the ozone layer as a result of their ambitions to fulfil different industrial and chemical targets. The greenhouse effect endangers the survival of human beings and their respective environments. Global warming is something that humans need to work together and counter the causative agents threatening our existence on the planet. Just to mention, a distinct analysis of the causes of the greenhouse effect and how it negatively affects people and the environment can prove to be the difference. This study relies on credible sources, which play a fundamental role in ensuring readers can understand the current situation of our planet and how deep greenhouse gas emissions has corroded our existence over time.

The leading gases which enhance greenhouse effect include methane, ozone, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. These gases exist as a blanket, which helps in regulating the earth's climate and temperature. Despite being a natural phenomenon, an existing imbalance in the number of gases released to the earth's atmosphere leads to unfavorable temperatures as the ozone layer is depleted when these gases are in excess in the troposphere, therefore, enhancing global warming. Rahmstorf et al. (2018) explain that the greenhouse effect is fueled through different human undertakings such as farming, deforestation, burning of fuels, and even industrial waste. Therefore, mass education and the implementation of regulatory policies can help mitigate the situation.

Fossil fuels have become part of human life as a significant quota of people rely on these sources of energy to carry out numerous activities such as the generation of electricity and even transportation. When these fuels are burnt, the carbon components present in them are released to the atmosphere combining with oxygen to form carbon dioxide. According to Hoegh-Guldberg et al. (2018), the growth in population has resulted in more usage and reliance on fossil fuels as the number of vehicles in each respective country has grown immensely over the years. This implies that more fuel is burnt and toxic gases released to the atmosphere. Thus, causing pollution that depletes the ozone layer. This pollution has stood out to be one of the causes of the greenhouse effect as the emission rates have increased immensely, poisoning the atmosphere and world we live in, respectively. Reliance on sources of fuel such as coal also releases carbon dioxide to the atmosphere as a good number of people and population sectors rely on coal as a source of electricity. Despite being reliable as a source of fuel, its reliance is damaging the earth's atmosphere because its emissions are toxic to human existence. In order to control the excessive carbon IV oxide it is important to increase the forest cover. Forests play an integral role in human existence as they intake carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the environment. This process is known as photosynthesis. Photosynthesis aids in nourishing our environment to ensure what we breathe regularly is healthy for our survival. However, with increased human settlements and developments have prompted massive deforestations to provide space for settling. Medhaug, Stolpe, Fischer, and Knutti (2017) agree that this jeopardizes the survival of animals and humans as they depend on the productive process forests provide for the environment. Less carbon dioxide is taken in when there are limited forest covers as less oxygen is released to the atmosphere to sustain a balance in the ecosystem. When the wood is also burnt, the carbon present in them is released back to the atmosphere hence a clear indication of how deforestation disrupts the nourishing cycle photosynthesis provides for humans and animals.

An increase in the number of people on the earth's surface has resulted in an increased demand for food, shelter, and cloth. This has prompted an increased number of manufacturing hubs that try to meet the existing demand on the market. This results in the increased emissions of toxic gases when these industries are set up in towns and cities, thus, fueling global warming in the process. Increased population also implies that more people rely on fossil fuels; therefore, aggravating the problem affecting our survival and existence on the earth's surface. Besides, increased farming activities to meet the food demand on the planet also contribute to the greenhouse effect. Farmers across the globe rely on chemical components present in fertilizers to improve their yields, respectively. Chemicals such as nitrous oxide are one of the greenhouse gases released from these farming activities. Therefore, increased farming activities imply that more chemicals will be used in the process, thus a blow to the earth's ecosystem.

The drive to become industrial comes with its consequences as the more humans set up industries to meet their needs, the more toxic gases are released in the earth’s atmosphere. Sarkodie and Strezov (2019) agree that the continuation of such processes results in the depletion of the ozone layer, which acts as a protective blanket for protecting the earth from excess UV light from the sun. Garbage disposed of in landfills also contributes significantly to global warming as they produce methane gas and carbon dioxide, which facilitate the greenhouse effect on the planet. Increased emissions result in the intensification of temperatures as the ozone layer gets depleted the more these gases are released into the atmosphere. The depletion of the ozone layer harms all living organisms on the planet as it prevents excess radiation from reaching the earth's surface (Sarkodie & Strezov, 2019). The emissions will make excess UV rays to seep past the ozone layer leading to disruption of the ecosystem. Humans will experience disorders such as eye cataracts, immune deficiency, and even skin cancers (Li et al., 2018). The health of human beings will be at risk as the effects make the entire existence to experience abnormal conditions from what people have been used to respectively. This will gradually make it dangerous to operate at daytime due to the extreme temperatures experienced and the effects it has on the human skin and health in general. The aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem will also be disrupted as food sources and chains will be impacted. There will be limited food supply due to the adverse conditions that make its production more difficult. UV rays directly affect plant growth; thus, disrupting the balance for those who depend on it, respectively. Li et al. (2018) assert that agricultural productivity will also reduce, thus directly impacting food security in numerous nations across the globe. This will result in the eventual competition and scarcity of food if humans do not protect the ozone layer by all means possible. An imbalance in the ecosystem will imply that some animal species will become extinct due to the depletion of food sources and, more so, an inability to adapt to the new temperature levels present at the time. This will be a blow to the ecosystem, and the variety of species earth has to offer.

Despite the many negative implications of global warming, there is needed to come up with appropriate mechanisms to control these effects. To avoid the extreme weather events, there is need to regulate human activities to counter the extreme and changing weather patterns. As much as human beings have the capabilities of destroying the environment. The instances of environmental destruction have emerged as a consequence of human activities. The solution to the increased cases of global warming should emanate from the human beings. Reforestation is an important because it will help reduce the rates of global warming, changed weather patterns, and hurricanes (Sarkodie & Strezov, 2019). Some regions will experience increased rainfall, while some will witness a reduction in the amount received annually. This will disruptions will be normalized if the human activities are controlled and coming up with more environmentally sustainable methods of production. It is also to adopt more sustainable sources of energy that will not have negative implications to the environment by ensuring that the environment is safe for the survival of living organisms. It is important to safeguard the forest cover by ensuring the forest cover is not destroyed to control melting of ice so that organisms that survive in such environments are protected (Li et al., 2018). As much as human beings are the main source of the negative environmental impacts associated with their activities it is also important to recognize their capabilities to revert such impacts.

Humans can play a vital role in curbing this endangering menace in numerous ways. Different populations across the globe should take the initiative of planting trees as many trees as possible to ensure that the environment can maintain a balance in the atmosphere. This will guarantee more airflow is nourished to facilitate humans and animals to exist in a healthy environment. Complete eradication of fossil fuels will ensure that humans do not pollute the environment as they try to carry out different activities on the surface. Cook et al. (2016) explain that renewable sources of energies will provide a safe alternative, which will guarantee humans can move around and produce electricity using sources that do not pollute the environment. Sources of energy, such as wind and solar, are convenient as they do not pollute the environment in any way because they rely on natural dynamics to generate electricity (Li et al., 2018). Automobiles that depend on fossil fuel can be replaced, and more emphasis channeled to electric and solar vehicles, which will reduce the amount of toxic gases released in the atmosphere. Greener solutions in farming, such as reliance on animal manure rather than chemical fertilizers, will also reduce the amount of damage intensive farming has on the atmosphere. Hence, a clear indication of how human beings can stop global warming.

In conclusion, global warming is a menace which if not adequately dealt with, will make the existence of life on the planet unbearable. The depletion of the ozone layer as a result of the greenhouse effect should be treated as a priority for humanity as humans have the power to rectify the planet's atmosphere by ensuring all measures that are harmful are eradicated by all means possible. This will ensure that future generations do not suffer for the mistakes their predecessors did. A profound assessment depicts the significance of mass education. It can be asserted that the challenge of global warming is being perpetuated by humans through their selfish acts.

References