Plunge to destruction
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On World Environment Day (June 5) take a look at the state of our planet.
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What is global warming? It is the increase in the earth’s average surface temperature. Scientists say the observed increase is due to the increase in anthropogenic (manmade) greenhouse gases.
What is a greenhouse effect?
The term describes retention of heat in the earth’s lower atmosphere (troposphere) by greenhouse gases. Without this earth would be too cold for us to survive. On the other hand, if the greenhouse effect runs out of control the earth’s environment could become as hellish as that on Venus.
What is the increase in the earth’s temperature today? Global temperatures have increased by (1° F) 0.6° C over the past 100 years. Although this may seem like a small change, it is enough to harm important ecosystems,
rainfall patterns and raise the sea level.
What will be the effects of global warming?
The predicted effects include melting of the polar ice caps, flooding of coastlines, severe storms, changes in precipitation patterns and widespread changes in the existing ecological balance. Other major threats include fresh water scarcity as major rivers die and acid rain.
How can we reduce global warming?
The warming already created cannot be reduced; it is no easy matter to even arrest further warming. Scientists say it can take the earth thousands of years to cool down just one degree when it happens naturally. Scientists believe that the world must be prepared and equipped to face the predictable and unpredictable changes in the near future. They call this process adaptation. Another aspect is of mitigation, which involves reducing or decreasing the greenhouse gas emissions.
What are the ways to mitigate global warming?
We need to develop non-fossil fuel energy sources, use agricultural techniques that release less greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, stop deforestation, and promote reforestation and develop efficient waste disposal systems.
This is an excerpt from the booklet titled “About Global Warming” by P. Uma Sriram
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