Nature is such a thing under whose lap no one can get bored .And hence it is aptly said that “ The nature and it’s beauty is an art of God “ .The beauty of nature can really mesmerize anyone and one has no other option than to appreciate and get engrossed in it .But one can not tell when it’s calmness and tranquil may take a violent turn . After all we can not command the environment around us except by obeying her. Destruction caused by tsunami’s, earthquakes, draught, and heavy rains is a clear indication of that .But slowly and slowly these pleasures and thrills of nature are being overpowered by the scientific technologies and modern day innovations , as a result of which the world now is looking at menaces like environmental pollution , Green House Effect and Global Warming . But among these the most talked about problem which is catching every ones attention is that of Global Warming.
Global Warming is an increase in the average temperature of the earth's surface. This is because, since the mid 1800’s human activities mainly clearing of land, burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas have increased alarmingly. Fig’s clearly indicate this .Since 1800’s the temperature has increased about .3 to .8 degree centigrade .Because of this, the amount of atmospheric gases that help in catching of heat , has increased greatly. These gases are known as the Green House gases .Due to burning of coal, oil, petroleum and other such stuff Green House CO2 is generated. This burning mostly takes place in four wheelers, power stations, mills and factory facilities .As mentioned earlier the factor of land clearing, reduces the amount of trees. Trees take up CO2 and give out O2. As a result amount of plants that remove CO2 are getting reduced. This is increasing the Green House Effect. Greenhouse Effect is a warming of the lower atmosphere and surface of a planet by a complex process involving sunlight, gases, and particles in the atmosphere. Some scientists are however of the opinion that this effect started long before human beings came into existence , and their activities just has added to the effect. This effect has derived its name from the fact that that atmosphere consumes heat from the sun just as the roofs and walls of green house which trap heat from the sun.
In Greenhouse Effect the atmosphere reflects toward space about 30 per cent of the energy in incoming sunlight. The atmosphere absorbs about another 30 percent and the remaining 40 percent or so reaches the earth's surface. The earth's surface reflects about 15 percent of the solar energy that reaches it back toward space. The remaining energy heats the lands and seas. The warmed lands and seas then send most of the heat back into the atmosphere, chiefly as infrared rays. But even after finding out all these things, putting in research, there are some scientists who are not taking it that seriously. According to them the potential impact of this warming trend is not that much serious. But their fellow brothers who know that is not true, keep on working and finding out evidences and try and tell the world people that this threat of Global warming is really dangerous. They have examined evidences from distant parts to determine whether changes in CO2 concentration cause temperature changes. Cores of ice drilled from great depths in Greenland and Antarctica provide record for the past 16000 years. During those times climate warmed and cooled several times. Researcher’s analyzed gases and other substances that were trapped in ice when it formed. Use of high speed PC’S which are being used to study how CO2 concentration may affect temperature of earth, have shown that these gases will cause shifts in surface temperature. Mathematical formulation, relations and different scientific models that describe relationships between changeable factors have suggested that 2010’s may be too late to avoid some damage from Global Warming.
The threat of global warming could alter the ecology of many parts of earth. For E.g. : Global Warming could change the pattern of rain , melt enough polar ice to raise sea level , increase the havoc caused by tropical storms , lead to shift in plant and animal population , ocean currents , wind pattern and also make some areas cooler than they are . One remote thing that can even take place is rise in percentage of winter snowfall, which may cause advancement of ice sheets. The seas like the North Sea and the Arctic Sea are losing their ice and are warming too. In short, water masses are going to overflow heavily and pose a threat to low lying coastal areas, many of which are densely populated. Among these the major cities that strike our mind are London, Rio de Janeiro, Mumbai, Tokyo and Bangkok. Due to this loads of people will go hungry and many more will have nowhere to live. Also disasters caused by calamities like Hurricanes and typhoons will be larger - a big worry for people living in south of United States and in tropical Pacific or Indian ocean areas like Philippines islands and Bangladesh . Deserts will probably increase amount of rain, as a result of which there will be more floods. Global warming is not only going to be a threat for subjects like sea level and coastlines, but areas like agriculture , forestry and wildlife will also be under its hammer . It could have a beneficial impact in some areas and harmful impact on others. E.g.: People can begin farming activities where it is currently too cold while some areas where farming is currently practiced might become barren. The breathtaking beauty of natural parks and forests is for seeing and appreciating for what they are. But Global warming may not spare them. Here we can take the example of Grand Canyon National Park in the States. The scenic views are going to get reduced speedily due to increasing Green House Gases coming from Los Angeles which is about 480 Km away . These giant global utilities, providing essential services to humanity on a large scale and which help maintain ecological balance may lead to mass extinction and other harmful effects. The tropical rain forests which help in regulating out climate and sustain the life of some of our poorest people on earth are going to get reduced very rapidly. Due to this the Amazon rain forests in and around the South American nation of Peru, which is a source of 20 % of world’s oxygen will be under threat.
Now if we turn our attention to our country, situation here is also going to be grim. Scientists have already started calling Delhi 2020 as the year without winter. Areas of Gangetic & Brahmaputra plain have started transforming into one vast dust bowl. According to scientists, Mumbai will be at the top of list of cities that will bear the burnt of this fury. The part of Arabian Sea near Nariman Point is going to get inaccessible and the bustling skyscrapers will be turned into monumental tombstones due to watery grave. In the North the Tibetan Plateau will shrink from 5 lakh sq km to 1 lakh sq km if current warming rates persist. In agricultural sector, wheat yields will fall by 17 % by rise of even a half a degree centigrade. Food grain production will drop by nearly 30 %. With erratic rainfall and decrease in precipitation levels, India’s forests would deplete rapidly and countries mangroves that are rich in bio- diversity could be wiped out because of rising sea levels. 25 % of flora and fauna in India would become extinct by 2030. In health sector diarrhoeal diseases associated with floods and draughts could go up. Coastal water temperature could help spread cholera; heat stresses would cause deaths. Vector borne diseases, like dengue & malaria are expected to rise sharply as changes in temperature will make it conducive for mosquitoes to thrive.
After seeing the immense harm that Global Warming will cause, scientists are now working hard to find ways to combat this menace. They are recommending reduction in emission of Greenhouse gases. According to them the least controversial way to reduce such emissions would be to use gains in efficiency to decrease use of energy. E.g.: Manufacturers would adopt more efficient processes to produce goods. Makers of electrical equipments would introduce more efficient motors, light bulbs and other devices. Instead of using incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent lamps or CFL should be in use; which consume only ¼ th of electricity and lasts longer. New manufacturing equipments and new devices like these might be more costly than replaced. However savings resulting from decreased energy consumption might help make up for extra costs. As a result new technologies would reduce emissions and save money. Experts have also offered a number of more controversial strategies for E.g.; Government could create regulations that specify type of technologies used or the amount of fossil fuel burned. Many policy analysts recommend that governments consider tax on emissions of green house gases. Another option would limit amount of green house gases each nation emits from industries, vehicles etc. Switching to bio fuels instead of petrol or diesel should be compulsory .It is seen that for every litre of petrol consumed, about four Kg of CO2 gets injected into the atmosphere. So just think about it .Under this plan each country could receive emission permits that could be bought and sold .Richer nations with higher emissions per person could purchase permits from poorer nations with lower emission per person . Thus more developed countries would have incentives to create & use more efficient technologies and less developed countries would receive money that could be used to aid their development. Planting large number of trees is another thing that could make a difference. Trees are best sinks of CO2. Scientists have calculated that if every human being plants one, we would have six billion trees growing. That could take away thousands of tones of carbon dioxide from atmosphere.
The worldly nations have been together quite a few times for discussing on the issue of Global Warming. In 1992 the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro hammered out a Framework Convention on Climate Change to bring down the level of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. The Kyoto Protocol, its implementation arm, had called on developed countries to reduce their Green House gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2010 - a 5.2 % reduction. But all these things have become a thing of past. Countries have shown a deaf ear to all these discussions. They aren’t taking steps in the right direction. Warnings have been coming extremely thick and fast. We are facing a global climate crisis. It is deepening. We are entering a period of consequences, as a well known scientist has said “A nation that destroys it’s environment destroys itself “.
Global warming is a big threat to the world nations. If we don’t act now it may be too late. It is only human beings who have done this; it is only they who can save our mother earth! So let us join hands and propose way’s in which harmony of humankind and nature can flourish , making the years ahead a brighter tomorrow for us all.
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