If you are wondering what is global warming, you have come to the right place. The term “global warming” describes a rise in temperature around the globe that is caused by a buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These gases include Carbon dioxide, Methane, and Water vapour. Scientists have noticed that global temperatures are increasing steadily due to the increased consumption of these gases.
Methane
Methane is a major greenhouse gas that is responsible for global warming. Its GWP is between 20 and 100 times that of carbon dioxide, making it the second most potent greenhouse gas. It is also a major contributor to ground-level ozone, a dangerous air pollutant. The GWP is based on the fact that one tonne of methane produces 28 to 36 tonnes of CO2 over a hundred-year period. The gas is also important because it is one of the ingredients in ground-level ozone, a hazardous air pollutant that causes 1 million premature deaths every year.
The amount of methane that contributes to global warming has increased rapidly over the past century. Scientists believe that methane contributes about 30 percent of the total global warming since pre-industrial times. Methane is now increasing at a faster rate than carbon dioxide. Even though carbon dioxide emissions are declining, methane continues to increase.
The United States has shown a renewed interest in addressing methane emissions. However, President Donald Trump’s administration rolled back the Obama administration’s landmark regulations on emissions of non-CO2 greenhouse gases. The new administration of Vice President Joe Biden has stated that the country’s goal is to cut methane emissions from 2005 levels by 2030. Various oil and gas companies have also made pledges to curb methane emissions, although many analysts are skeptical that they will follow through.
Livestock is a major source of methane emissions. Livestock accounts for nearly a third of global emissions.
Water vapour
A recent study shows that measurements of atmospheric water vapour at high altitudes are not as accurate as previously thought. The water vapour concentration at this high altitude is critical to the greenhouse effect. The researchers compared the water vapour data from reanalysis to data from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument on the AURA satellite. Unlike reanalysis, MLS data is an independent data set. The researchers found that the reanalysis overestimated annual global water vapour in the upper troposphere by 15%.
Water vapour emissions are one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. The greenhouse warming potential of water vapour is similar to that of carbon dioxide. However, the effective radiative forcing of water vapour is 1,000 times lower than that of carbon dioxide. This means that irrigation at high altitudes may have a large warming effect.
While CO2 is the main culprit in causing global warming, water vapour will continue to play an important role in centuries to come. Studies indicate that the upper atmosphere will double in water vapour by the end of the century, if not more. If humans aren’t careful, they could suffocate the planet.
Water vapour is the main contributor to the greenhouse effect. The world’s science academies all agree that the temperature change is being driven by human activity.
Excess heat absorbed by greenhouse gases
Greenhouse gases are substances that trap excess heat from the Earth’s surface. These gases are produced by human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. The higher concentration of greenhouse gases results in higher temperatures worldwide. As a result, climate change is a serious concern.
The major greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, and nitrous oxide. These gases trap heat that would otherwise reflected back up into the atmosphere. They act like the glass walls of a greenhouse and keep the Earth’s climate warm. Without this effect, the Earth’s surface would be 33 degrees cooler than it is now.
Rising greenhouse gases prevent most of the heat from the Earth’s surface from escaping into space. This excess heat is passed back to the ocean, where most of it is absorbed. In recent decades, this heat content has increased and is expected to continue to rise. This excess heat has already caused the ocean to warm up, causing multiple knock-on effects, including sea-level rise.
Human activities are increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. While they do not directly cause global warming, they do increase the amount of heat absorbed. The more greenhouse gases we release into the atmosphere, the greater the temperature of the planet.
Impacts on people
The effects of global warming are profound and are already being felt by billions of people around the world. The most vulnerable people and ecosystems are being hit the hardest. Within the next two decades, the world is expected to face multiple climate hazards, ranging from droughts to rising sea levels. If global warming exceeds 1.5degC (2.7degF), the impacts will be severe and irreversible. These risks are particularly damaging for society, with the threat of a warming climate affecting low-lying coastal settlements and infrastructure.
As the earth’s temperatures continue to rise, more people will suffer the physical and mental consequences of climate change. High temperatures increase the risk of many diseases and can kill people. Those most vulnerable to climate-related health issues include the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. They also have less technology to protect them from extreme weather events.
According to the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report, human emissions of heat-trapping gases have warmed the Earth’s climate nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius). This change will affect all regions of the Earth. The impacts of global warming on humans, expected to continue to worsen by the end of the century.
People in low-income countries are the most vulnerable to climate change. Many people in these countries are already facing the negative impacts of air pollution and climate change. This will put a strain on the health care system. And it will exacerbate existing inequities in health, as millions of people will experience more severe and costly health conditions than their peers.
Impacts on ecosystems
Global warming affects our ecosystems in many ways, changing their composition and function. For example, it changes the interactions between species and shifts the timing of critical biological events. As a result, ecosystems may no longer be able to perform their essential functions. In addition, many species displaced or have their habitats altered.
The effects of global warming are already beginning to be felt. The changes to the ecosystems will alter the way they provide services for humans. These changes will have positive and negative impacts. For example, higher temperatures and nutrients will affect the food web of aquatic ecosystems, resulting in increased levels of harmful algal blooms. These changes will have significant impacts on health in communities.
Although climate change affects ecosystems directly, it also interacts with other stresses on the environment. The effects of each stressor may be small alone, but they combine to create cumulative effects. For example, warming has led to shifts in species composition in tundra ecosystems, while it has prompted a woody invasion of high-latitude herb-dominated ecosystems. In turn, these changes can alter the competitive hierarchy within an ecosystem.
Increasing temperature and precipitation are affecting the composition of ecosystems, streamflow, and carbon storage. Those changes can have significant societal and economic implications.
