GLOBAL WARMING AND ITS EFFECTS

INTRODUCTION What causes this global warming effects? Global warming effects has and will always vary for natural reasons. However, human activities are increasing significantly the concentrations of some gases in the atmosphere, such as greenhouse gases (mainly CO2,CH4,N20,halocarbons), which tend to warm the earth surface, and anthropogenic aerosols, which mostly tend to cool it. The following picture will give a better understanding of the adverse effect of global warming.

VARIOUS POSSIBLE EFFECTS ECOLOGICAL IMPACT IMPACT ON WATER RESOURCES IMPACT ON AIR QUALITY IMPACT ON HUMAN HEALTH

ECOLOGICAL IMPACT Examples of the impact include an increased extinction of many species;growth or losses in freshwater fish populations and mixed effects on migratory birds,increased erosion of beaches and increased salinity in estuaries. This is a green finch usually found in australia is now endangered

HERE ARE A FEW SPECIES THAT ARE IN THE DANGER OF EXTINCTION DUE TO GLOBAL WARMING

IMPACT-WATER RESOURCES Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that is emitted into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels. An increased amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is already affecting the state of our planet both directly and indirectly. Like other greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, when in our atmosphere, traps the sun’s heat, preventing it from escaping. This causes the average temperature of our entire planet to rise. Warmer temperatures mean glacial melting, which is causing sea levels to rise and is exposing carbon deposits that are millions of years old. These carbon deposits are in the form of fossilized bones and other remains of animals that died long ago. When they are exposed, they are defrosted, if you will, and they start to decay, releasing more carbon dioxide. The melting of glaciers and other ice and snow will eventually result in habitat loss for many species of plants and animals, and may also cause small islands and low- lying cities to become submerged under rising sea levels if we don’t take a more active role in stopping Global Warming. Warmer ocean temperatures are already causing coral bleaching, which kills coral and indirectly kills the countless number of other organisms that are dependent upon coral as a natural habitat and source of food. Coral and other shelled organisms are in added danger due to increased levels of carbon dioxide because of the ocean’s natural ability to absorb carbon monoxide from the air. According to USA TODAY, “scientists have detected a steady increase in this absorption, corresponding to an inverse in the ‘greenhouse gases’ that hold heat in the atmosphere.” When carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean, carbonic acid is produced. The added acid usually has no effect on the ocean’s pH levels, as calcium concentrations in seawater act as a buffer to regulate pH and keep it relatively steady. However, the amount of carbon dioxide now being absorbed is so incredibly high that the natural buffer is being overwhelmed, throwing the system off balance, and lowering the pH significantly. In the last 200 years, our ocean water has become 150% more acidic and 30% more corrosive, and the trend is expected to continue. More acidic oceans will weaken calcium carbonate shells and skeletons of organisms living in the seawater.

EFFECT-AIR QUALITY Increased emissions of NOx,SOxandCO are associated with increased electric demands.Air pollutant dispersion is also affected by weather variables suchas windspeed and direction,temperature,cloudcover,precipitat ion patterns,atmospheric watervapour, and global circulation patterns.

VARIATION IN EARTH’S TEMPERATURE

EFFECT ON TEMPERATURE SOLELY FROM CO2

IMPACT ON HUMAN HEALTH Ozone pollution problems in urban areas worsen due to higher temperatures and lengthened summer seasons.Health effects are manifested by morbidity and increases in mortality(elderly) during hotter and extended summer periods.

PREDICTED EFFECTS To predict the future global warming effects, several greenhouse gas emission scenarios were developed and fed into computer models. They project for the next century that, without specific policy changes: Global mean temperature should increase by between 1.4 and 5.8°C (2.5 to 10°F). The Northern Hemisphere cover should decrease further, but the Antarctic ice sheet should increase. The sea level should rise by between 9 and 88 cm (3.5" to 35"). Other changes should occur, including an increase in some extreme weather events. After 2100, human induced global warming effects is projected to persist for many centuries. The sea level should continue rising for thousands of years after the climate has been stabilized.

CONCLUSION Nevertheless,many steps are being taken around the world to combat the potential globalwarming.United states and many other countries have committed phasing out production of CFC’S,the potent greenhouse gases.In addition,billions of trees will be planted around the world to prevent excessive production of CO2,since absorb it.Another important sink is the biomass,in which photosynthesis rate is known to accelerate with increase in the carbon dioxide level.