global warming essay vision ias

Global Warming Definition, Causes, Effects, Impacts, Solutions

Global Warming is a long-term increase in average global temperature. Read about Global Warming Definition, Causes, Effects, Impact on Climate Change & Solutions for the UPSC exam.

Table of Contents

What is Global Warming?

Global Warming is a long-term increase in average global temperature. It is considered a natural phenomenon, but anthropogenic activities on earth, particularly post Industrial Revolution , have led to an increase in the rate of this temperature increase. Various Reports published by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have time and again highlighted that since 1850 human activities have led to an increase of about 1 degree Celsius in average global temperature. Most of this warming has taken place in the second half of the 20th century. The fact that 5 of the hottest recorded year have occurred since 2015 can help us better understand the calamitous impact of anthropogenic activities.

Global Warming Causes

Green House Gases also known as GHGs in the atmosphere trap the solar radiations that are reflected by the earth’s surface. Under normal circumstances, most of these radiations escape into outer space. However, the release of GHGs by anthropogenic activities has increased their concentration in the atmosphere. Thus, the earth is getting hotter and hotter. 

Some of the common GHGs include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and water vapour, among others. The global warming potential of each GHG is different. For example, methane has a 25-time warming potential than carbon dioxide. Similarly, nitrous oxide has more than 250 times the warming potential than carbon dioxide. The top  anthropogenic activities that are responsible for the release of GHGs are shown below.

Global Warming and Green House Effect

Both phenomena are related to each other. Green House Gases also known as GHGs in the atmosphere trap the solar radiations that are reflected by the earth’s surface. Under normal circumstances, most of these radiations escape into outer space. However, the release of GHGs by anthropogenic activities has increased their concentration in the atmosphere. This is the primary cause of Global Warming . 

Global Warming Effects

Increase in the average temperature of the earth.

According to IPCC reports, human-induced global warming is responsible for nearly 1 degree Celsius temperature rise vis a vis pre-industrial level. Data from NASA suggest that 2016 has been the hottest year on record.

Frequency of Extreme Weather Events is Increasing

Across the globe, extreme weather events have increased in occurrence. For example, forest fires in California have become an annual event. Also, it is increasing in frequency each year. Most recently, we have recorded the phenomena of heat waves in Antarctica. The intensity of cyclones in the Bay of Bengal region has increased. Similarly, the frequency of occurrence of El Niño and La Niña has reduced from once in 8–10 years to once in 3–4 years now. More frequent episodes of floods and drought are being recorded every year across the world.

Melting of Ice

According to IPCC, there is 10% less permafrost in North Hemisphere at present compared to the 1900s. Remote sensing data suggest Arctic ice is melting fast. Experts suggest that not only will the sea level rise with the melting of glaciers, but there is also a danger of new bacteria and viruses being released into the environment which has so far been trapped in ice sheets. This may lead to outbreaks of disease and pandemics which are beyond the control of human medical sciences.

Sea Level Rise and Acidification of Ocean

A report published by WMO, suggests that the rate of sea level rise has doubled for the period between 2013 and 2021 compared to the rate for the period between 1993 and 2002. Earth scientists are suggesting that if this phenomenon continues, many human-inhabited coastal areas will be submerged into the sea in the coming decades. Also, with the concentration of carbon dioxide rising in the atmosphere, oceans are absorbing more of it. This is leading to ocean acidification. The impact of this phenomenon can be disastrous for ocean biodiversity, particularly the coral reefs. 

Adverse Impact on Terrestrial Ecosystems of the Earth

It has been recorded that many flora and fauna species are heading northwards in Northern Hemisphere. Significant changes have been observed in the migratory movements of birds across the world. Early arrival to their summer feeding and breeding grounds is quite evident. Expert biologists suggest that rising temperatures in the tropical and subtropical regions may lead to an outbreak of new diseases, which in turn may render many floral and faunal species extinct.

Social and Economic Impact

A rising number of extreme weather events will have an adverse impact on agriculture and fisheries. Rising global temperatures will have a negative impact on the productivity of human beings, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions of the earth. The impact on life and livelihoods of indigenous people across the world will be even more pronounced. 

Global Warming Solutions

Global cooperation for reduction of emissions.

It is time that the target of containing the global average temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius of pre-industrial levels is taken seriously. Also, global efforts should be based on a spirit of Common But Differentiated Responsibility. This will ensure that historical injustices done to the global south are duly acknowledged, and they have an equal chance to transform themselves into developed countries. Countries must act proactively to achieve Net Zero Emission status at the earliest. 

Transition to Cleaner and Greener Forms of Energy

Thermal power plants based on coal should be made more efficient and inefficient ones should be phased off. Also, mass adoption of renewable forms of energy like solar should be promoted. Similarly, avenues for using hydrogen as energy fuel should be looked into. We must also explore the possibility of Nuclear fusion for energy generation, in addition to making nuclear fission-based energy generation safer.

Changes in Agricultural Practices and Land Use

Agriculture based on the use of nitrogenous fertilizers must be replaced with organic farming techniques. Also, methane gas released from agricultural and cattle waste must be trapped as biogas for domestic usage. Massive afforestation drives must be organized. Urban governments must make it a point to include green spaces in urban planning.

Improving Transportation System

The advent of E-vehicles is a welcome change, but we need to make the batteries used in these vehicles more efficient. Urban planners must make public transportation systems inherent as a benchmark of good urban planning. Also, urban planning should be such that it promotes more walking and cycling habits among the residents. 

Behavioural Changes

All the above discussions will have no meaning if we as individuals are not sensitive enough. We need to make reducing, reusing and recycling a mantra of our living. It should be our civic duty to save water, and wildlife and raise awareness among others. 

Solar Geoengineering

Solar geoengineering, a proposed climate intervention method, aims to counteract global warming by reflecting a portion of the sun’s rays back into space. One prominent approach involves injecting substances like sulphur dioxide into the upper atmosphere to create reflective aerosols. These particles can scatter sunlight, reducing the Earth’s temperature. However, solar geoengineering is a topic of debate, with concerns about its side effects, such as disrupted weather patterns and potential geopolitical risks. Research in this field is ongoing, but it remains a theoretical concept with limited practical implementation.

Can Solar Geoengineering Halt Global Warming?

Solar geoengineering, specifically solar radiation management (SRM), is under scrutiny as a potential method to mitigate global warming. SRM involves reflecting sunlight away from Earth, often by injecting substances like sulphur dioxide into the upper atmosphere to create reflective aerosols. However, its effectiveness remains a subject of debate, with concerns about potential side effects and ethical implications. While research in this field is ongoing, solar geoengineering is currently in a theoretical stage, with limited practical implementation.

Global Warming Conclusion

It is rightly said that “Charity begins at home.” Climate action will be more efficient if we go by this spirit. To begin with, each individual can make sure that what is happening in their house and immediate surroundings is in harmony with the environment. If this can happen, all the policies we are making at the local, national, regional and global levels will give far better results. 

Global Warming UPSC

Each year, we read about rising global temperatures. Also, catching the headlines is the news related to disasters caused by events like cyclones, forest fires, floods and drought. All these phenomena can be attributed to one single cause which is global warming. 

Global Warming is a long-term increase in average global temperature. It is considered a natural phenomenon, but anthropogenic activities on earth, particularly post-Industrial Revolution, have led to an increase in the rate of this temperature increase.

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Why is global warming a problem?

Global Warming at present rate can lead to disastrous impacts like rising sea level, out break of new diseases, extreme weather events among others.

What are 3 causes of global warming?

Human induced green house gas emission due to activities like agriculture, industrial emissions, transportation are the top 3 causes of global warming.

What are 5 effects of global warming?

Rising sea level, out break of new diseases, extreme weather events, changes in biodiversity and melting of glaciers are top 5 effects of global warming.

Why global warming is important?

Global warming at its natural rate is important to keep up the temperature of earth within the range that makes it habitable. This makes global warming important.

Can we control global warming?

Number of mitigation measures like shifting to cleaning forms of energy and transportation can be taken to control global warming.

Who help with global warming?

Global Warming is a collective challenge for entire humanity. Citizens, civil societies, governments and businesses must act in unison to address it.

I, Sakshi Gupta, am a content writer to empower students aiming for UPSC, PSC, and other competitive exams. My objective is to provide clear, concise, and informative content that caters to your exam preparation needs. I strive to make my content not only informative but also engaging, keeping you motivated throughout your journey!

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Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

Last updated on March 29, 2024 by ClearIAS Team

Nowadays we are facing many climate-changing issues like the greenhouse effect and Global Warming.

The greenhouse effect is the way in which heat is trapped close to Earth’s surface by “greenhouse gases.” The greenhouse effect leads to global warming.

Table of Contents

What do you mean by the Greenhouse effect?

A greenhouse is a structure where plants that require controlled climate conditions are grown. Its roof and walls are mostly made of transparent material, like glass.

In a greenhouse what is the incident solar radiation?

Visible light and nearby infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths.

Passes through the glass walls and roof and is absorbed by the ground, the floor, and the contents. As the materials warm up, they release the energy as longer-wavelength infrared radiation (heat radiation).

What is the reason infrared radiation cannot escape through radiative transfer?

Because glass and other wall materials used in greenhouses do not transmit infrared energy.

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The building is not exposed to the atmosphere, so heat cannot escape through convection, causing the greenhouse’s interior temperature to rise. This is known as the ‘greenhouse effect ‘.

Natural Greenhouse Effect: Importance

The greenhouse effect is a natural occurrence that has been taking place on earth for millions of years.

How natural greenhouse effect caused?

The natural greenhouse effect caused by the presence of water vapour and small water particles in the atmosphere has made life on earth possible. Together, these produce more than 95 per cent of total greenhouse warming.

• Average global temperatures are maintained at about 15°C due to the natural greenhouse effect.
• Without this phenomenon, the world’s average temperature could have been as low as -17°C, where life would not have been able to develop.

Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)

There are multiple gases responsible for the greenhouse effect. They are listed below.

Which gases are responsible for the greenhouse effect?

It is a result of atmospheric gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide (N2O), water vapour, and chlorofluorocarbons being able to trap the outgoing infrared radiation from the earth’s surface.

Hence these gases are known as greenhouse gases and the heating effect is known as the greenhouse effect.

Are all oxides of nitrogen greenhouse gas? No

Oxides of Nitrogen with the general formula NOx – NO, NO2 – Nitrogen oxide, Nitrogen dioxide, etc. are global cooling gasses while Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a greenhouse gas.

• If greenhouse gases are not checked, by the turn of the century the temperature may rise by 5°C.
• According to scientists, this temperature increase will harm the environment and cause unusual climatic changes (like an increase in the frequency of El Nino), which will accelerate the melting of the polar ice caps as well as ice caps in other regions, such as the Himalayas.

Cryosphere: The cryosphere is the frozen water part of the Earth’s water system. Polar regions and snow caps of high mountain ranges are all part of the cryosphere.

How does this impact?

This will cause the sea level to rise over a long period, submerging many coastal areas and causing the loss of coastal habitats, including the most crucial ecosystems in terms of ecological services, such as marshes and swamps.

Gas V/S Sources and Causes

Carbon dioxide (CO2) : Burning of fossil fuels, deforestation

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) : Refrigeration, solvents, insulation foams, aero propellants, industrial and commercial uses

Methane (CH4) : Growing paddy, excreta of cattle and other livestock, termites, burning of fossil fuel, wood, landfills, wetlands, and fertilizer factories.

Nitrogen oxides (N2O) : Burning of fossil fuels, and fertilizers; burning of wood and crop residue.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) : Iron ore smelting, burning of fossil fuels, burning e-waste.

Carbon dioxide

• In terms of meteorology, carbon dioxide is a very significant gas because it is transparent to solar radiation coming in but opaque to radiation leaving the earth.
• A portion of the radiation from the earth’s surface is reflected toward the surface after being partially absorbed by it. The greenhouse effect can be largely attributed to it.
• Its concentration is greater close to the earth’s surface as it is denser than air.
• Ozone is another important greenhouse gas. But it is in very small proportions at the surface.
• Most of it is confined to the stratosphere where it absorbs harmful UV radiation.
• Pollutants such as NO2 react with volatile organic compounds at ground level in the presence of sunlight to produce ozone (tropospheric ozone).

Water vapour

Why does water vapour consider a unique greenhouse gas?

Because it absorbs both incoming (part of incoming) and outgoing solar radiation.

It may account for four per cent of the air by volume in the warm and wet tropics, while it may account for less than one per cent of the air in the dry and cold desert and polar regions.

• Water vapour is also a variable gas in the atmosphere, which decreases with altitude.
• Water vapour also decreases from the equator towards the poles.
• Methane is the most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide.
• It is produced from the decomposition of animal wastes and biological matter.
• The emission of this gas can be restricted by producing gobar gas from animal waste and biological matter (methane).

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

• N2O or Nitrous Oxide is a greenhouse gas.
• NO and NO2 (nitric oxide or nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide) emissions cause global cooling by forming (OH) radicals that destroy methane molecules, thereby offsetting the effect of GHGs.

Carbon Monoxide

• Carbon monoxide is a short-lived greenhouse gas (it is less dense than air).
• It has an indirect radiative forcing effect by increasing methane and tropospheric ozone concentrations via chemical reactions with other atmospheric constituents (e.g., the hydroxyl radical, OH.) that would otherwise destroy them.
• Through natural processes in the atmosphere, it is eventually oxidized to carbon dioxide.

Fluorinated gases

Chlorofluorocarbons (cfcs).

• Because of their role in ozone depletion (explained in Geography > Climatology > Polar Vortex), CFCs were phased out through the Montreal Protocol.
• This anthropogenic compound is also a greenhouse gas, with a much greater capacity to amplify the greenhouse effect than CO2.

Know more about Montreal Protocol and the Kigali agreement click here:

Hydrofluorocarbons

• Hydrofluorocarbons are used as refrigerants, aerosol propellants, solvents, and fire retardants.
• These chemicals were developed as a replacement for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
• Unfortunately, HFCs are potent greenhouse gases with long atmospheric lifetimes.

Perfluorocarbons

• Perfluorocarbons are compounds that are produced as a by-product of aluminum production and semiconductor manufacturing.
• Like HFCs, PFCs generally have long atmospheric lifetimes and high global warming potential.

Sulfur hexafluoride

• Sulfur hexafluoride is also a greenhouse gas.
• It is used in the production of magnesium and semiconductors, as well as as a tracer gas for leak detection.
• Sulfur hexafluoride is used in electrical transmission equipment, including circuit breakers.

Black Carbon

• Black carbon (BC) is a solid particle or aerosol (though not a gas) that contributes to global warming.

Is Black carbon and soot are same? Yes

Soot is another name for black carbon. Soot is a form of particulate air pollutant, produced from incomplete combustion.

When deposited on snow and ice, black carbon warms the earth by absorbing heat in the atmosphere and decreasing albedo (the ability to reflect sunlight).

Black carbon is the strongest absorber of sunlight and heats the air directly.

• Furthermore, it darkens snowpacks and glaciers through deposition and causes ice and snow to melt.
• Regionally, Black carbon disrupts cloudiness and monsoon rainfall.
• Black carbon stays in the atmosphere for only several days to weeks.
• As a result, the effects of Black carbon on atmospheric warming and glacier retreat vanish within months of reducing emissions.

Brown Carbon

• As a result, the effects of BC on atmospheric warming and glacier retreat vanish within months of reducing emissions.
• Biomass burning (possibly domestic wood burning) has been identified as a significant source of brown carbon.
• Brown carbon is commonly referred to as a greenhouse gas, while black carbon refers to particles produced by impure combustion, such as soot and dust.

GHG Protocol

• GHG Protocol is creating standards, tools, and online training to assist countries, cities, and businesses in tracking their progress toward their climate goals.
• The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) establishes frameworks for measuring and managing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from private and public sector operations, value chains, and mitigation actions.
• The GHG Protocol arose in the late 1990s when the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) recognized the need for an international standard for corporate GHG accounting and reporting.

 Global Warming – Impacts

Melting of the ice caps refers to?

Melting of the ice caps and glaciers will lead to a rise in sea level.

The thermal expansion also contributes to sea level rise.

Fertile coastal agricultural lands will be submerged, and saline water intrusions will degrade neighbouring land. Groundwater in such areas will be rendered ineffective.

• Populous cities lying on the coasts will be submerged under the sea.
• Flooding in the Himalayas and Ganga plains during the wet season, and drought during the dry season will have a devastating impact on the country.
• The amount of arable land in the high-latitude region is likely to increase as a result of the melting of snow and the reduction of frozen land.
• At the same time, arable land along the coastlines are bound to be reduced as a result of rising sea level and saline water inundations.

Extreme Climatic Events

• The increased likelihood of extreme events such as heat waves, flooding, hurricanes, and so on will cancel out all economic gains.
• Changes in rainfall patterns (E.g. 2015 Chennai floods, and the 2018 Kerala floods) will severely impact agriculture.

Environmental Degradation

• Reduced hydroelectric power generation due to glacier abnormal behaviour will increase reliance on fossil fuels.
• The widespread extinction of animal populations due to habitat loss will add to the list of ‘threatened’ and ‘extinct’ species.

What are the Rising Health-Related Issues?

• The spread of diseases (like malaria, etc.) in the tropics will put more pressure on the healthcare sector.
• The increased frequency and severity of heat waves and other extreme weather events are expected to increase the number of deaths.
• Lack of freshwater during droughts and contamination of freshwater supplies during floods jeopardize hygiene, increasing the prevalence of diseases such as cholera and diarrhea.

How Biodiversity Loss occurred?

• The loss of plankton due to sea-level rise will harm the marine food chain.
• The bleaching of coral reefs (ocean rainforests) will result in a significant loss of marine biodiversity.
• Rising temperatures would necessitate more fertilizer for the same production targets, resulting in higher GHG emissions, ammonia volatilization, and crop production costs.
• Rising temperatures will have an even greater impact on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of freshwater lakes and rivers, threatening many individual freshwater species.

No Food Security

• Climate change affects crops by influencing irrigation, insolation, and pest prevalence.
• Drought, flood, storm, and cyclone frequency are likely to increase agricultural production variability.
• Crop yields in temperate regions are expected to benefit from moderate warming (an increase of 1 to 3°C in mean temperature), while crops in lower latitudes will suffer.
• However, natural disasters caused by global warming may outweigh the benefits in temperature regions.
• Sea level rise will exacerbate water resource constraints in coastal areas due to increased salinization of groundwater supplies.

Deterioration of Carbon sinks

• High-latitude forests store more carbon than tropical rainforests.
• One-third of the world’s soil-bound carbon is in taiga and tundra areas.
• Permafrost melts as a result of global warming, releasing carbon in the form of carbon dioxide and methane.
• The tundra was a carbon sink in the 1970s, but it is now a carbon source due to global warming. (Global warming causes even more global warming.)

Sea Level Change

• Sea level change means the fluctuations in the mean sea level over a considerably long period.

Processes that cause Change in Sea Level

• Eustatic changes happen when the amount of seawater changes as a result of things like
• global warming and melting of ice sheets (rise in sea level) or ice ages (fall in sea level) and
• changes in the volume of mid-oceanic ridges.

2. Tectonic changes occur due to a change in the level of the land.

• The addition or removal of load causes isostatic changes. During the ice ages, the weight of the glacial ice caused the landmass to sag. On the other hand, as the glacial ice is melted, landmasses rise.
• Epeirogenic movement is caused by the large-scale tilting of continents, which may cause one part of the continent to rise while the other part may sink, giving the appearance that the sea level is rising.
• Orogenic movement (mountain building) results in the formation of lofty mountains and an apparent fall in sea level.

Importance of understanding Sea Level Changes

It provides key evidence regarding climate change in the past. It helps in estimating the rates of tectonic upliftment in the past geological periods.

• to determine whether coastal areas are suitable for industrial and agricultural development.
• To protect low-lying countries by building coastal dykes and embankments.
• Only when we are aware of the areas that will likely be affected by future sea level rise can we map the areas that will likely experience storm surges and intermittent flooding.
• It becomes possible to build tidal power generation facilities in suitable locations by identifying the areas that may soon be submerged.

Changes in Global Sea Level

• Short-term changes occur during a year.
• Commonly, seasonal variations of 5-6 cm in sea level are observed in a year.

Short-term sea level change may be due to a complex interaction of the following factors:

• Marine water density:  Seawater density depends on temperature and salinity. Seawater has a high density due to low temperature and high salinity, which results in a falling sea level.
• Atmospheric pressure: Low pressure results in higher local sea levels and vice versa. E.g. Storm surge.
• The velocity of ocean currents:  The edges of fast-moving ocean currents that follow curved paths experience an increase in sea level.
• Generally, a difference of 18 cm in sea level is observed between the two sides of a fast-flowing current.
• Ice formation and fall in sea level:  Sea levels fall during the winter as a result of ocean water being trapped in the icecaps of the northern and southern hemispheres.
• Piling up of water along windward coasts: As a result of an air mass pushing water toward the coast, the sea level rises locally in coastal areas. For instance, during the monsoon season, sea levels rise in south and east Asia as a result of the air mass moving inland.

The twentieth century has observed short-term global sea level rise due to the following factors.

• Ocean water has expanded thermally in the past century as a result of anthropogenic global warming. In other words, in the last 100 years, the sea level has increased by 10 to 15 cm.
• To some extent, the melting of Antarctica’s ice sheets, which account for about 3% of the world’s total ice mass, has contributed to the rise in sea level.
• About 15% of the Greenland ice cap’s total volume melted during the 20th century.
• Other glaciers are estimated to have contributed about 48% of the rise in sea level globally, in addition to these ice-melt regions.
• Only if the major ice sheets melt or the volume of the world’s mid-oceanic ridge significantly changes are global sea level changes of more than 100 m possible.

Impact of Sea Level Fall

• Coral reefs perish when the sea level drops because the continental shelves where they are formed become dry. Therefore, along the edge of the dead corals, new coral reefs appear.
• The decrease in sea level causes more aridity in the continental hinterland where there are shallow continental shelves because there is less surface runoff.
• Ice caps and glacial tongues spread out onto the continental shelves as a result of a decline in sea levels in temperate and high-latitude regions.

Impact of Possible Rise in Sea Level

If the atmosphere’s temperature rises further, Antarctica’s ice melt could become hazardous soon.

Low-lying, densely populated coastal areas, which make up a significant portion of the populated land, will be submerged. Even the tiny islands will perish.

A rise in sea levels will have an impact on the estimated one billion people living on the planet.

• Immense damage may be caused to coastal structures like ports, industrial establishments, etc.
• Nearly 33% of the world’s croplands may be submerged due to the rise in sea level (coastal plains and deltas are made up of very fertile soils).
• Accelerated coastal erosion may cause damage to and destruction of beaches, coastal dunes, and bars.
• As a consequence, a vast section of the coastal land will remain unprotected against the direct attack of sea waves.
• Groundwater resources of the coastal regions will be severely affected by salinization due to marine water intrusion.

The destruction of the reefs, coral atolls, and deltas will cause significant harm to the ecosystem. On the periphery of the dead corals, new coral reefs will form.

The mouths of drainage basins will be submerged due to the rise in sea level. The long profiles of the rivers will need to be readjusted as a result, and they probably show a rise.

• The recent rise in sea level has had the greatest impact on islands. The Carteret Islands, which are in the Pacific Ocean northeast of Papua New Guinea, and the Tuvalu Islands, which are in the South Pacific about 1000 km north of Fiji, are two of the islands that are impacted.

The United Nations Environment Programme ( UNEP ) established the “Oceans and Coastal Areas Programme Activity Centre” in 1987 to investigate the phenomenon of sea level rise and to determine which nations are most at risk of submersion.

Reducing Carbon in the Atmosphere to Fight Climate Change.

Half of the world’s electricity is generated by burning coal. Coal will remain a dominant energy source for years to come.

• CO2 and CO (carbon monoxide) are the major greenhouse gas that is released during the burning of coal.
• Along with the above gases, nitrogen oxides (destroys ozone) and sulphur oxides (acid rains) are also released.
• Clean coal technology seeks to reduce harsh environmental effects by using multiple technologies to clean coal and contain its emissions.
• Some clean coal technologies purify the coal before it burns.

One type of coal preparation, coal washing, removes unwanted minerals by mixing crushed coal with a liquid and allowing the impurities to separate and settle.

Other systems control the coal burn to minimize emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulates.

• Electrostatic precipitators remove particulates by charging particles with an electrical field and then capturing them on collection plates.
• Gasification avoids burning coal altogether. With gasification, steam and hot pressurized air or oxygen combine with coal in a reaction that forces carbon molecules apart.
• The resulting syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, is then cleaned and burned in a gas turbine to make electricity.

Wet scrubbers, or flue gas desulfurization systems, remove sulphur dioxide, a major cause of acid rain, by spraying flue gas with limestone and water.

Low-NOx (nitrogen oxides) burners reduce the creation of nitrogen oxides, a cause of ground-level ozone, by restricting oxygen and manipulating the combustion process.

Carbon capture and storage

‘ Carbon capture and storage catches and sequesters (hides) carbon dioxide (CO2) from stationary sources like power plants.

• Capture: Flue-gas separation removes CO2 and condenses it into a concentrated CO2 stream.
• After capture, secure containers sequester the collected CO2 to prevent or stall its re-entry into the atmosphere.
• The two storage options are geologic and oceanic (must hide the CO2 until peak emissions subside hundreds of years from now).
• Due to this rise in atmospheric carbon, much emphasis has been placed on and hope placed on soil, plants, and trees’ capacity to temporarily store the carbon that burning fossil fuels releases into the atmosphere.
• The Kyoto Protocol, the primary tool used by the international community to stop global warming, suggests that reducing carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels while also allowing trees and soil to absorb carbon dioxide is a valid strategy.

Read:  Black carbon emissions

Article Written by: Remya

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Essay on global warming is an important topic for students to understand. The essay brings to light the plight of the environment and the repercussion of anthropogenic activities. Continue reading to discover tips and tricks for writing an engaging and interesting essay on global warming.

Essay On Global Warming in 300 Words

Global warming is a phenomenon where the earth’s average temperature rises due to increased amounts of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and ozone trap the incoming radiation from the sun. This effect creates a natural “blanket”, which prevents the heat from escaping back into the atmosphere. This effect is called the greenhouse effect.

Contrary to popular belief, greenhouse gases are not inherently bad. In fact, the greenhouse effect is quite important for life on earth. Without this effect, the sun’s radiation would be reflected back into the atmosphere, freezing the surface and making life impossible. However, when greenhouse gases in excess amounts get trapped, serious repercussions begin to appear. The polar ice caps begin to melt, leading to a rise in sea levels. Furthermore, the greenhouse effect is accelerated when polar ice caps and sea ice melts. This is due to the fact the ice reflects 50% to 70% of the sun’s rays back into space, but without ice, the solar radiation gets absorbed. Seawater reflects only 6% of the sun’s radiation back into space. What’s more frightening is the fact that the poles contain large amounts of carbon dioxide trapped within the ice. If this ice melts, it will significantly contribute to global warming. 

A related scenario when this phenomenon goes out of control is the runaway-greenhouse effect. This scenario is essentially similar to an apocalypse, but it is all too real. Though this has never happened in the earth’s entire history, it is speculated to have occurred on Venus. Millions of years ago, Venus was thought to have an atmosphere similar to that of the earth. But due to the runaway greenhouse effect, surface temperatures around the planet began rising. 

If this occurs on the earth, the runaway greenhouse effect will lead to many unpleasant scenarios – temperatures will rise hot enough for oceans to evaporate. Once the oceans evaporate, the rocks will start to sublimate under heat. In order to prevent such a scenario, proper measures have to be taken to stop climate change.

More to Read: Learn How Greenhouse Effect works

Tips To Writing the Perfect Essay

Consider adopting the following strategies when writing an essay. These are proven methods of securing more marks in an exam or assignment.

• Begin the essay with an introductory paragraph detailing the history or origin of the given topic.
• Try to reduce the use of jargons. Use sparingly if the topic requires it.
• Ensure that the content is presented in bulleted points wherever appropriate.
• Insert and highlight factual data, such as dates, names and places.
• Remember to break up the content into smaller paragraphs. 100-120 words per paragraph should suffice.
• Always conclude the essay with a closing paragraph.

Explore more essays on biology or other related fields at BYJU’S.

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Very helpful Byju’s

this app is very useful

Sample essay on global warming

Very nice and helpful⭐️

Amazing essay

This essay is very helpful to every student Thank you Byjus! 😊😊😊

This one is so helpful and easy to understand. Thank you, Byju’s!

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Where does global warming occur in the atmosphere, why is global warming a social problem, where does global warming affect polar bears.

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• U.S. Department of Transportation - Global Warming: A Science Overview
• NOAA Climate.gov - Climate Change: Global Temperature
• Natural Resources Defense Council - Global Warming 101
• American Institute of Physics - The discovery of global warming
• LiveScience - Causes of Global Warming
• global warming - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• global warming - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
• Table Of Contents

Human activity affects global surface temperatures by changing Earth ’s radiative balance—the “give and take” between what comes in during the day and what Earth emits at night. Increases in greenhouse gases —i.e., trace gases such as carbon dioxide and methane that absorb heat energy emitted from Earth’s surface and reradiate it back—generated by industry and transportation cause the atmosphere to retain more heat, which increases temperatures and alters precipitation patterns.

Global warming, the phenomenon of increasing average air temperatures near Earth’s surface over the past one to two centuries, happens mostly in the troposphere , the lowest level of the atmosphere, which extends from Earth’s surface up to a height of 6–11 miles. This layer contains most of Earth’s clouds and is where living things and their habitats and weather primarily occur.

Continued global warming is expected to impact everything from energy use to water availability to crop productivity throughout the world. Poor countries and communities with limited abilities to adapt to these changes are expected to suffer disproportionately. Global warming is already being associated with increases in the incidence of severe and extreme weather, heavy flooding , and wildfires —phenomena that threaten homes, dams, transportation networks, and other facets of human infrastructure. Learn more about how the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report, released in 2021, describes the social impacts of global warming.

Polar bears live in the Arctic , where they use the region’s ice floes as they hunt seals and other marine mammals . Temperature increases related to global warming have been the most pronounced at the poles, where they often make the difference between frozen and melted ice. Polar bears rely on small gaps in the ice to hunt their prey. As these gaps widen because of continued melting, prey capture has become more challenging for these animals.

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global warming , the phenomenon of increasing average air temperatures near the surface of Earth over the past one to two centuries. Climate scientists have since the mid-20th century gathered detailed observations of various weather phenomena (such as temperatures, precipitation , and storms) and of related influences on climate (such as ocean currents and the atmosphere’s chemical composition). These data indicate that Earth’s climate has changed over almost every conceivable timescale since the beginning of geologic time and that human activities since at least the beginning of the Industrial Revolution have a growing influence over the pace and extent of present-day climate change .

Giving voice to a growing conviction of most of the scientific community , the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was formed in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), published in 2021, noted that the best estimate of the increase in global average surface temperature between 1850 and 2019 was 1.07 °C (1.9 °F). An IPCC special report produced in 2018 noted that human beings and their activities have been responsible for a worldwide average temperature increase between 0.8 and 1.2 °C (1.4 and 2.2 °F) since preindustrial times, and most of the warming over the second half of the 20th century could be attributed to human activities.

AR6 produced a series of global climate predictions based on modeling five greenhouse gas emission scenarios that accounted for future emissions, mitigation (severity reduction) measures, and uncertainties in the model projections. Some of the main uncertainties include the precise role of feedback processes and the impacts of industrial pollutants known as aerosols , which may offset some warming. The lowest-emissions scenario, which assumed steep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2015, predicted that the global mean surface temperature would increase between 1.0 and 1.8 °C (1.8 and 3.2 °F) by 2100 relative to the 1850–1900 average. This range stood in stark contrast to the highest-emissions scenario, which predicted that the mean surface temperature would rise between 3.3 and 5.7 °C (5.9 and 10.2 °F) by 2100 based on the assumption that greenhouse gas emissions would continue to increase throughout the 21st century. The intermediate-emissions scenario, which assumed that emissions would stabilize by 2050 before declining gradually, projected an increase of between 2.1 and 3.5 °C (3.8 and 6.3 °F) by 2100.

Many climate scientists agree that significant societal, economic, and ecological damage would result if the global average temperature rose by more than 2 °C (3.6 °F) in such a short time. Such damage would include increased extinction of many plant and animal species, shifts in patterns of agriculture , and rising sea levels. By 2015 all but a few national governments had begun the process of instituting carbon reduction plans as part of the Paris Agreement , a treaty designed to help countries keep global warming to 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) above preindustrial levels in order to avoid the worst of the predicted effects. Whereas authors of the 2018 special report noted that should carbon emissions continue at their present rate, the increase in average near-surface air temperature would reach 1.5 °C sometime between 2030 and 2052, authors of the AR6 report suggested that this threshold would be reached by 2041 at the latest.

The AR6 report also noted that the global average sea level had risen by some 20 cm (7.9 inches) between 1901 and 2018 and that sea level rose faster in the second half of the 20th century than in the first half. It also predicted, again depending on a wide range of scenarios, that the global average sea level would rise by different amounts by 2100 relative to the 1995–2014 average. Under the report’s lowest-emission scenario, sea level would rise by 28–55 cm (11–21.7 inches), whereas, under the intermediate emissions scenario, sea level would rise by 44–76 cm (17.3–29.9 inches). The highest-emissions scenario suggested that sea level would rise by 63–101 cm (24.8–39.8 inches) by 2100.

The scenarios referred to above depend mainly on future concentrations of certain trace gases, called greenhouse gases , that have been injected into the lower atmosphere in increasing amounts through the burning of fossil fuels for industry, transportation , and residential uses. Modern global warming is the result of an increase in magnitude of the so-called greenhouse effect , a warming of Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere caused by the presence of water vapour , carbon dioxide , methane , nitrous oxides , and other greenhouse gases. In 2014 the IPCC first reported that concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides in the atmosphere surpassed those found in ice cores dating back 800,000 years.

Of all these gases, carbon dioxide is the most important, both for its role in the greenhouse effect and for its role in the human economy. It has been estimated that, at the beginning of the industrial age in the mid-18th century, carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere were roughly 280 parts per million (ppm). By the end of 2022 they had risen to 419 ppm, and, if fossil fuels continue to be burned at current rates, they are projected to reach 550 ppm by the mid-21st century—essentially, a doubling of carbon dioxide concentrations in 300 years.

A vigorous debate is in progress over the extent and seriousness of rising surface temperatures, the effects of past and future warming on human life, and the need for action to reduce future warming and deal with its consequences. This article provides an overview of the scientific background related to the subject of global warming. It considers the causes of rising near-surface air temperatures, the influencing factors, the process of climate research and forecasting, and the possible ecological and social impacts of rising temperatures. For an overview of the public policy developments related to global warming occurring since the mid-20th century, see global warming policy . For a detailed description of Earth’s climate, its processes, and the responses of living things to its changing nature, see climate . For additional background on how Earth’s climate has changed throughout geologic time , see climatic variation and change . For a full description of Earth’s gaseous envelope, within which climate change and global warming occur, see atmosphere .

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Q. Discuss the concept of climate change and its implications on global ecosystems and human societies. Examine the key factors contributing to climate change and suggest measures to mitigate its adverse effects. (250 words)

• Start your answer by explaining the concept of climate change.
• Write implications of Climate Change on global ecosystems and human societies.
• Write key factors contributing to climate change.
• Suggest measures to mitigate adverse effects of Climate change.

Introduction:

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperature, precipitation patterns, wind patterns, and other aspects of the Earth's climate system. It poses significant challenges to both natural ecosystems and human societies, necessitating urgent action.

Concept and Implications of Climate Change:

• Climate change is primarily caused by human activities, including the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and deforestation.
• GHGs trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to the greenhouse effect and resulting in global warming.
• Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns affect ecosystems and biodiversity.
• Increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events impact habitats, species distribution, and ecological balance.
• Melting glaciers and polar ice caps threaten marine ecosystems and contribute to sea-level rise.
• Climate change disrupts agriculture, leading to reduced crop yields, food insecurity, and loss of livelihoods for farming communities.
• Changes in weather patterns affect water availability, leading to water scarcity and conflicts over resources.
• Rising sea levels endanger coastal communities, resulting in forced migration and increased vulnerability to natural disasters.

Factors Contributing to Climate Change:

• Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.
• Industrial activities, transportation, and deforestation contribute to GHG emissions.
• Clearing forests reduces the Earth's capacity to absorb CO2 through photosynthesis, contributing to increased atmospheric concentrations.
• Rapid industrial growth and urbanization lead to increased energy consumption and emissions.
• Urban heat island effect exacerbates local warming in cities.

Measures to Mitigate Climate Change:

• Promote the use of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
• Encourage research and development of new technologies for efficient and clean energy production.
• Implement sustainable forest management practices and promote reforestation efforts to enhance carbon sequestration.
• Encourage climate-resilient farming techniques, agroforestry, and efficient water management practices.
• Promote organic farming and reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
• Strengthen global cooperation and agreements such as the Paris Agreement to reduce GHG emissions and promote sustainable development.

Conclusion:

Climate change poses substantial challenges to both ecosystems and human societies. By understanding its causes and implications, and implementing effective mitigation measures, we can work towards safeguarding the environment, ensuring sustainable development, and creating a resilient future for generations to come.

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