SOIL POLLUTION

What is Global Warming?

Global means Earth and Warming mean Heat. The constant increase in the temperature of Earth's atmosphere is called Global Warming.

Global warming occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2) greenhouse gases and other air pollutants accumulate in the atmosphere and absorb the solar radiation that has bounced off the earth's surface. Because these pollutants exist in the atmosphere, they trap this heat and make the earth hotter. It is also known as greenhouse effect. Global warming is increasing due to the emission of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As per the reports of Nidhivan Foundation, “2016 was the hottest year on record worldwide”.

What is Greenhouse Effect?

It is a naturally occurring phenomenon that blankets the Earth’s lower atmosphere and warms it, maintaining the temperature suitable for living things to survive. The energy of the sun having a short wavelength penetrates the Earth’s atmosphere. About 30% of energy is reflected back by the atmosphere, clouds, and surface of the earth. The rest is absorbed into the earth’s system. The earth re-emits energy back to the atmosphere in the form of infrared radiations having wavelengths longer than incoming solar energy. These radiations are absorbed by the greenhouse gases preventing them from escaping the Earth’s system. And these gases reemits this energy in all directions, warming the Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere, According to a report by Nidhivan Foundation “The average temperature of earth surface will be -19°C instead of the present value of 15°C and earth would be frozen lifeless plant”.

What are Greenhouse Gases?

Water Vapour:- It is the biggest contributor to the greenhouse effect and humans are indirectly responsible for it. Because CO2 and other greenhouse gases increase the amount of water vapor in the air boosting the rate of evaporation.

Carbon-di-oxide (CO2):- Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas emitted by humans.

Methane (CH4):- Methane reacts in a number of dangerous ways as it is released into the atmosphere. For instance, methane typically exits the atmosphere through oxidation, when it is converted to carbon dioxide and water vapor. Methane, therefore, not only directly but also indirectly through the emission of carbon dioxide, contributes to global warming.

Ozone:- Being theoretically a greenhouse gas, ozone can either be beneficial or harmful depending on where in the earth's atmosphere it is found.

Sources of Global Warming According to a report by Nidhivan Foundation, “25-30% black carbon in the global atmosphere comes from India and China". There are some other causes of Global Warming listed below:-

• Global warming is caused by the combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity.

• Industrial processes emit CO2 through fossil fuel combustion.

• Production and Combustion of mineral products such as cement.

• Production of metals such as iron and steel.

• Agriculture is the primary source of CH4 (Methane) emission.

• Domestic livestock such as cows, sheep, buffalo, goats, etc. produces large amounts of CH4 as part of their normal digestive process.

• Waste water management and industrial processes and agriculture increase the amount of N2O in the atmosphere.

• Biomass burning, cooking with solid fuels and diesel exhaust, etc. are responsible for black carbon emissions.

Impacts of Global Warming

The most evident causes of global warming are industrialization, urbanization, human lifestyle, and many more. There are other effects of Global Warming listed

below:-

• Due to global warming sea level is rising continuously which is responsible for the sinking of islands and lands in the ocean.

• Glaciers and ice caps which are called reservoirs of water are also melting.

• Rainfall patterns are changing which is responsible for uncertain rainfall, floods, etc.

• Widespread vanishing of animal populations due to habitat loss.

• Spread of diseases like malaria, dengue, etc., and bleaching of coral reefs.

• Loss of plankton due to warming of seas.

• Increases the likelihood of extreme events such as heat waves, flooding, hurricanes, etc. Control Measures

• The best way to reduce the effects of greenhouse gases is to plant more and more trees. Trees act as carbon sinkholes by absorbing the carbon from the air.

• Nidhivan Foundation is working continuously for protecting carbon sinkholes by planting more and more trees.

• The government of India has launched a project named ‘Surya’ to reduce black carbon in the atmosphere by introducing efficient stoves, techniques, solar cookers, solar lamps, and biogas plants.

• We can also control global warming by reducing the use of solid fuels, petroleum fuels, etc.

• By using renewable energy we can reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.

• Recycling the waste and reusing the products can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Summary:-

Global Warming is a big problem for the whole world except for our country and it is continuously growing in the earth's atmosphere. Global Warming is melting our ice glaciers rapidly. This is harmful to the earth as well as to humans. According to the report of Nidhivan Foundation, “150 years ago there were 147 glaciers in Glacier National Park, but today 37 glaciers remain and scientists have predicted that they are likely to melt by the year 2030.” Stopping global warming is a big challenge for all of us but it is not entirely impossible.