How has Greenhouse Effect changed in the last decade?
The Greenhouse Effect is the process by which certain atmospheric gases trap heat from the Sun and cause a warming effect on the Earth’s surface. Over the last decade, there has been an intensification of the greenhouse effect due to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2) from human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. This has resulted in higher global average temperatures, leading to various climate impacts such as rising sea levels, more frequent and intense heatwaves, altered precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events.
Long answer
The Greenhouse Effect is a natural phenomenon that helps regulate Earth’s temperature by trapping some of the Sun’s energy within our atmosphere. However, human activities since the Industrial Revolution have significantly influenced this process. Over the last decade, there has been a notable change in the Greenhouse Effect due to several factors.
Firstly, carbon dioxide (CO2) levels have continued to rise steadily due to anthropogenic emissions primarily from burning fossil fuels for energy production, transportation, and industrial processes. Concentrations of CO2 hit a record high of 415 parts per million (ppm) in 2019—higher than at any point in human history. This increase directly contributes to enhanced trapping of heat in the atmosphere.
Secondly, other potent greenhouse gases like methane (CH4) have also seen an increase in their concentrations over the last decade. Methane has significant contributions from agricultural practices such as livestock production and rice cultivation, as well as leaks from oil and gas extraction and distribution systems. Methane is particularly concerning because its warming potential is much greater than that of CO2 though its atmospheric lifetime is shorter.
These rising levels of greenhouse gases have led to an intensification of global warming trends observed over recent decades. The consequences include an increase in global average temperatures compared to pre-industrial times. Each year since 2015 until 2020 has been among the warmest on record, with 2020 tying for the hottest year recorded to date. This warmer climate leads to various impacts such as rising sea levels due to melting glaciers and thermal expansion of seawater, alterations in precipitation patterns causing floods or droughts at different locations, and more frequent occurrences of extreme weather events like tropical cyclones, heatwaves, wildfires, and heavy rainfall events.
Furthermore, these changes can disrupt ecosystems, affect biodiversity, agriculture, human health, and socio-economic systems worldwide. Efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the consequences of climate change are crucial in order to minimize future disruptions and safeguard the planet for future generations.