What is Global Warming?
Global warming refers to the long-term increase in the average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere due to human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. This leads to an accumulation of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere, trapping heat from the sun and causing a gradual rise in temperatures globally.
Long answer
Global warming is driven by the enhanced greenhouse effect, which has been intensifying since the onset of the industrial revolution. When humans burn fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas for energy production, they release large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Deforestation also contributes to global warming as trees absorb CO2 and their removal reduces this capacity. The accumulated CO2 and other greenhouse gases act like a blanket around the Earth, trapping heat that would otherwise escape back into space.
This increase in greenhouse gases leads to a phenomenon known as climate change. While it can result in localized cooling or changes in weather patterns, overall it causes global temperatures to rise steadily over time. The consequences of global warming are extensive and include but are not limited to rising sea levels due to melting glaciers and ice caps, more frequent extreme weather events like hurricanes and heatwaves, shifts in precipitation patterns impacting agriculture and water resources, disruption of ecosystems and loss of biodiversity.
Scientists use various methods like temperature recordings from weather stations and satellite data to study global warming trends. Through these observations, they have established that average global temperatures have risen significantly since pre-industrial times. Mitigation efforts such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions through transitioning to renewable energy sources, promoting energy efficiency measures and adopting sustainable land-use practices are crucial for combating global warming and its detrimental effects on our planet’s climate system.