Climate change

The greatest social, economic and environmental threat faced by the planet today is the climate change. The change is already obvious with the increase in humidity and the receding icebergs. World nations are trying to get into some form of global agreement to stop drastic changes in the climate which will affect the earth in the long run. 

It is estimated that the earth’s temperature on an average has risen up to 0.76 ° C from 1850. Global warming is experienced for the past 50 years and is mainly due to human activities. Most important human activities affecting climate change is the increase in the emission level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from vehicles. Deforestation, animal husbandry, changing agricultural patterns and cement manufacture are some areas of concern which affect our climate day to day.

One of the most sensitive indicators of global climatic changes is the Glaciers retreating. Sea level changes have also been recorded and are one major factor that is a case for serious concern. So let us now look into what actually the term climate change means and how it happens in our planet. 

Climate change –An overview 

Climate change is the change in the normal climatic conditions over a period of time which can be anything between a decade and a million year. The normal weather conditions prevailing during a time might change over the year in a specify region, or across the globe. Extreme examples of such changes are the El Nino – Southern Oscillation and the Dust Bowl. Recently we have terming these drastic changes in the earth’s atmosphere as global warming more specifically.  

Natural factors that affect climate change: 

Common factors which effect climate conditions are the variations in the Earth’s orbital characteristics, solar radiation, continental drift and changes found in the greenhouse gas concentrations and volcanic eruptions. These changes have taken centuries to respond and are the result of many decades of evolution.   

Another major cause for change in the prevalent climate conditions is the plate tectonics. The continents change position because of years of soil erosion or natural conditions and this in fact affects the ocean circulation. The most recent event which is the best example for this type of change is the Isthmus of Panama which blocked all direct contact between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. The Ocean Dynamics of the Gulf Stream was totally affected because of this change.  

Orographic effects on precipitation are also responsible for the planet’s climatic transitions. With the change in elevation the humidity increases and the temperature changes with changes in elevation.

Most important natural reason for climate change is the variations in solar energy input. Long or short term variations in solar energy input will affect our climate over a period of time.  

Manmade factors that affect climate change:

Carbon dioxide is the most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Factors like, burning of oil, coal and gas, and deforestation, increases CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere significantly.

Methane is another important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Methane is emitted from a variety of both human-related and natural sources. Human-related activities include fossil fuel production, animal husbandry, rice cultivation, biomass burning, and waste management. These activities release significant quantities of methane to the atmosphere.

Conclusion: 

Manmade and natural causes can affect the climate change in our globe. Natural causes cannot be prevented, but human destruction can and must be avoided to save our planet earth.