One of the most important effects of climate change is rising global temperatures, which are mostly caused by an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Here’s a closer look at the implications of this:
### **The Rising Temperature:** – **Global Warming**: Since the late 19th century, the average world temperature has risen by roughly 1.2°C (2.2°F). The previous several decades have seen the majority of this warming.
– **Extreme Heatwaves**: In many areas, heatwaves are growing more frequent, prolonged, and more intense as the planet’s average temperature rises. Water supply, agriculture, and health systems may be strained as a result.
– **Feedback Loops**: Warming can be intensified by feedback loops brought on by higher temperatures. For instance, when snow and ice melt, the Earth’s albedo (reflectivity) decreases, allowing more sunlight to be absorbed and less reflected, thus warming the globe.
The first effect of rising temperatures is on ecosystems. As temperatures rise, species that are acclimated to particular temperature ranges might not be able to survive. Food chain disruption, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem changes can result from this.
2. **Human Health**: Higher temperatures can increase the risk of heat-related disorders, such as dehydration and heat stroke, particularly among susceptible groups like the elderly or those without access to air conditioning. Because mosquitoes prefer warmer climates, warming also makes vector-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria more likely to spread.
3. **Agriculture**: Temperature fluctuations affect crops including rice, corn, and wheat. Increased temperatures have the potential to lower harvests, putting a strain on global food security, particularly in already vulnerable areas.
4. **Water Resources**: The availability of water may be impacted by rising temperatures. This results in increased lake and river evaporation in some places, which lowers freshwater supply. In others, flooding may result from heavy rains or glacier-melt snow.
5. **Sea Level Rise**: As a result of glaciers and polar ice caps melting due to increased global temperatures, sea levels rise. This might force millions of people to relocate and endanger coastal ecosystems and communities.
### **How Quickly Is It Taking Place?**
Global warming is not occurring at the same rate. The rate of warming varies by region:
– **Arctic Warming**: This effect, called “Arctic amplification,” is causing the Arctic to warm around three times more quickly than the global average.
Because concrete and asphalt absorb more heat than other materials, cities tend to warm up more quickly than rural areas. This phenomenon is known as “urban heat islands.”
### **What Is There to Do?**- **Reduction of Warming**: The globe must dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions in order to slow the rise in global temperatures. This entails preserving carbon-sink trees, increasing energy efficiency, and switching to renewable energy.
– **Adaptation**: We need to adjust to the current warming in addition to cutting emissions. This include building resilient agricultural systems, enhancing infrastructure to resist floods, and planning cities to survive intense heat.
Author: Mohamed Yasin Artan
