causes of global warming

What causes global warming?

Global warming occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2) and other air pollutants and greenhouse gases collect in the atmosphere and absorb sunlight and solar radiation that have bounced off the earth’s surface. Normally, this radiation would escape into space—but these pollutants, which can last for years to centuries in the atmosphere, trap the heat and cause the planet to get hotter. That's what's known as the greenhouse effect.

the burning of fossil fuels to make electricity is the largest source of heat-trapping pollution, producing about two billion tons of CO2 every year. Coal-burning power plants are by far the biggest polluters. The country’s second-largest source of carbon pollution is the transportation sector, which generates about 1.7 billion tons of CO2 emissions a year.

Reducing the amount of electricity generated from coal and gas and increasing the amount of electricity from clean, renewable energy sources like solar and wind, means less carbon pollution is emitted.

This is one of the the main ways we can address global warming.

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CAUSE - CO2 AND CLIMATE CHANGE

CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE CO2 AND CLIMATE CHANGE The most well-known and the most important greenhouse gas is CO2. The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is subject to variation even without human intervention. The carbon cycle causes an exchange of CO2 between the biosphere and the oceans on the one hand and the atmosphere on the other. Vast amounts of CO2 are also released by the burning of fossil fuels. there is incontrovertible evidence that the CO2 concentration in the air has never been so high in 8,00,000 years(probably even 60 million years) as it is now. The trend suggests that CO2 emissions will continue to rise globally, although the economic crisis did prevent a rise in 2009. Besides CO2, methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2o), fluorinated gases, ozone (O3) and water vapour are important greenhouse gases. Water vapour plays a unique role as it strengthens the heat-trapping effect caused by other greenhouse gas emissions. This is beca...

Deforestation

Deforestation What is Deforestation? Deforestation is when humans remove or clear large areas of forest lands and related ecosystems for non-forest use. These clearing for farming purpose, ranching and urban use. In these cases, trees are never re-planted. It is any activity directed to forests resources, with the intention of using the trees or land created for other purposes. Trees may be cut down for logs or burned to make room for farms, construction or other economic purposes. Why do humans clear forest? High demand for wood More need for pulp and paper, wood for furniture, real estate construction fuel all mean that trees will be cut down. World population is growing and more than ever before, our needs have increased too. Animal grazing fields In many places in the world, animal farms have contributed to large areas as green space being converted to grazing fields. Classic cases can be found in Brazil. Animal rearing in the Amazon has increased remarkable o...

CAUSE - Aerosols

CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE Aerosols Aerosols are less well-known than greenhouse gases. Aerosols are dust particles which, in addition to CO2, are released into the atmosphere in large quantities when wood and fossil fuels are burned. Some aerosols have a cooling effect on the climate, others have a warming effect. On balance they have a cooling rather than a warming effect, but no-one can give a clear idea of the magnitude, because we still do not understand how aerosols influence the occurrence and characteristics of clouds. Natural phenomena, greenhouse gases and aerosols create an imbalance in the incoming and outgoing radiation in the atmosphere. This process is known as Radiative forcing. When the earth heats-up, the short-wave radiation from the sun that enters the atmosphere is greater than the long-waves radiation that exists the atmosphere. The temperature changes on Earth will not stop until the radiation balance is restored. Given the immense capacity of ocean...

Global Warming and Climate Change

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