Some interesting facts about Global Warming - Part I

Some interesting facts about Global Warming - Part I

The climate has become unpredictable and uncertain. Climate extremes such as droughts, floods, and cyclones are costing several billion dolls damage annually worldwide. Climate change is not an issue of the future, nor is concern for the environment is luxury. Stable ecosystems, including stable climate systems are the very basis of life, of production and consumption of stable economies and societies. Let us see some associated facts associated with global warming and environment, from which you might be unaware.

Dates associated with environment:

March 22 – World Water Day
March 23 – World Meteorological Day
April 22 – International Mother Earth Day
June 5 – World Environment Day
September 16 – International Day for Preservation of the Ozone Layer

Death Toll:

As a result of global warming, the areas of Earth suffering from drought have doubled since 1970, due to which over 150,000 deaths are caused globally every year.

According to WHO the death rate is expected to be doubled in next 25 years.

Spider's Webs:

Spider webs are very helpful in study of global warming because they trap droplets of fog, or cloud water. Spider webs are collected by scientists’ samples for the study of the changes in the atmosphere.

Who established the first basic principles related to global warming?
The French scientist, Jean Baptise Fourier’s was the first person to study the basic principles in 1827.

Gas Monster!

At present, burning of fossil fuels releases 7 billion tonnes of carbon into atmosphere each year, which in turn produces 26.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide gas.

Hottest Years:

The 13 warmest years on record have all occurred in the 15 years since 1997. The combined temperature over global land and ocean surfaces for March 2012 was the 16th warmest on record.

Where do the first signs of global warming appear?

The ten indicators of climate change include measurements of sea-level rise taken from weather balloons, and field surveys of melting glaciers.

The first signs of global warming are seen near the surface of the Earth, and in the upper atmosphere.

Antarctica appears to be getting warmer. Over the last 50 years, average temperatures on the continent have increased by 2.5 degree Celsius.

Disappearing beauty:

The Montana Glacier National Park had 150 glaciers in 1850. This gorgeous million-acre park celebrated its 100th birthday recently, but many of its glaciers have melted, and scientists predict the rest may not last another decade.

Today, it has just 26 named glaciers, and those that remain are typically mere shadows of their former frozen selves.

The Northwest Passage:

It is one of the most fabled sea routes in the world – a short cut from Europe to Asia through the Canadian Arctic. Historically, the Northwest Passage linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans has been ice-bound through the year. Global warming has melted Arctic Sea ice to such an extent that for the first time, in over 100 years, ships can sail the North West Passage.

Greenland Glaciers:
Greenland glaciers keep shrinking as higher surface temperatures have created record mass losses in 2012 and 2011. The ice lost by just one of its glaciers comes to 20 million tonnes per day. The melting ice of the glaciers has led to a dangerous rise in sea levels.

Helpful Volcanoes:

Did you know that volcanoes may sometimes actually reduce global warming? This is because a massive explosion would result in huge amounts of sulphuric acid combining with water vapour to form a shield that reflects sunlight away from the Earth. This may cool the Earth for a year or two, but an explosion of this magnitude could prove disastorous in itself.

Cows contribution

Agriculture is responsible for an estimated 14 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases. A significant portion of these emissions comes from methane. The world’s 1.5 billion cows and billions of other billions of other grazing animals emit dozens of polluting gases, including lots of methane. Some experts say that the average dairy cow emits 100 to 200 litres of methane a day.

Rise of diseases:

It is believed that rising global temperatures will increase the spread of malaria – the deadly mosquito – to borne disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Warmer temperatures mean that malaria carrying mosquitoes are able to live in northern climates as well. This will lead to a surge in malaria in regions beyond the tropics, and at higher altitudes as well.

Growing Mountains:
Over the past century, the Alps Mountain rages have gradually growing taller. This is because the weight of the glaciers in these mountains was pushing down on the surface of the Earth. Global warming has resulted in the melting of glaciers. As the glaciers melt, the weight pushing down decreases, the Earth rebounds, and the mountains become taller.
(to reveal more Go to Part II)

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