Global Warming And Its Possible Effects On Earth

Majority of the people believe that the world is coming to an end this year or rather a few years later. Lots of reasons have been cited as possible factors that could bring the end. However, such massive disasters may not happen overnight. It might only happen over a period of time. One such factor that could affect the life on earth is global warming that has been one of the widely exploited topics. Last night, I was watching a program on Global warming on one of the popular television channels powered with my cable connection powered by FiOS TV. Let me bring to light a few interesting points on global warming.

Scientists and researchers are of the view that the increase in global warming that keeps happening year after year will at once lead to the destruction of the earth. What is Global warming? It refers to the rise in the average temperature of the Earth mainly in the oceanic regions that leads to the melting of massive icebergs in the Atlantic region.

Records clearly states that in the past 100 years, the surface temperature of the earth has increased by about 0.8 degree cent (1.4 deg Fahrenheit) of which two-third of the rise has happened since the early 80’s. Scientists have gone on to state that the rise in global warming is chiefly due to the increase in the emission of greenhouse gases. Of course, human activities such as deforestation, burning of fossil fuels, and increasing emission from the industries have contributed to the emission greenhouse gases.

The increase in the temperature of the earth will cause the massive icebergs and glaciers in the Arctic region to melt that will ultimately lead to the rise in sea levels. On one hand, global warming will lead to floods while on the other hand, it will cause extreme heat conditions; the rise in temperature being the chief reason in both these cases.

Effects of global warming
Global warming can have some deadly effects of life on earth. It might lead to the outburst of deadly diseases. The migrating insects may spread a lot of diseases including plague. The increase in temperature would result in warmer water and stronger hurricanes. They might be more devastating than the ones which took the world by shock in 2004-2005. Though the colder countries may escape, there is a high probability that the hotter regions may experience severe heat waves that may ultimately lead to drought and other adverse effects. In such a scenario, Africa might be the worst hit while the hot Asian countries might also get affected by the same. Drought and the extreme heat will lead to the death of a lot of animals and plants in most parts of the world. Moreover, the extreme heat could damage the fields and make things difficult for farming.

Moreover, the impact of global warming will exacerbate the economy of a majority of the countries. The massive destruction caused by flood or hurricanes might lead to the damage to a lot of life and properties that would adversely impact the financial well-being of the nation.

Melting of ice caps
The increase global warming will have adverse effects on the polar ice caps. Firstly, it will raise the Ocean levels. The mass of the icebergs is so big that the National Snow and Ice Center has stated that if all the ice bergs and glaciers in the earth had melted, then the sea level will rise by up to 230 feet which means no life could exist on earth. Thankfully, things aren’t going to get to such an extent. Secondly, the melting of ice caps will cause ecological imbalance. The melted icecaps are naturally not saline; so the increase in the water levels will only make the sea water less saline which could lead to the loss of a lot of marine organisms.
Although we are well aware of the causes and effects of global warming, one has to admit that these things will or may happen sooner than later and there is nothing man could about it!