Global warming

Definition

Global warming refers to the long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to human activities, particularly the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. This rise in temperature has significant implications for environmental degradation, leading to severe climate change that affects weather patterns, sea levels, and biodiversity worldwide.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Global temperatures have risen by approximately 1°C since the late 19th century, with significant increases observed in recent decades.
2. The burning of fossil fuels for energy and transportation is the primary driver of increased greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
3. Melting ice caps and glaciers contribute to rising sea levels, which threaten coastal communities and ecosystems around the world.
4. Extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, droughts, and floods, are becoming more frequent and severe due to the effects of global warming.
5. Mitigating global warming requires international cooperation and commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through agreements like the Paris Agreement.

Review Questions

• How does global warming impact environmental degradation and what are some observable effects?
  • Global warming leads to environmental degradation by disrupting ecosystems and altering natural habitats. Observable effects include the melting of polar ice caps, rising sea levels, and shifting weather patterns that result in increased frequency of extreme weather events. These changes threaten biodiversity as species struggle to adapt to their changing environments.
• Discuss the role of greenhouse gases in global warming and their sources. How do human activities contribute to this issue?
  • Greenhouse gases play a critical role in global warming by trapping heat in the Earth's atmosphere. The main sources include fossil fuel combustion for energy production, transportation, deforestation, and industrial processes. Human activities have significantly increased the concentration of these gases since the Industrial Revolution, leading to a rapid rise in global temperatures.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of current global strategies aimed at combating global warming. What challenges do these strategies face?
  • Current global strategies to combat global warming include international agreements like the Paris Agreement and various national policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions. While these initiatives have led to some progress in raising awareness and encouraging renewable energy use, challenges such as political will, economic interests, and enforcement mechanisms hinder their effectiveness. Addressing these challenges is crucial for achieving meaningful reductions in global temperatures and mitigating climate change impacts.

Related terms

Greenhouse Gases: Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, which are primarily produced through human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

Climate Change: A broader term that encompasses changes in temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions over time, often driven by global warming and human-induced factors.

Carbon Footprint: The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, event, or product, typically measured in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide.