GLOBAL CLIMATIC CHANGE

GLOBAL WARMING/GLOBAL CLIMATIC CHANGE

The world climate changes “Refers to all form of climatic inconsistently but because the climate is never static the terms is more properly described as a significant long term abnormal fluctuations in terms of precipitation wind system and all other aspects of the earth’s climate.
For quite long period of time the world has been experiencing global climatic changes including extreme cooling or extreme warming of the atmosphere.

CAUSES OF CLIMATIC CHANGE

i.    Variation of solar energy

        It is estimated that the solar output increase at the rate of 1â—¦c per century. This led to the decrease or drop in temperature.

 ii.  Variation in atmospheric Carbon dioxide

        The higher the level of atmospheric Carbon dioxide the warmer the global temperature

  iii. Volcanic eruption

         It has been accepted for some time that volcanic activities have influenced climate in the past and continues to do so. World temperatures are lowered after any large single eruption, this is due to the increase in dust particles in the lower atmosphere which will absorb and scatter more of the incoming radiation.

    iv.  Changes in oceanic circulation, this affect the exchange of heat between the oceans and the atmosphere. This can have both long term effects on the world climate and short term effects.

      v.   Composition of the atmosphere

Gases in the atmosphere can be increased. At present there is increasing concern at the buildup of Carbon dioxide and other green house gases like CFC’s in the atmosphere, which are blamed for the depletion of Ozone in the upper atmosphere hence global warming.

GLOBAL WARMING AND GREEN HOUSES PHENOMENA

Global warming:
This is the unusual increase in temperature of the earth’s atmosphere which is caused by the green houses effect.

Green house effect:
Refers to the situation in which the atmosphere traps and retains heat energy

from the sun in the lower level leading to the rise in temperature.

EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING AND GREEN HOUSE

1. The rise in temperature has led to the melting of ice in various parts of the world e.g. The cap at the peak of Mt Kilimanjaro has decreased in size due to the effect of global warming
2. The melting of ices has led to the increase of water in the sea and hence the sea level rises.  As results of those phenomena some of coastal areas are flooded.
3. Global warming has led to the occurrence of strong storms in different parts of the world that kill people and destroy properties.
4. Some cold areas have become warm such that tropical crops are grown.
5. Disappearance of some animals and plant species due to the failures to adopt the abrupt in temperature.
6. Global warming has caused the occurrence of precipitation in other areas which is used to be dry due to the changes in hydrological cycles.
7. Decline of production due to drought and desertification process which then leads to poverty and death of people
8. Spread of disease like skin cancer, malaria and other.

MITIGATING MEASURES AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING AND THE GREEN HOUSES EFFECT

9.  Discouraging the uses of burning of material that release harmful green house gases such as CO_2, CFC's
10.  Alternative sources of energy, which are environmentally friendly, should be encouraged e.g. geothermal, power, solar energy, and wind energy.
11.  Formation of an international policies and cooperation among different nations in the fight against air pollution.
12.  Control of pollution in order to control and discourages excessive uses of fossils and biomass energy.
13.  Recycling of wastes should be encouraged rather than burning or dumping on the surface.
14.  Modification of the combustion system in the machines in order to attain efficient fuel burning in and out of massive release of green house gases especially carbon dioxide.