Table of contents |
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Introduction |
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Global Warming |
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Greenhouse Effect |
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Green House Gases |
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Climate Forcings |
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Global Warning Potential |
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Receding Glaciers-A Symptom of Global Climate Change |
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Climate Tipping |
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Global warming, a critical environmental issue, has surged in significance with an unprecedented rise in Earth's temperature over the last century, particularly in the past two decades. Each year since 1992, including the record-setting 2016, has marked among the warmest globally. Driven by increased greenhouse gas emissions, global warming poses multifaceted challenges, from melting polar ice caps to altered weather patterns. This concise overview emphasizes the urgency of addressing this complex phenomenon in the current environmental discourse.
Earth has experienced an unprecedented warming trend over the past century, with a notable acceleration in the last two decades. Since 1992, each year has consistently ranked among the warmest on record. 2016 holds the record as the hottest year globally. This warming trend is associated with a surge in extreme weather events such as wildfires, heatwaves, and intense tropical storms.
Global warming is characterized by an average increase in the temperature of the Earth's surface and troposphere, contributing to shifts in global climate patterns. It can result from various factors, both natural and human-induced. In everyday language, "global warming" often refers to temperature rise caused by increased greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.
About 30% of the Sun's energy is reflected directly back into space by the atmosphere, clouds, and surface of the Earth. The rest oi the Sun’s energy is absorbed into the Earth's system (70%)
The Earth re-emits energy back into the atmosphere. Because the Earth is cooler than the Sun, the energy is emitted in the form of infrared radiation, at wavelengths longer than the incoming solar energy.
Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb much of the long-wave energy (infrared radiation) emitted from the Earth's surface, The greenhouse gases then re-emit this energy in all directions, warming the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases" means those gaseous constituents of the atmosphere, both natural and anthropogenic, those absorbs and re-emit infrared radiation.
The main sources
A ubiquitous and unidentified component of organic aerosol which has recently come into the forefront of atmospheric research. Light-absorbing organic matter (other than soot) in atmospheric aerosols of various origins, e.g., soil humics, humic-like substances (HLTLIS), tarry materials from combustion, bio aerosols.
Include changes in the amount of energy emitted by the Sun, very slow variations in Earth’s orbit, and volcanic eruptions
Over the past 150 years, Glacier National Park has witnessed a significant decline in glaciers, dropping from 147 to only 37 today. Scientists project that these remaining glaciers are likely to melt by 2030, mirroring a global trend observed in the Himalayas and Alps. The use of satellite remote sensors has become crucial for efficiently monitoring the approximately 160,000 glaciers in Polar Regions and high mountain environments.
Climate Tipping Points (CTPs): Indicators within the broader climate system, CTPs, when surpassed, trigger self-sustaining warming, leading to cascading effects.
Global Heating Impact: Human-induced global heating by 1.1 degrees Celsius may have already crossed five critical tipping points, including the potential collapse of the Greenland ice cap, disruption of the North Atlantic current crucial for rainfall, and permafrost thawing rich in carbon.
15 Degrees Celsius Threshold: At 15 degrees Celsius, five possible tipping points emerge, affecting northern forests, mountain glaciers, tropical coral reefs, and the West African monsoon.
2°C Temperature Rise: Nine global tipping points, such as the collapse of ice sheets in Greenland, West Antarctic, East Antarctic, and the potential disruption of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), are identified when temperatures rise beyond 2°C. Risks also include Amazon dieback, permafrost collapse, and Arctic winter sea ice loss.
Ongoing Research: Current research explores potential tipping points like ocean oxygen loss and significant changes in the Indian summer monsoon.
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1. What is the greenhouse effect? | ![]() |
2. How do greenhouse gases contribute to global warming? | ![]() |
3. What are climate forcings and how do they impact the Earth's climate? | ![]() |
4. How do receding glaciers serve as a symptom of global climate change? | ![]() |
5. What is the Global Warming Potential (GWP) and how is it calculated? | ![]() |