Even the slightest change in the global climatic system may not be tolerated by the millions of species of plants and animals, considering narrow range of requirements. Then, what would happen with the ongoing degree of changes in the global climatic system? Surely, will nothing happen but the never ending unwanted trail of destruction. So, be with me while exploring”climate change causes and impacts”.
Probably, the recent havoc created by massive floods in China, India, Germany, and other parts of world are the earlier symptoms of lethal infections. And, what would be result when the disease gets fully developed? Recently, everyone has witnessed that furry of nature via news and television. Isn’t it so alarming?
Important causes of climate change
First of all, let’s see some direct causes which have greater degree of impacts on destabilizing age old climatic system.
Large scale burning of fossil fuels and carbon emissions
As per the opinion of panel on climate change, the combustion of fossil fuels in the power generation and transportation contribute around 90 percent of the total carbon emissions. And, in near future, it is unavoidable or unstoppable. Because, most of our day to day activities are powered by fossil fuel. Further, there is hardly any alternative to such energy.
Explosion in demand for energy
Most importantly, though there are efforts being made to make available alternative energy option like wind, solar, nuclear energy, but the degree of demand by growing population and rising standard of living made fossil fuel compulsion.
In the recent decades, across the world energy consumption increased phenomenally. Barring the pandemic and financial crisis, energy consumption never been slowed in known history. Now onwards, it is projected to grow 1-2% annually.
Over dependence on fossil fuels and low share of renewable energy
Statistically, at the present, in the world, the share of thermal power is around 60 percent; whereas, the share of nuclear power is mere 10 percent according to the International Energy Agency.
Technically speaking, fossil fuels such as coal, gas, and, crude oil is used to generate thermal power. But, among them, coal constitutes 90% of thermal energy raw materials.
Unfortunately, the share of renewable energy is not more than the one-fourth of the total energy production.
In terms of transportation, still, there is no viable alternative to replace the huge consumption of petrol and diesel.
Mechanism of greenhouse effect
For further insight, it is equally important to know the much pronounced technical concept “Greenhouse Gas Effect”. In the layman’s understanding, among all the naturally occurring atmospheric gases, carbon dioxide has a special characteristic in terms of solar electromagnetic waves.
Carbon dioxide gas, for short electromagnetic waves, acts as a window and let’s go through to reach at the land surface. But, for long electromagnetic waves, carbon dioxide becomes opaque and inhibit the passing of such reverse radiation.
Hence, the long wave radiation from earth gets trapped in the same degree of insolation due to opaque nature of carbon dioxide for long wave radiation. Consequently, such physical phenomena badly impacts the important climatic system.
This is the reason why temperature of the globe rises in the same degree of this greenhouse effect.
Simply, carbon do not let the long wave radiation to escape as like the short waves. Whereby, temperature of the globe rises as per the concentration of carbon dioxide gas.
Impacts of climate change on environment and society
Clearly, temperature is a master factor of global climatic system that affect every sphere on the earth. Besides, at the same time, it is highly useful for the growth and survival of diverse flora and fauna.
Recently, by the means of IPCC reports, it is being proved that the rise in temperature is the potential cause of ongoing extremity of climatic phenomenon like growing intensity and frequencies of tropical cyclones, droughts, and floods across globe.
So far, we have witnessed that the nature of rainfall in all the natural regions has been drastically changing. Further, frequencies of droughts and consequent water scarcity has exposed the fragility of human lives in African as well as Asian nations.
Moreover, the large scale migration of endemic species is also a serious issue need to be considered seriously. Sea water temperature is no exception as it is rising constantly, making everything worse within and outside of the oceanic ecosystems.
Tropical cyclones, floods, droughts and challenge of food security
In the recent years, the intensity and frequencies of the cyclones, typhoons, and hurricanes in the tropical regions have increased considerably. Especially, the loss of lives and property is the great cause of concern in the particularly coastal regions. However, in mainland also the havoc of floods is alarming threatening very survival of human being.
Apart from tropical coastal regions, interior continental areas are facing challenges of severe droughts, water scarcity and malnutrition caused by crops failure. Being the master factor for foodgrain production, rising temperature may potentially affect the Agro-ecologoical regions badly in the highly sensitive zones.
On the other hand, in the monsoonal heartland, particularly in India, heavy, sudden rainfall caused unbearable pain and suffering for innocent lives. Almost southern and western part of Indian peninsula has been largely affected in the ongoing rainy season.
Most surprisingly, this is the region which witnessed worst drought and water scarcity in the summer just before two months.
Even today, drinking water is being supplied by tankers in the regions of Maharashtra, Telangana, and other states in early summer but same regions are almost washed away by deadly floods and torrential rain in rainy season. Really, exploring climate change causes and impacts in one go hardly possible. So, wait for next.
Last thought on climate change causes and impacts
In short, we have learnt climate change causes and impacts in the light of recent climatic incidents. As I mentioned earlier that global warming is a gradual process and it takes long period to be visible. Likewise, remedial measures will not yield quick results, and not to get discouraged soon.
Most shockingly, the consensus to reduce greenhouse gases emission is yet to be reached at the global level. In this situation, no one is ready to sacrifice anything for collective interests. But, one thing is unavoidable that innocent lives have to face the fury of nature until the healing process of nature begins seriously..
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