Introduction
Global warming refers to the long-term changes in weather patterns and temperatures. Although the changes may be natural, human activities have been the primary drivers of global warming. Some human activities that contribute to global warming include the burning of fossil fuels, such as gas, oil, and coal, which release heat-trapping gases.
Global warming is closely linked to climate change and its impact on the Earth’s weather patterns. Burning fossil fuels significantly contributes to the release of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide. Although there are many causes of global warming, the current rise in the Earth’s average temperature is primarily attributed to human activities.
Immediate Causes
Deforestation, or cutting down trees, is one of the immediate causes of global warming. In this case, cutting down forests depletes the Earth of the much-needed cover that regulates the temperatures. People cut down trees to create more land for livestock farming, agricultural use (such as farming), or other purposes (Bergquist et al., 2022). Such deforestation leads to an ecological imbalance due to the harmful emissions it releases into the atmosphere. When trees are cut down, they release the carbon dioxide that they have been storing in their tissues. Ecologically, forests play a leading role in absorbing carbon dioxide, and deforestation only limits the ability of nature to keep harmful emissions out of the atmosphere.
Power generation can also cause climate change today. For example, generating heat and electricity by burning fossil fuels, such as natural gas, oil, and coal, leads to numerous harmful global emissions (Bergquist et al., 2022). When electricity is generated, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere, forming a layer that traps the sun’s heat.
Most of the world’s electricity is generated using fossil fuels, with only a small fraction coming from solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources. According to the United Nations (UN), energy is at the epicenter of the climate change challenge. Therefore, generating power creates enormous problems for the globe through global warming.
Transportation is also a significant contributor to global warming. In today’s world, various transport modes, such as planes, ships, cars, and lorries, use fossil fuels. It is one of the primary contributors to greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide emissions. In this case, road motor vehicles such as cars, lorries, and buses account for the most significant emissions (Bergquist et al., 2022).
However, emissions from planes and ships continue to grow significantly. In most developed nations, personal transport is the lifestyle for most people, which causes considerable pollution. The present roadways are clogged with vehicles that primarily burn fossil fuels, resulting in significant pollution and climate change.
Remote Causes
In many cases, harmful human activities to the environment lead to an ecological imbalance. Such an imbalance causes an increase in atmospheric temperature, leading to global warming. One of the remote causes of global warming is the melting of ice, which is triggered by rising temperatures resulting from an ecological imbalance in the environment (Bergquist et al., 2022). The melting of ice in Antarctica leads to warmer water temperatures. As a result, ice growth is delayed in the winter and fall seasons. In addition, the ice also melts faster in spring, further significantly contributing to global warming by exposing ocean waters for longer in summer.
As an indirect cause of global warming, the quantity of sea ice disrupts the amount available in the oceans. Changes in that amount disrupt the conventional ocean circulation, which plays a relevant part in regulating the Earth’s atmospheric temperature (Bergquist et al., 2022). Therefore, changes in ice quantities lead to changes in the global climate, resulting in climate change. This phenomenon makes the polar regions, such as the Arctic and Antarctica, the most sensitive to global warming.
The sudden increase in sea and ocean levels is also a contributing factor to global warming. When water levels in oceans and seas increase, it submerges the low-lying areas adjacent to the coastline (Bergquist et al., 2022). Consequently, those areas that are flooded further contribute to global warming. During high tides or storms, there is a high likelihood of water flooding into homes and streets, potentially leading to pollution. Such pollution, because of flooding, will further contribute to global warming and climate change.
Conclusion
In conclusion, global warming poses a serious threat because of the lasting shifts it causes in global temperatures and weather systems. While natural factors play a role, human activities are the primary driver of this crisis. Immediate contributors include deforestation, power generation, and transportation. For instance, cutting down forests disrupts the ecosystem and releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide, which accelerates climate change. The long-term effects of this warming include the melting of glaciers, a reduction in sea ice, and rapidly rising sea levels, which ultimately force coastal populations to relocate.
References
Bergquist, P., Marlon, J. R., Goldberg, M. H., Gustafson, A., Rosenthal, S. A., & Leiserowitz, A. (2022). Information about the human causes of global warming influences causal attribution, concern, and policy support related to global warming. Thinking & Reasoning, 28(3), 465–486. Web.