Abstract
This paper is dedicated to researching the problem of global warming and its effect on the environment. Scholarly literature on the topic was employed in order to retrieve information about global warming and climate change. Several definitions for the concept of global warming were provided, andalso the connection between the increased average temperature and changes in climate of the Earth was overviewed. The issue of draughting, as it has a large impact on the environment, was investigating as well by referencing academic literature. Several recommendations for mitigating effects of global warming on climate change are provided. A comprehensive conclusion, which summarizes the principal aspects of the paper, is also included.
Introduction
It could be stated with certainty that the environment of the Earth is the subject to a continuous impact induced by the rapid development of various technologies. It is widely recognized in the academic literature that this impact could largely be defined as negative, as the vast majority of technological influence on the environment refers to pollution, resource overuse, and other issues. One of the most discussed problems related to current environmental problems is global warming. This paper aims to research scholarly literature on the topic in order to prove that the human race is largely responsible for global warming and climate change rather than considering it to be a natural course of existence. Additionally, possible means of mitigating the negative effects of global warming will be discussed.
The Overview of the Problem
First of all, it is essential to generally overview the problem. In the study by Kaur, Kaur, and Dhawan (2017), global warming is defined as “the effect on the climate of human activities, in particular the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) and large-scale deforestation which cause emissions to the atmosphere” of large amount of greenhouse gases, in particular, carbon dioxide (p. 140). This definition is considerably comprehensive. However, to extend the knowledge on the topic, it is possible to cite Trenberth et al. (2014), who define global warming as “human-induced climate change from increased CO2 and other heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere” (p. 17). Thus, it could be concluded that the human race is primarily responsible for the process of global warming, and carbon dioxide emissions appear to be the essential driving factor.
The Connection between Global Warming and Climate Change
Based on the provided definitions, it is apparent that global warming primarily affects changes in the climate of the Earth. According to the study by Kaur et al. (2017), climate change refers to a set of adverse processes in the environment, which are provoked by global warming. Among various manifestations of climate change, it is possible to exemplify the following: increased atmospheric moisture demand, the drying of the soil, and a negative impact on species ranges and ecological dynamics (Kaur et al., 2017). The average temperature has increased significantly over the past century, which influences the growing speed of ice melting. In general, climate change affects nearly every aspect of the environment negatively.
The Impact of Global Warming on Drought
It is essential to focus more particularly on the problem of drying caused by global warming. The study by Trenberth et al. (2014) states that climate change has a vast impact on drought changes. The authors provide several definitions for the concept of drought, observing that it is a “prolonged absence or marked deficiency of precipitation,” “deficiency of precipitation that results in water shortage for some activity or for some group,” as well as the “period of abnormally dry weather sufficiently prolonged for the lack of precipitation to cause a serious hydrological imbalance” (Trenberth et al., 2014, p. 17). One of the primary findings of the research is that global warming does not directly cause droughts; however, the increased average temperature will cause droughts to set quicker and be more intense.
What Could Be Done to Mitigate Climate Change?
Despite the fact that global warming and climate change have a considerably vast and prolonged influence on the environment, it is possible to develop strategies for mitigation. For example, the study by Dominguez-Ramos, Singh, Zhang, Hertwich, and Irabien (2015) suggests that the utilization of captured carbon dioxide for electrochemical reduction can be an efficient approach to reducing the negative effects of global warming. Also, Trenberth et al. (2014) recommend that more countries should make their precipitation data available for research purposes so that scientists have a more extended opportunity to investigate droughts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is essential to state that global warming appears to be one of the most dangerous processes affecting climate change and the overall state of the environment. This paper overviewed the general notion of global warming in the context of climate change. The problem of droughts, which is largely connected with the paper’s subject matter, was also observed. Based on the recommendations from the academic literature, several insights about how to mitigate negative effects of global warming were provided. In overall, it is apparent that the impact of the human race on the aggravation of the environment is significant. It is argued that a collective effort of numerous countries across the world is needed for the effective combating of the global warming problem.
References
Dominguez-Ramos, A., Singh, B., Zhang, X., Hertwich, E. G., & Irabien, A. (2015). Global warming footprint of the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to formate. Journal of Cleaner Production, 104, 148-155.
Kaur, A., Kaur, M., & Dhawan, P. (2017). Global warming leads climate change. International Journal of Innovate Research in Science and Engineering, 3(3), 140-143.
Trenberth, K. E., Dai, A., Van Der Schrier, G., Jones, P. D., Barichivich, J., Briffa, K. R., & Sheffield, J. (2014). Global warming and changes in drought. Nature Climate Change, 4(1), 17-22.