Sahil Kishore
Change in the earth temperature is not a new phenomenon, various forces have influenced earth to rise or drop its temperature due to subtle shift in its orbit since the existence of this planet. But in the past centuries we are observing a dramatic increase in its temperature because of a new force that is humanity. Before any concrete steps are initiated to right this malfunctioning it becomes important for common people like you and me to understand some basic theme of this phenomenon. Answering some fundamental questions can help people to understand this concept in a more polished way, What is Global warming? How do the current events of warming can be compared with the previous trends of earth temperature? How can we be so sure that only the greenhouse gases which are released are responsible for warming? How much more the earth is expected to heat up in coming days and what will be consequences of this? Is there any permanent solution for the global warming? This article is an attempt to touch upon these questions to make an individual understand this phenomenon is a more realistic way.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) which is the most credible and recognised agency in aerospace and aeronautic research defines Global Warming as “It is the unusually rapid increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature over the past century primarily due to greenhouse gases released as people burn fossil fuels”. Since 1800’s scantiest have subsequently taken in record the changing trends of the earth temperature. According to Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) the earth temperature has risen by 0.8p C over the last century and is expected to further increase to (1.133- 6.42p C) over the next 100 years if current trends are followed. According to the NASA report most of the leading scientific organization of the world has confirmed that Global Warming is no more a dream or alleged concept, it is a patent truth. The organisation has further added that the current trend of the atmospheric change is not a natural process, it is solely created by the undue interference by the humanity, and these concepts were made clear in a major climate report which was released on 27-Sept-2013 by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in which 97 percent of the leading climate change scientist have given their attestation to these finding.
Green house effect can be understood in a very simple way let me explain: Sun which the fundamental source of energy on earth emits heat radiations, when these radiations reaches earth some part is absorbed by the surface and most of the radiations are reflected back, these reflected radiations are further entrapped by the life supporting gases in the atmosphere, and atmosphere then keeps radiating this heat back on earth to maintain average 15p C temperature is which is the life supporting temperature. So greenhouse effect is the healthiest process in the life cycle, if there are no green house gases or if we delete green house effect we will be shifting back to ice ages. But today when we think about green house effect we are surrounded by negative vibes because humans who are so much habitual of experimenting are in a constant attempt to challenge the forces of nature, they are so much blinded in self ego that they are forgetting the basic law of existence. The mother nature is constantly giving us signals to revert our attitude, For Example in the Montan’s Glacier National park which was once the home 150 glaciers and today only 25 such glaciers are left, The global temperature has risen (7.8p C) since 1880, The ice of the arctic is decreasing at the rate of 13.3% every decade, land ice is decreasing at the rate of 258 billion tons every year and sea level is rising 0.12 inch per year. All these facts are enough to satisfy any individual that we are heading towards self destruction. The effect of global warming is not just increase in earth’s temperature, it may be very convenient for some of us to visualise ourselves sitting inside an air conditioned rooms without bothering the outside temperature, if you are one of them then let me tell you a bitter truth. Rise in temperature will be supplemented with unseasonal rain, more extreme tornados, more resistant microbes, famines, droughts, more extreme floods and tsunamis, less land for existence, more stress of population in specific areas and many more disasters which are not yet calculated.
The addressal of global warming is not yet clear. There is no such technique or device which can act as a magic wand that can reverse this. The majority of scientists believe that we are left with only two options, either to reduce the green house gases by stabilising the gases with the use of more energy efficient techniques and alternate sources of energy or by start teaching ourselves the adaptability techniques to get adapt in the changing trends. The latter option is not reliable and will be the function of basic theory of life which is “Survival of the fittest”. On the other hand there is a group of thinkers which believe that we should leave this issue to Mother Nature and they are confidant in themselves that mother nature will deal with this as she had been dealing since her existence. This theory is bit selfish and over optimistic with only 50% probability
We have to understand that main source of green house gasses is dependent on three major functions which are Population, Energy needs, Energy Efficiency. The population and energy needs will no doubt be increasing constantly till next 100 years, so are left with one option that is energy efficiency and proper use of energy. If we will work hard on this factor and be able to generate a source which is 100% percent energy efficient with respect to emission of green house gases, we will be able nullify this factor and can possibly bring down green house emissions to zero. This theory is known as Kaya identity and was reviewed in scientific literature in year 2002,and this theory was in news both in national and the international media when founder of Microsoft group Mr. Bill Gates stressed upon this theory recently. If we are able to revert the carbon dioxide emissions to zero it will be no less than a miracle.
So before concluding this I would like to request the readers to keep a serious note on this and be a contributor to save the planet and to save our mother land. We shall think forward and only positive attitude could help us to sail this ocean of fire. We shall be pious in our deeds and we shall learn from our mistakes. Let’s pledge to think for a change and to mend our attitude. Mother Nature has given us everything; it’s time to gift her back. This mother’s day that is on 8th may 2016 let’s help our align Mother Nature in any form we can and assure her that we are still there to hold her hand. Let’s gift her healthy life.
(The author is a Civil Engineer)
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