About global warming and the serious economic, social and environmental problems associated with it . Behind last years A great deal of news and information has been published on this subject. But latest news, perhaps, turned out to be the “coolest” of all. A group of scientists from the USA, France and Great Britain said that we have already passed the point of no return and the catastrophic consequences of global warming on Earth can no longer be stopped.
Global warming is a process of gradually increasing average annual temperature atmosphere of the Earth and the World Ocean (definition according to Wikipedia). There are several causes of global warming and they are associated with cyclical fluctuations solar activity(solar cycles) and economic activity person. Today it is impossible to determine with absolute certainty which of them is dominant. Most scientists are inclined to believe that the main reason for this is human activity (the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels). Some scientists strongly disagree and believe that the total human influence is small, and the main reason is high solar activity. Moreover, they even claim that a new Little Ice Age will begin soon after the current warming.
Personally, in this situation, it is difficult for me to accept any one point of view, since none of them today has sufficiently complete scientific evidence. And yet, the problem is serious, we need to react to it somehow and we can’t stay away. In my opinion, even if supporters of the anthropogenic (human) factor as the main cause of global warming turn out to be wrong in the future, then the efforts and resources spent today to prevent this warming will not be in vain. They will be more than paid for by new technologies and attentive attitude of people towards nature conservation.
What is the essence of global warming? The essence is the so-called “greenhouse” effect. In the Earth's atmosphere there is a certain balance of heat intake (solar rays) from the Sun and its release into space. The composition of the atmosphere has big influence to this balance. More precisely, the amount of so-called greenhouse gases (primarily carbon dioxide and methane, although water vapor is also a greenhouse gas). These gases have the ability to retain Sun rays(heat) in the atmosphere, preventing them from escaping back into space. Previously, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 0.02%. However, as industry grew and the production and burning of coal, oil and natural gas increased, the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere constantly increased. Because of this, more heat has been absorbed, which gradually warms the planet’s atmosphere. Forest and steppe fires also contribute to this. This is what concerns human activity. Mechanism cosmic influence I'll leave it for the next article.
What are the consequences of global warming? Like any phenomenon, global warming has both negative and positive consequences. It is believed that in northern countries it will become warmer, so it will be easier in winter, agricultural yields will increase, southern cultures(plants) will be cultivated further north. However, scientists are confident that negative consequences global warming will be much greater and the losses from them will significantly exceed the benefits. That is, humanity as a whole will suffer from global warming.
What kind of troubles can be expected from global warming?
- An increase in the number and strength of destructive typhoons and hurricanes;
- Increase in the number and duration of droughts, worsening water shortage problems;
- From the melting of glaciers in the Arctic and Antarctic, rising sea levels and flooding of coastal areas where many people live;
- Death of taiga forests due to thawing permafrost and destruction of cities built on this permafrost;
- Spread to the north and into the highlands of a number of species - pests of agricultural and forestry and disease vectors.
- Changes in the Arctic and Antarctic could change circulation ocean currents, and therefore the entire hydro- and atmosphere of the Earth.
This is in general outline. In any case, global warming is a problem that will affect all people, regardless of where they live and what they do. That is why it is today the most widely discussed in the world, not only among scientists, but by the public.
Discussions and different points There are many views on this matter. Personally, I was most impressed by the film by Al Gore (former US presidential candidate in the campaign in which he ran alongside George W. Bush) “An Inconvenient Truth.” It clearly and convincingly reveals the causes of global warming and shows its Negative consequences for people. The main conclusion made in the film is that momentary political interests narrow ruling groups of people must give way to the long-term interests of all human civilization.
In any case, a lot needs to be done in order to, if not stop, then at least mitigate the negative consequences of global warming. And the publication below is to think about this once again.
(Continuation )
Georgy Kozulko
Belovezhskaya Pushcha
(Write your reviews, thoughts, ideas, questions, comments or disagreements in the comments below (anonymous users sometimes need to write in a separate window when sending a comment enter the code English text from the picture) or send to my email address: [email protected])
Catastrophic climate change can no longer be stopped
The best world scientists believe that in the near future, humanity will face the expansion of deserts, declining crop yields, increasing hurricane strength, and the disappearance of mountain glaciers that provide water to hundreds of millions of people.
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere has already reached the point after which catastrophic climate change will begin, even if the amount of carbon dioxide can be reduced in the coming decades.
This is stated by a group of famous scientists from the USA, France and Great Britain in an article published in the Open Atmospheric Science Journal.
This study contradicts previous estimates, according to which dangerous concentrations of carbon dioxide will be reached only later this century, RIA Novosti reports.
“The silver lining to this finding is that if we take action to reduce carbon dioxide levels, we can reduce problems that already seem inevitable,” said lead study author James Hansen, director of the Goddard Institute for Space Exploration, part of Columbia University.
According to the scientist, humanity will face expanding deserts, declining crop yields, increasing hurricane strength, shrinking coral reefs and the disappearance of mountain glaciers that provide water to hundreds of millions of people.
To prevent dramatic warming in the coming years, the researchers write, carbon dioxide concentrations must be reduced to pre-industrial era levels of 350 parts per million (0.035%). Currently, carbon dioxide concentrations are 385 ppm and increasing by 2 ppm (0.0002%) per year, mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
The authors of the article note that the latest data on history climate change on Earth reinforce their conclusions. In particular, observations of the melting of glaciers that previously reflected solar radiation, and the release of carbon dioxide from thawing permafrost and the ocean show that these processes, which were previously thought to be quite slow, may occur over decades rather than thousands of years.
Scientists note that reducing emissions from coal combustion can significantly improve the situation.
At the same time, they are skeptical of geoengineering methods for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, in particular, proposals to bury carbon dioxide in tectonic cracks or inject it into rocks on the ocean floor. According to them, removing 50 ppm of gas using this technology would cost at least $20 trillion, which is twice the US national debt.
“Humanity today faces the inconvenient fact that industrial civilization is becoming the main factor influencing climate. The most great danger in this situation there is ignorance and denial, which can make tragic consequences inevitable,” the researchers write.
Article about global warming. What is happening in the world now on a global scale, what consequences may be due to global warming. At times it is worth looking at what WE have brought the world to.
What is global warming?
Global warming is a slow and gradual increase in the average temperature on our planet, which is currently being observed. Global warming is a fact, it is pointless to argue with it, and that is why it is necessary to approach it soberly and objectively.
Causes of global warming
According to scientific data, global warming can be caused by many factors:
Volcanic eruptions;
Behavior of the World Ocean (typhoons, hurricanes, etc.);
Solar Activity;
Earth's magnetic field;
Human activity. So-called anthropogenic factor. The idea is supported by the majority of scientists, public organizations and the media, which does not mean its unshakable truth.
Most likely, it will turn out that each of these components contributes to global warming.
What is the greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect has been observed by any of us. In greenhouses the temperature is always higher than outside; The same thing happens in a closed car on a sunny day. On a scale Globe all the same. Some of the solar heat received by the Earth's surface cannot escape back into space, since the atmosphere acts like polyethylene in a greenhouse. No greenhouse effect average temperature The surface of the Earth should be about -18°C, but in reality it is about +14°C. How much heat remains on the planet directly depends on the composition of the air, which changes under the influence of the factors described above (What causes global warming?); namely, the content of greenhouse gases changes, which include water vapor (responsible for more than 60% of the effect), carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide), methane (causes the most warming) and a number of others.
Coal-fired power plants, car exhaust, factory chimneys and other human-made pollution sources together emit about 22 billion tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere each year. Livestock farming, fertilizer use, coal combustion and other sources produce about 250 million tons of methane per year. About half of all greenhouse gases emitted by humanity remain in the atmosphere. About three-quarters of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions over the past 20 years have been caused by the use of oil, natural gas and coal. Much of the rest is caused by changes in the landscape, primarily deforestation.
What facts prove global warming?
Rising temperatures
Temperatures have been documented for about 150 years. It is generally accepted that it has risen by about 0.6°C over the past century, although there is still no clear methodology for determining this parameter, and there is also no confidence in the adequacy of data from a century ago. They say that warming has been sharp since 1976, the beginning of rapid industrial human activity and reached its maximum acceleration in the second half of the 90s. But even here there are discrepancies between ground-based and satellite observations.
Rising sea levels
As a result of warming and melting of glaciers in the Arctic, Antarctica and Greenland, the water level on the planet has risen by 10-20 cm, possibly more.
Melting glaciers
Well, what can I say, global warming really is the cause of the melting of glaciers, and photographs will confirm this better than words.
The Uppsala Glacier in Patagonia (Argentina) was one of the largest glaciers South America, but is now disappearing at a rate of 200 meters per year.
The Rown Glacier, Valais, Switzerland has risen 450 meters.
Portage Glacier in Alaska.
1875 photo courtesy H. Slupetzky/University of Salzburg Pasterze.
The relationship between global warming and world disasters
Methods for predicting global warming
Global warming and its development are predicted mainly using computer models, based on collected data on temperature, carbon dioxide concentration and much more. Of course, the accuracy of such forecasts leaves much to be desired and, as a rule, does not exceed 50%, and the further scientists aim, the less likely the prediction will come true.
Ultra-deep drilling of glaciers is also used to obtain data; sometimes samples are taken from depths of up to 3000 meters. This ancient ice stores information about temperature, solar activity, intensity magnetic field The lands of that time. The information is used for comparison with current indicators.
What measures are being taken to stop global warming?
A broad consensus among climate scientists that global temperatures will continue to rise has led to a number of governments, corporations and individuals attempting to prevent or adapt to global warming. Many environmental organizations advocate for action against climate change, mainly by consumers, but also at municipal, regional and government levels. Some also advocate limiting global fossil fuel production, citing the direct link between fuel combustion and CO2 emissions.
Today, the main global agreement to combat global warming is the Kyoto Protocol (agreed in 1997, entered into force in 2005), an addition to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The protocol includes more than 160 countries and covers about 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
European Union should reduce emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases by 8%, the USA - by 7%, Japan - by 6%. Thus it is assumed that the main objective- reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 5% over the next 15 years will be achieved. But this will not stop global warming, but will only slow down its growth slightly. And this is in best case scenario. So, we can conclude that serious measures to prevent global warming are not being considered or taken.
Global Warming Figures and Facts
One of the most visible processes associated with global warming is the melting of glaciers.
Over the past half century, temperatures in southwest Antarctica, on the Antarctic Peninsula, have increased by 2.5°C. In 2002, an iceberg with an area of over 2,500 km broke off from the Larsen Ice Shelf with an area of 3,250 km and a thickness of over 200 meters, located on the Antarctic Peninsula, which actually means the destruction of the glacier. The entire destruction process took only 35 days. Before this, the glacier remained stable for 10 thousand years, since the end of the last ice age. Over thousands of years, the thickness of the glacier decreased gradually, but in the second half of the 20th century, the rate of its melting increased significantly. The melting of the glacier led to the release large quantity icebergs (over a thousand) in the Weddell Sea.
Other glaciers are also being destroyed. Thus, in the summer of 2007, an iceberg 200 km long and 30 km wide broke off from the Ross Ice Shelf; a little earlier, in the spring of 2007, an ice field 270 km long and 40 km wide broke away from the Antarctic continent. The accumulation of icebergs prevents the release of cold waters from the Ross Sea, which leads to a disruption in the ecological balance (one of the consequences, for example, is the death of penguins, who were unable to reach their usual food sources due to the fact that the ice in the Ross Sea lasted longer than usual).
An acceleration of the process of permafrost degradation has been noted.
Since the beginning of the 1970s, the temperature of permafrost soils in Western Siberia has increased by 1.0°C, in central Yakutia - by 1-1.5°C. In northern Alaska, temperatures in the upper permafrost layer have increased by 3°C since the mid-1980s.
What impact will global warming have on the world around us?
Will greatly affect the lives of some animals. For example, polar bears, seals and penguins will be forced to change their habitats, as the current ones will simply melt away. Many species of animals and plants may simply disappear without having time to adapt to a rapidly changing environment. Will change the weather on a global scale. An increase in the number of climate disasters is expected; longer periods of extremely hot weather; there will be more rain, but the likelihood of drought will increase in many regions; increased flooding due to hurricanes and rising sea levels. But it all depends on the specific region.
in the report working group The Intergovernmental Commission on Climate Change (Shanghai, 2001) presents seven models of climate change in the 21st century. The main conclusions made in the report are the continuation of global warming, accompanied by an increase in greenhouse gas emissions (although, according to some scenarios, by the end of the century, as a result of bans on industrial emissions, a decline in greenhouse gas emissions is possible); increase in surface air temperature (to end of XXI century, an increase in surface temperature of 6°C is possible); rising sea levels (on average by 0.5 m per century).
The most likely changes in weather factors include increased precipitation; higher maximum temperatures, an increase in the number of hot days and a decrease in the number of frosty days in almost all regions of the Earth; at the same time, heat waves will become more frequent in most continental areas; reduction of temperature spread.
As a consequence of these changes, we can expect stronger winds and an increase in intensity tropical cyclones(a general tendency towards intensification was noted back in the 20th century), an increase in the frequency of heavy precipitation, a noticeable expansion of drought areas.
The Intergovernmental Commission has identified a number of areas that are most vulnerable to expected climate change. This is the Sahara region, the Arctic, mega-deltas of Asia, small islands.
Negative changes in Europe include increased temperatures and increased droughts in the south (resulting in a decrease water resources and a decrease in hydroelectric power generation, a decrease in agricultural production, a deterioration in tourism conditions), a reduction snow cover and retreat of mountain glaciers, increasing the risk of severe floods and catastrophic river floods; increased summer precipitation in Central and Eastern Europe, increased frequency of forest fires, fires on peatlands, reduction in forest productivity; increasing soil instability in Northern Europe. In the Arctic - a catastrophic decrease in the area of glaciation, a reduction in the area of sea ice, and increased coastal erosion.
Some researchers (for example, P. Schwartz and D. Randell) offer a pessimistic forecast, according to which already in the first quarter of the 21st century a sharp jump in climate in an unforeseen direction is possible, and the consequence could be the onset of a new ice age lasting hundreds of years.
How will global warming affect humans?
Scared by shortage drinking water, increasing number infectious diseases, problems in agriculture due to droughts. But in long term expects nothing other than human evolution. Our ancestors faced a more serious problem when temperatures rose sharply by 10°C after the end of the Ice Age, but this is what led to the creation of our civilization. Otherwise they would probably still be hunting mammoths with spears.
Of course, this is not a reason to pollute the atmosphere with anything, because in the short term we will have bad times. Global warming is an issue in which you need to follow the call of common sense and logic, not fall for cheap stories and not follow the lead of the majority, because history knows many examples when the majority was very deeply mistaken and did a lot of trouble, even burning great minds, who ultimately turned out to be right.
Global warming is modern theory relativity, the law of universal gravitation, the fact of the Earth’s rotation around the Sun, the sphericity of our planet during their presentation to the public, when opinions were also divided. Someone is definitely right. But who?
P.S.
Additionally on the topic “Global Warming”.
Greenhouse gas emissions by top oil-burning countries, 2000.
Forecasting the growth of arid areas caused by global warming. The simulation was performed on a supercomputer at the Institute space research them. Goddard (NASA, GISS, USA).
Consequences of global warming.
For years, the debate over whether global warming is a myth or a reality has distracted us from the hard facts. Although many are still ambivalent about this problem, it can no longer be denied that global warming is a real problem caused by the careless actions and harmful influence of people. Here are a number of facts that will help everyone understand the seriousness and danger of the current situation for the future of our planet.
More than 90% of scientists recognize the real threat of global warming
Despite the enormous evidence base, people still continue to doubt the threat of global warming. However, the overwhelming majority of scientists recognize not only its reality, but also its inevitability.
Since the mid-20th century, humans have been the main cause of climate change
What scientists today call anthropogenic warming is the result of the harmful influence of humans on the environment and, in particular, the atmosphere of our planet.
Numerous local weather changes are a result of overall global warming
The result of global warming directly depends on the specific climate. In some places it rains more, in others, on the contrary, frequent droughts occur. But these are all different consequences of the same problem.
The greenhouse effect traps solar energy in the atmosphere
The sun's energy heats the earth, which is good, but our atmosphere and the surface of the world's oceans have the reflective properties necessary to avoid overheating. Greenhouse gases reduce the reflectivity of the atmosphere and trap solar energy, preventing it from escaping into space.
The US, China and India produce the most greenhouse gases
Being developed or intensively developing countries with rich industry, these states are responsible for most of the greenhouse gases that negatively affect the atmosphere.
Global warming is increasing the temperature of the world's oceans
The increase in the Earth's temperature is most noticeable in the waters of the world's oceans and poses a huge danger for them.
Over 30 years, the earth's temperature has increased by 0.5 °C
It may seem like a small change, but our planet is a fragile, interconnected ecosystem where even the slightest changes can greatly affect its harmony.
Global warming is a reality you can't escape from
The main danger of climate change is that rising ocean temperatures cause Arctic and Antarctic glaciers to melt; this raises sea levels. For those who want to challenge the reality of global warming, sea levels have risen 15 cm in the last 100 years.
People living in coastal areas are at risk
A significant part of the world's population lives in areas below sea level. In addition, melting ice reduces fresh water supplies.
40% of greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere when generating electricity
Consuming more and more electricity radically increases greenhouse gas emissions.
It is impossible to accurately measure global warming
Weather changes are the result of a complex interaction between air, water and land surface temperatures. They are influenced by seasonal changes. In addition to the difficulty of measuring weather changes, another challenge is determining the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.
The effects of global warming will continue
Unfortunately, many people do not realize that man-made climate change is like a snowball, the longer it moves, the larger and faster it becomes. Even if the harmful influence of humans on the environment stops now, the effects of the harm caused will be felt for a long time.
Earth's temperature will remain high for hundreds of years
As proof of the snowball effect, even if we cut carbon emissions by 80%, the results will take centuries to show.
In the USA, the temperature increased by 1°C
Over the past 50 years, the average temperature in North America rose twice as high as the Earth's temperature during the same period.
An increase in temperature leads to an increase in humidity
The higher the temperature, the more evaporation, and therefore the more rain. But the scary thing is that precipitation will not fall evenly. While some regions will be flooded, others will suffer from drought.
The weather will become extreme
We expect abnormally high temperatures in summer and low temperatures in winter, as well as more frequent and destructive natural disasters.
Arctic wildlife will be the first to suffer
Already suffering. Melting ice wipes out species of living beings and their habitats from the face of the Earth. Get ready to say goodbye to polar bears.
Complete melting of ice is expected by 2030-2050
Despite the difficulty of forecasting weather and temperature changes, some scientists predict complete melting sea ice in the Arctic region in 2030-2050.
The global warming debate began in 1957
For more than 50 years, we have watched the debate evolve regarding the significance of temperature changes and human influence to the atmosphere.
Basic facts and theories about global warming were formulated 50 years ago
Planet Earth is unable to absorb and process the amount of carbon dioxide that we produce, a direct consequence of which is an increase in CO2 levels in the atmosphere. And we have known this since the middle of the last century.
Global warming is accelerating
The more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the more the environment and ecology of the planet changes. Melting eternal ice becomes an additional cause of CO2 emissions, and ongoing logging tropical forests reduces the planet’s ability to process harmful gases.
The ten warmest years on record have been since 2000.
The same snowball effect - every decade after the 70s was warmer than the previous one.
Many facts about climate change remain unknown
The earth's ecosystem is so complex and interconnected that it is impossible to study it completely using current limited technology, so our understanding of global warming is only partially available to us.
We started global warming, we must stop it
Today's picture of the future is bleak, but we can do everything we can to reduce the impact of global warming on the planet. Then, perhaps, future generations will be lucky enough to see the Earth as beautiful as we see it.
There are many groups and organizations opposing global warming
And they all need help and support. If you care about the future of the planet, then there are plenty of opportunities to change it for the better.
People began to talk about such a problem as global warming in the middle of the last century. Until now, this issue has been the subject of numerous discussions, the topic of international symposiums and the subjects of documentaries. Even a person far from environmental disciplines knows what global warming is. It is expressed in an increase in the average climate temperature over the past 100 years.
But is global warming as dangerous as scientists and the media make it out to be? When will it start? What changes will happen to the planet due to climate warming? What awaits humanity in the worst case? Is it capable global community solve the problem of global warming?
What indicates climate warming?
Documentary recording of temperature has been carried out for 150 years. Behind last century it increased by an average of 0.5°C. A sharp warming of the climate occurred in the 1970s, when industrial activity increased. Not only the air temperature, but also the water temperature has increased.
Global warming has led to an intense decrease in snow cover, melting and retreat of glaciers in Antarctica, Greenland and on high mountain peaks. The consequence of this was a rise in sea level by about 10 cm. These and other phenomena prove that global warming is a real environmental problem.
What caused the warming?
Global warming is directly related to the greenhouse effect. It consists of increasing the temperature lower layers atmosphere relative thermal radiation of the Earth. This phenomenon occurs due to water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and other gases that absorb and trap solar energy, contributing to heating earth's surface. The facts are that the main natural springs greenhouse gases are:
- Forest fires (during them, great amount carbon dioxide, moreover, is destroyed big number trees that convert it into oxygen through photosynthesis).
- Permafrost (from soil located in the area permafrost, methane is released).
- The world's oceans (reservoirs are the main source of steam).
- Volcanoes (when they erupt, a colossal amount of carbon dioxide is released).
- Fauna (organisms that exhale carbon dioxide significantly increase its concentration in the atmosphere).
However, on its own Greenhouse effect does not pose a threat - without it, the average temperature of the Earth would be -18°C. The point is that human activity over the past few decades has led to a significant increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases, and, consequently, to an increase in climate temperature.
There are a number of other hypotheses that explain the occurrence of global warming on Earth. Satellite data suggests that the rise in climate temperature is caused by increased solar activity, which is not typical for previous years. However, scientists do not have a complete understanding of the changes in the activity of the star to make specific conclusions public. Basic facts indicate that the causes of global warming lie precisely in anthropogenic activities.
Factors that significantly increase the concentration of greenhouse gases:
- Heavy industry (the main source of carbon dioxide emissions is the extraction and combustion of oil, gas and other minerals).
- Agriculture (when the soil is intensively fertilized and treated with insecticides, it releases nitrogen dioxide, a greenhouse gas).
- Deforestation (destruction of the “lungs of the planet” leads to an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide).
- Overpopulation (to meet the needs of the Earth's population, a huge amount of natural resources is required).
- Landfills ( most of no waste recycling, but is burned or buried, which leads to a fundamental change in the biological system).
Despite the fact that humans have significantly contributed to climate warming, some scientists still prefer to divide the causes of global warming into natural and anthropogenic.
What does the future hold for the planet?
Global warming will not only lead to a further increase in the temperature of the earth's surface, but also to other changes. As a result, greenhouse gas emissions will increase. The level of the World Ocean will rise by half a meter in 100 years, in addition, the salinity of the water will change. The air will become more humid. Precipitation will begin to fall more intensely, its distribution will change, and the threshold for maximum temperatures will increase. The melting of glaciers will accelerate.
Global warming will affect the course of weather phenomena: winds and cyclones will become stronger and more frequent. Natural disasters, for example, floods and hurricanes, will occur more regularly, and their scale will increase significantly.
Ecologists identify several regions of the earth that will be particularly affected by the effects of global warming:
- Sahara Desert;
- Antarctic;
- Deltas large rivers Asia;
- Small islands.
Less rain will fall in the tropics and subtropics. As a result of global warming, the Earth's arid regions and deserts will increase in area, and permafrost will move further north.
Habitats will shift due to climate warming biological species, which in turn will jeopardize the safety of living beings, there will be serious danger extinction of organisms.
One of the controversial consequences of global warming is global cooling. Changes in the density of ocean waters caused by climate warming will lead to the fact that the pattern of sea currents will become similar to that of the Ice Age.
An increase in the number of industrial enterprises, landfills and waste disposal, and the development of oil and gas fields will lead to an irreversible change in the composition of the Earth's air envelope.
According to the optimistic scenario, according to which greenhouse gas emissions will remain at the same level, a critical situation will occur on the planet in 300 years. Otherwise, irreversible consequences will be observed within 100 years.
Global warming will lead to changes not only in the biosphere, but also in economic activity and in society. The expansion of drought areas will lead to a reduction in cultivated areas, Agriculture will fall into decay. The developed countries will face the problem of hunger and lack of drinking water.
Is it possible for humans to solve the global warming problem?
No matter how pessimistic the scenarios for the development of global warming may be, humanity is still able to take measures to ensure that the Earth does not become like Venus. Two main directions in the fight against global warming are considered the most promising today:
- enhanced emissions reductions;
- use of environmental technologies.
However, it is not entirely clear which method will be more likely to avoid the catastrophic consequences of climate warming. Moreover, the effectiveness of both measures has been repeatedly questioned.
Radically reducing emissions will become increasingly difficult as economic activity increases developing countries. Ensuring rapid GDP growth requires enormous energetic resources, the source of which is oil, gas and coal. The burning of natural resources is the main cause of the release of large quantities of carbon dioxide. Due to the scale and financial costs, it is not possible to refurbish old industrial enterprises according to modern environmental standards. International agreements, in particular the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to control greenhouse gases, are failing.
The second direction to combat global warming is related to the use of bioengineering technologies. Currently, installations are being created to pump carbon dioxide into special mines. Scientists are working on creative solutions, such as using aerosols to change the reflectivity of the upper atmosphere to increase. Whether this will be effective is still unknown.
Combining the two methods in the future will make it possible to achieve best results. Improving converters and fuel combustion systems in cars will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also reduce pollution environment heavy metals. The use of alternative energy sources will help reduce emissions significantly, but this moment these technologies require large financial investments. An important fact What remains is that the production of solar panels and windmills also produces colossal emissions.
Smaller, but no less significant measures to eliminate global warming include:
- increase in green spaces;
- use of energy-saving devices and appliances;
- recycling;
- attracting public attention to the problem.
If international control and large-scale environmental projects seem far from Everyday life, then the above methods apply to all inhabitants of the planet. Bike ride and vegetarian diet it will not harm you (rather, it will be useful!), and the involvement and concern of those who call the Earth their home will help prevent the consequences of global warming. Just like people once with common effort“disturbed the natural balance, and now, if everyone is interested, it will be possible to avoid catastrophic changes.
Global warming caused by natural and anthropogenic reasons, is a truly large-scale problem of our time. A person should not remain indifferent to it and miss ways to prevent climate change!
This is an increase in the average temperature on Earth, which is recorded from late XIX century. Over land and ocean since the beginning of the 20th century, it has risen by an average of 0.8 degrees.
Scientists believe that by the end of the 21st century the temperature may rise by an average of 2 degrees (negative forecast - by 4 degrees).
But the increase is quite small, does it really affect anything?
All the climate changes that we experience are the consequences of global warming. This is what has happened on Earth over the past century.
- There are more hot days and fewer cold days on all continents.
- Global sea levels have risen by 14 centimeters. The area of glaciers is shrinking, they are melting, the water is being desalinated, and the movement of ocean currents is changing.
- As temperatures rose, the atmosphere began to hold more moisture. This has led to more frequent and powerful storms, especially in North America and Europe.
- In some regions of the world (Mediterranean, West Africa) there are more droughts, in others (the midwestern United States, northwestern Australia), on the contrary, there are fewer of them.
What caused global warming?
Additional release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere: methane, carbon dioxide, water vapor, ozone. They absorb long waves of infrared radiation without releasing them into space. Because of this, a greenhouse effect is formed on Earth.
Global warming has caused rapid development industry. The more emissions from enterprises, the more active deforestation is (and they absorb carbon dioxide), the more greenhouse gases accumulate. And the more the Earth warms up.
What could all this lead to?
Scientists predict that further global warming can intensify processes that are destructive to people, trigger droughts, floods, and the rapid spread of dangerous diseases.
- Due to rising sea levels, many settlements located in the coastal zone will be flooded.
- The consequences of storms will become more global.
- Rainy seasons will become longer, leading to more flooding.
- The duration of dry periods will also increase, which threatens severe droughts.
- Tropical cyclones will become stronger: wind speeds will be higher and precipitation will be heavier.
- The combination of elevated temperatures and drought will make it difficult to grow some crops.
- Many species of animals will migrate to maintain their familiar habitats. Some of them may disappear completely. For example, ocean acidification, which absorbs carbon dioxide (emitted by burning fossil fuels), kills oysters and Coral reefs, worsens the living conditions of predators.
Are hurricanes Harvey and Irma also caused by global warming?
According to one version, in the formation destructive hurricanes Arctic warming is to blame. It created an atmospheric “blockade” - it slowed down the circulation of jet streams in the atmosphere. Because of this, powerful “sedentary” storms formed, absorbing huge amounts of moisture. But there is no sufficient evidence for this theory yet.
Many climatologists rely on the Clapeyron-Clausius equation, according to which an atmosphere with a higher temperature contains more moisture, and therefore conditions arise for the formation of more powerful storms. The water temperature in the ocean where Harvey formed is about 1 degree above average.
Hurricane Irma formed in approximately the same way. The process started in warm waters off the coast West Africa. In 30 hours, the elements intensified to the third category (and then to the highest, fifth). Meteorologists recorded such a rate of formation for the first time in two decades.
Is it really possible that what was described in the film “The Day After Tomorrow” awaits us?
Scientists believe that such hurricanes may become the norm. True, instant global cooling, as in the film, climatologists have not yet predicted.
The first place in the top five major global risks for 2017, announced at the World Economic Forum, has already been taken by extreme weather conditions. 90% of the largest economic losses in the world today come from floods, hurricanes, showers, hail, drought.
Okay, but given global warming, why was this summer in Russia so cold?
It does not interfere. Scientists have developed a model that explains this.
Global warming has led to increased temperatures in the Arctic Ocean region. The ice began to actively melt, the circulation of air flows changed, and with them the seasonal patterns of atmospheric pressure distribution changed.
Previously, the weather in Europe was made by the Arctic Oscillation with the seasonal Azores High (area high pressure) and the Icelandic minimum. Between these two areas there was formed West wind who brought warm air from the Atlantic.
But due to rising temperatures, the difference in pressure between the Azores high and the Icelandic low has narrowed. Air masses more and more often they began to move not from west to east, but along meridians. Arctic air can penetrate deep into the south and bring cold temperatures.
Should residents of Russia pack an emergency bag in case of something like Harvey?
If you wish, . He who is forewarned is forearmed. This summer, hurricanes have been recorded in many Russian cities, the likes of which have not been seen in the last 100 years.
According to Roshydromet, in 1990–2000, 150–200 dangerous hydrometeorological phenomena that caused damage were recorded in our country. Today their number exceeds 400, and the consequences are becoming more devastating.
Global warming is not only manifested in climate change. For several years, scientists from the Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics named after A. A. Trofimuk have been warning about the danger for cities and towns in northern Russia.
Huge craters have formed here, from which explosive methane can be released.
Previously, these craters were heaving mounds: an underground “storage” of ice. But due to global warming they melted. The voids were filled with gas hydrates, the release of which was like an explosion.
A further increase in temperature may worsen the process. It poses a particular danger to Yamal and the cities located close to it: Nadym, Salekhard, Novy Urengoy.
Can global warming be stopped?
Yes, if completely rebuilt energy system. Today, about 87% of the world's energy comes from fossil fuels (oil, coal, gas).
To reduce emissions, you need to use low-carbon energy sources: wind, sun, geothermal processes (occurring in the bowels of the earth).
Another way is to develop carbon capture, where carbon dioxide is captured from emissions from power plants, oil refineries and other industries and injected underground.
What prevents you from doing this?
There are a number of reasons for this: political (defending the interests of certain companies), technological (alternative energy is considered too expensive) and others.
The most active “producers” of greenhouse gases are China, the USA, EU countries, India, and Russia.
If emissions can be reduced significantly, there is a chance to stop global warming at 1 degree.
But if there are no changes, the average temperature could rise by 4 degrees or more. And in this case, the consequences will be irreversible and disastrous for humanity.
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