Global Warming - Definition, Causes And its Effects - Practice Questions & MCQ

Updated on Sep 18, 2023 18:34 AM

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Global warming is considered one of the most asked concept.

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Global warming

Global warming, the phenomenon of increasing average air temperatures near the surface of Earth over the past one to two centuries.
During the past century, the temperature of Earth has increased by 0.6o C, most of it during the last three decades.
Giving voice to a growing conviction of most of the scientific community, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was formed in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
The major cause of global warming are certain trace gases, called greenhouse gases, that have been injected into the lower atmosphere in increasing amounts through the burning of fossil fuels for industry, transportation, and residential uses.
Modern global warming is the result of an increase in magnitude of the so-called greenhouse effect, a warming of Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere caused by the presence of water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, and other greenhouse gases.
Scientists believe that this rise in temperature is leading to deleterious changes in the environment and resulting in odd climatic changes (e.g. El Nino effect) , thus leading to increased melting of polar ice caps as well as of other places like the Himalayan snow caps.
Over many years, this will result in a rise in sea level that can submerge many coastal areas.
The total spectrum of changes that global warming can bring about is a subject that is still under active research.
Global warming can be minimised by:
- Cutting down use of fossil fuel,
- Improving efficiency of energy usage,
- Reducing deforestation,
- Planting trees and
- Slowing down the growth of the human population