The Earth is getting hotter and hotter each day, do you feel it? Now, why does that happen? Let's find out!
- GLOBAL WARMING? WHAT'S THAT?
GLOBAL WARMING is the rising of the earth's temperature. How does this happen? Well, when carbon dioxide (CO2) and other air pollutants is collected in the atmosphere, absorbs sunlight and solar radiation that is supposed to bounce off the earth's surface, then traps the heat and causes earth to get hotter. Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and synthetic fluorinated gases are the greenhouse gases, and their impact is called the greenhouse effect. Humans are not working fast enough to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Scientist has told us use renewable energy sources like wind and solar, electrify our cars and trucks, and to maximize energy efficiency in our buildings, appliances, and industries, instead of using fossil fuel. The earth's temperature has risen 0.08 Celsius per decade since 1880. Crazy right? My name is London, and in this article I will explain what are the causes and effects of Global Warming, and what can we do to stop it?Â
- CAUSES OF GLOBAL WARMING
1. Burning Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels create carbon-rich deposits that are extracted and burned for energy. They supply 80% of the world's energy and are non-renewable. Burning fossil fuels like coal, and gas, will release CO2 pollution into the atmosphere. 89% of global warming was caused by fossil fuels and industry.
2. Deforestation
Plants and trees play are important because they absorb carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen back into it, but humans clear areas of vegetation around the world for farming, urban and infrastructure development or to sell tree products such as timber and palm oil. When vegetation is removed or burnt, the stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere as CO2 causing global warming. Each year, 10 million hectare of forest were cut down. Imagine the impact to the habitats of the animals and plants living there, plus it increases the amount of CO2 released to the atmosphere.
3. Use of Transportation
Cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other transportations produce greenhouse gas like gasoline, diesel and kerosene, carbon emissions are generated throughout our trips. Impact from transport gases have increased pretty quickly over the last two decades. Transportation sector accounts for 15 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions, making it the fourth largest source of global emissions.
- EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING
1. Hotter Temperatures
Nearly all land areas experiencing hot temperatures and heat waves. Higher temperatures causes heat-related illnesses and make working outdoors more difficult. Wildfires start more easily. Temperatures in the Arctic have warmed twice as fast as the global average.
2. Rising sea levels
When the oceans warms, the volume increases since water expands as it gets warmer. Melting ice sheets causes sea levels to rise, making coastal and island communities condition worse. The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide, keeping it from the atmosphere. However, more carbon dioxide makes the ocean more acidic.
 3. Loss of Species
The world is losing species at a rate 1,000 times greater than any other time in recorded human history. One million species are becoming extinct. Forest fires, extreme weather, and invasive pests and diseases are among many threats related to climate change. Some species will survive, but others won't.
4. Illness
I bet a lot of you have experienced flu, right? Coughing, runny nose, so annoying. But did you know that these illnesses were caused by Global Warming. How? Air pollution causes this disease, 90% of people breathe unhealthy air pollution. These diseases could get a bit more serious; malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and heat stress can cause climate-related deaths per year from 2030 to 2050.
That's not it! There are so many more causes and effects on global warming, but here are the main causes and effects I can state in this article. Now let's jump to the solutions what we CAN do.
- SO WHAT? WHAT DO WE DO?
Here I will list down the actions we can take that might help the earth in this terrible condition.
1. Save energy now!
Every time you go out of your bedroom don't forget to turn off the lights. You can also reduce the use of lights by using natural light from outside. Open your curtains and there it is! You just saved energy. You might also want to save water by not wasting to much water in the bathroom, bath with enough water.
2. Plant, plant, and plant
Get seeds in the store and plants some trees at home. It will be very useful for the removing of carbon dioxide, storing carbon in the trees and soil, then releasing oxygen into the atmosphere.
3. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
Reduce the use of plastic, Reuse the plastic you used, and Recycle and be creative the plastic you have.
4. Cars or bikes? Or public transportation?
It's better to use bikes to school, for bikes do not harm our health and does not contain greenhouse gases. If yo had a choice, choose public transportation, for it reduces the use of personal vehicles that increases the gases. More vehicles, more greenhouse gasses, remember?
5. Don't throw away your food!
Hmm, who here throws their food away when they don't like it? This is a sign for you to not do it again. You are wasting the resources that produce and grow it. Plus, food rotting in a landfill produces methane. So purchase only what you need and what you like so that you don't throw it away, don't forget to use what you buy and compost leftovers.
That's about it from me for now. I hope you all learn something new from this article, or at least got reminded to save the earth from Global Warming. Thank you so much loyal readers. See you next time!
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