“We cannot solve a crisis without treating it as a crisis. And if solutions within the system are so impossible to find, then maybe we should change the system itself.” by environmental activist ‘Greta Thunberg’

The climate means a statistical distribution of weather patterns and when such changes last for an extended period of time. We call it climate change.

The adverse effects of climate change are as follows:-

1:-  Melting of glaciers that increase water levels in rivers and the occurrence of floods.

2:- Increase in average temperature to 2 degree Celsius by 2030 and 4 degree Celsius by 2090

3:- Change in weather patterns.

4:- Boreal forest suffer to the maximum.

5:- Extinction of species increases for example corals.

6:- More Eco-balance disturbances.

7:- Increased pest and disease occurrence.

8:- Rise in sea levels all over the world and associated land submergence.

9:- Decrease in land availability.

10:- Decrease in crop productivity.

Weather

The short term state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place including the temperature relative humidity, cloud cover, wind, and precipitation, etc, or to the breakdown of rocks and other material under the effects of exposure to rain, sunlight temperature, and air.

The key difference between weather and climate is ‘TIME’.

Greenhouse effect

During the past 1,50,000 years or so, Global climate has fluctuated between two States “warm moist and cold dry”. This is due to the increasing human population and the impact of their activity on natural resources. The most significant changes brought about by human activities on the environment are the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

The water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane form a blanket of gases that do not allow solar radiation to escape back to space. This blanket functions like the glass panels of a Greenhouse which allows the sunlight to pass through but prevents the heat from being Re radiate in outer space and result in the warming of the Earth’s surface.  This is known as the greenhouse effect. The normal greenhouse effect is essential to maintain the temperature of the earth. The major greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide Methane water vapor N2O CFC etc. Besides these major greenhouse gases hydrofluorocarbon, halogens, carbon tetrachloride, and Ozone also cause a greenhouse effect.

The temperature increase is becoming inevitably posing a threat to the present climate. It is projected that by 2030 carbon dioxide concentration will reach approximately 600 ppm and the average global temperature will rise by 1.5 to 4.5 degrees Celsius. Temperature rise will be most evident in high altitude in the Northern hemisphere and it is estimated that in India the temperature will go up by 1 Degree Celsius in summer and three degrees Celsius in winters.

Some major global issues related to the greenhouse effect are global warming and ozone depletion acid rain etc.

1:- Enhanced greenhouse effect (global warming)

However, due to ever-growing industries especially in developing countries, the concentration of greenhouse gases is increasing constantly. Global warming will have a drastic  effect on climate and may prove even disastrous to human life. Some scientists fear that if proper precautions are not taken the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere may double in the next 50 years leading to an increase in global temperature by 4 to 5 degrees celsius.

Recent estimates suggest that global sea level has risen about 0.15 metre during the 20th century with most of the rise occurring since 1930 and because of green house warming average sea level will further rise by at least 0.3 metres to 1.4 metres by the year 2030.

Potential impacts of global warming on ecosystems may include the effect on agricultural and forest growth.  Plant growth and development will be adversely influenced by an increase in carbon dioxide levels. In addition to affecting agriculture and forest, green house warming is expected to have other impacts. For example, higher temperatures and humidity may increase the change of disease patterns in humans and animals in some parts of the world.

In 1992 at Earth summit in ‘Rio de Janeiro,’ the Treaty was signed that obligated industrialized countries including the former Soviet bloc to stabilize emission of greenhouse gases at the 1990 level by the Year 2000.

2:- Depletion of stratosphere ozone:-

At ground level, it is a pollutant but stratospheric Ozone (at altitude 12 to 30 km) is crucial for life on earth.  This layer blocks most of the harmful UV radiation coming from the Sun,  protecting plants and animals. Since 1905, when atmospheric scientist made a dramatic announcement about the discovery of a large hole in the Ozone Layer over Antarctica,  public awareness and concern about the situation have grown significantly throughout the world.

One of the most significant causes of ozone depletion is attributed to the presence in the atmosphere of organic Chemicals called CFCs. Sources of CFC gases included aerosol spray cans,  refrigerants,  industrial solvents, and foam insulation.

For human being ozone layer depletion will increase skin cancer ( particularly among the white population), increased exposure will decrease their immunity system making more prone to infectious disease.

The effect on the biotic community will include the death of microbes and planktons, loss in photosynthesis of green plants, fish mortality, etc.

In 1986, at an international meeting in Montreal, Canada, representatives from more than 35 Nations signed the Montreal protocol which is called for a 50% reduction in CFC  uses by the year 1998. (Unfortunately, even now many countries continue to use it despite the ban)

3:- Acid rains:-

Acid rain, the label is regularly given to both wet and dry deposition. For the last decades, acid rain has been a major concern as it continues to be a filed measure area of our planet. assistant occurred within the town wind of areas of measure Industrial and Mission of Sulphur dioxide and oxide of Nitrogen. After Sulphur dioxide and oxides of Nitrogen admitted into the atmosphere was there are transformed into mild sulphuric acid and nitric acid. These acids then return to earth as due, dazzle,  fog, sleet, snow, and rain.

Acid rain spread in large areas and cause damage in various ways like

1:- Damage to ecosystem forests

2:- Damage to aquatic systems

3:- Effect to soil

4:- Effect on wildlife and microorganisms

5:-Effect on human health

6:-Effect on building material etc.

Many lakes of the world have lost their biological communities and a now known as dead lakes, due to acid rains.

A climate time-bomb: – Permafrost

Permafrost: – Soil that is frozen, although not necessarily permanently as its name implies. It is found mostly in the Northern hemisphere, where it covers about a quarter of exposed land it is generally one thousand years old.

It covers a wide belt spanning Alaska, Canada, northern Europe, and Russia.

Harmful effects:- Locked into the permafrost it is an estimated 1.7 trillion tonnes of carbon in the form of frozen organic matter the remains of rooted plants and long-dead animals trapped in sediments and later covered by ice sheets.

when permafrost thaws,  this matter warm-up and decomposed eventually realizing the carbon that it holds- like carbon dioxide and methane gases which have a green house warming effect on the planet.

Some recently occurred examples of climate change

1:-Huge hot blob in the Pacific Ocean killed nearly a million sea birds.

2:- Dead Birds WhatsApp on my Mallacoota’s beaches Mellacoota local survey shows east Gipps land’s bird died

3:-Bushfire devastate wildlife in Australia. The Auckland city of Australia become Orange due to fire smoke

4:-torrential rains in Northern Israel break the 51-year record with deadly floods

5:-On 7 January 2020 as quake strikes Porto Rico with 5.2 magnitudes.

6:-Volcanic evacuation in Talisay city of Philippine

7:-Cyclone Amphan strikes the state of West Bengal in India and Bangladesh

Need corporation of all the countries globally

Climate change does need a corporation in all the countries globally because the greenhouse effect refers to worldwide changes in climate and sea level. The greenhouse effect was predicted early in the 20th century and by the late 1980’s it had been found rising sea levels, general atmospheric warming, melting of Ice, and changes in vegetation.

The release of greenhouse gases threatens a vicious cycle in the warming of the earth, jeopardizing the objective set in saving the earth globally.

For as long as countries have come together to resolve Global climate change equity or how to apportion responsibility for past current and future emissions, has been at the center of the debate.  The inheritance of the carbon dioxide burden is equal among countries, owing to the historical inequalities of emissions.  They continued to account for significant preparation of current emission, and retain much higher per capita emission done the more populated developing countries.

Taking this approach forward, a scientist from TISS has developed a “Carbon space model” that pushes for more equitable distribution.

Many thanks are due to Rohit Shukla, coordinator for current affairs.

Ruhi Nishat is a civil engineer with a keen interest in environmental issues.