Global warming refers to the long-term increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature due to human activities, primarily the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The main greenhouse gases responsible for global warming include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases. These gases trap heat from the sun in the Earth’s atmosphere, creating a natural greenhouse effect that helps maintain a habitable temperature range on our planet.
However, human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), deforestation, industrial processes, and agricultural practices, have significantly increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As a result, the greenhouse effect has intensified, leading to an enhanced warming of the Earth’s surface and the oceans.
The consequences of global warming are widespread and concerning. They include rising sea levels due to the melting of polar ice caps and glaciers, extreme weather events like hurricanes, heatwaves, and droughts, disruptions in ecosystems and biodiversity, shifts in precipitation patterns, and impacts on agriculture and water resources. Addressing global warming requires collective efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transition to cleaner and renewable energy sources, and implement sustainable practices to mitigate its effects on the environment and human societies.