Global warming has become a familiar to many us as one of the important issues in today's’ life. Many opinions have been expressed concerning it. However, global warming is defined as the increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere which is expected to bring about climate changes. The rise in the temperatures does bring about a warming effect in the planet earth hence the name global warming (Gore & Albert 4).
Studies show that there is usually an increase of about 0.8 degrees with about two thirds of the increase taking place in between 1980s and 1900s. The major causes of the increase in the temperatures are expected to the increase in the green house gases which has been majorly brought about by the activities of man; man burns fossils and clear down forests which does increase in the carbon concentration in the atmosphere. With the increase in the carbon concentration, it depletes the ozone layer and some end up causing a blanketing effect, these effects do impact on the planet by increasing the temperatures (Houghton 23).
As far as green house gases are concerned, rising levels of greenhouse gases result in a general increase in the normal atmospheric temperatures of the world as discussed above. Some of the green houses gases include water vapor, CO2, Methane, Nitrous Oxide and chlorofluorocarbons. When there is a difference in the composition of these elements in the atmosphere, it will impart a difference in temperature levels and precipitation. In addition, these rising temperatures in turn right results in weather patterns that we see in climate change. These include increased evaporation, precipitation, melting of glaciers and increased sea levels Gore & Albert 14).
However, global warming has raised alarm till there was a climate model in 2007 to project or reduce its effects. Fourth assessment report came up as a result of the intergovernmental-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). There report showed that by 21st century the temperatures in expected to increase by 1.1 to 2.9 degrees. This means that there will be an effect such as increase in the sea levels and changes in the amount of precipitation; for example, in the northern hemisphere, ice caps are expected to melt and flow to the seas and the oceans, which will increase the water levels of the seas and oceans. In addition, precipitation pattern are likely to change; the rising temperatures is expected to increase the rate of evaporations thus affecting the precipitation patterns. Some parts of the world are likely to increase in precipitation, and some are likely to decrease in precipitation (Houghton 45).
To add on the same, the green house will cause the composition of rain to change. For example, Sulphur content in the atmosphere will cause the rainfall to have Sulphur content for it is acidic. This is likely to increase the rust of iron sheets and affect the plant life by increasing the sulphur content in the soil. On the other hand, the sun radiations are like to increase since the ozone layer has depleted. On mankind, the radiations are the likely cause skin ulcers and eye cataracts to mankind (Simon & Seymour 36).
In the field of agriculture, global warming is likely to influence the precipitation levels and solar radiations (temperatures). Agriculture does depend much on these elements, when these are altered; we are likely to have an effect in the plant’s production. This is because plants do depend on these elements. Thurs, we are likely to reduce the food amounts; plants do use the Ultra Violet (U.V) light for production of food, but upon increased solar radiations, the plants will lose much water and will result reduce food production. This implies that food is likely to reduce if global warming is not addressed. To stress on the same, green house gases does cause acidic rain which is likely to increase the acidity content in the soils. This means that plants that are able to survive with the high acidity content will survive, and the rest will die. In this essence, the plants life will have been affected and hence their production will decrease. Therefore, the whole globe will have food shortage (Pringle & Laurence 44).
Last but not least, there is a proposed policy to response of global warming such as mitigation matters to reduce the emission of green house gases, adaptations to the effects of global warming and also possible geo-engineering which can be done. As a result of the matter affecting the whole globe, many nations are part the policy hence part of the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change as well. The main objective of UNFCCC is to reduce the human cause climate change since some changes are due to natural occurrences such as volcanic occurrences. The members nations agreed to reduce greenhouse gases in their respective nations and maintain extremely minimal raise in temperatures (less than 2.0 degrees). On the other hand, some more organization such as United Nation Environmental Programme (UNEP) and International Energy Agency (IEA) has joined hand to reduce the effects of global warming (Pringle & Laurence 56).
In conclusion, global warming is a critical issue since it affects the whole world. Therefore, it needs to be addressed since the consequences are more dangerous to humans and plants. However, there are different methods to deal with this. For example, as discussed earlier, mitigation matters to reduce the emission of green house gases, adaptations to the effects of global warming and also possible geo-engineering to global warming. When this is done together with the combined efforts of environmental organization, the effect are likely to reduce to less than 2.0 degrees in the future which is the main objects of the organizations.