Hobbies And Interests
Causes of the Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxides and fluorinated gases, according to acoolerclimate.com. Gases such as carbon dioxide are released from burning of fossil fuels in industry; additionally, deforestation leads to elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. These greenhouse gases gather in the Earth's atmosphere, allowing in heat from the sun to warm the planet; however, these gases prevent this heat from leaving the Earth. As a consequence of increased greenhouse gases, the overall greenhouse effect is being enhanced, reducing heat lost from the Earth and subsequently leading to rises in global temperatures.
Sea Level Rise
Increased temperatures as a result of an enhanced greenhouse effect have already increased the melting rate of several major ice sheets, as demonstrated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007), leading to a rise in sea levels. Further melting of the ice caps can lead to more exposed land, reducing the albedo effect, meaning more heat is absorbed by the Earth, exacerbating global warming. Moreover, melting of the ice caps can change ocean circulation such as the Gulf Stream, which is important in bringing milder weather to northern European countries, as explained by BBC News.
Droughts and Floods
Global warming due to the greenhouse effect is also leading to more extreme weather events due to the heating of oceans, providing more energy for intense storms, leading to greater and more severe flood risk in many areas. For instance, the Gulf of Mexico may potentially face a greater frequency and intensity of hurricanes under future warming trends (IPCC, 2007). In contrast, according to acoolerclimate.com, warming temperatures in other regions, such as the American West, Southern Africa and Australia, are increasing evaporation of water and consequently the occurrence of droughts, impacting agriculture.
Other Potential Climate Change Impacts
Rising global temperatures brought about the greenhouse effect can have a wide variety of impacts. There is a risk that invasive pests and diseases may spread with warming temperatures into higher latitudes posing a risk to humans, animals and agriculture in many areas (IPCC, 2007). Additionally, changes in vegetation may also occur with changes in seasonal rainfall and temperature.