Global warming is the progressive increase in Earth's average temperature, primarily caused by human activities that enhance the greenhouse effect and damage the ozone layer, leading to severe environmental and societal consequences.
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Hi, how are you today? Today I will explain what global warming is, its causes,
consequences and how it can be prevented. Stay until the end
because this topic is really interesting and very important.
Global warming is the phenomenon by which there is a progressive increase in the
average temperature of the planet. Thus, each year, when considering the maximum temperatures reached
in each month, it is found that the annual average is higher than that of the previous year.
This is due to the fact that the Earth releases less and less heat into space than it produces, that is,
the heat remains locked in our atmosphere. Global
warming occurs due to two fundamental causes: the deterioration of the ozone layer and the increase of
gases that block the exit of heat. The ozone layer is a band of
ozone gas and its function is to reduce the solar ultraviolet radiation that enters the Earth. If this layer
deteriorates, more high-energy ultraviolet radiation enters, which further heats the Earth.
At the same time, human activities release gases such as CO2 and methane (CH4) into the atmosphere,
which trap heat. As well as nitrous oxide (N2O) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs),
which destroy the ozone layer. All this causes the increase in temperatures,
changes in the climate, melting of glaciers and the alteration of the ecological balance,
causing the extinction of species. To stop this process, it is necessary to raise awareness about
its occurrence and consequences. Causes of global warming
Global warming is caused by an alteration of a natural and beneficial phenomenon
for life, called the greenhouse effect. This phenomenon in turn gets out of control,
due to the deterioration of the ozone layer and the increase of gases that retain heat,
called greenhouse gases. Ozone layer (ozonosphere)
The Earth's atmosphere is the set of gases that surround the planet,
which form a series of layers, each with different characteristics. The closest to the ground
is the troposphere and above this is the stratosphere, followed by the mesosphere.
Between the stratosphere and the mesosphere, at approximately 50 km altitude,
is the transition zone called the stratopause. In this area is where
a layer of gas is located, made up of a special type of oxygen molecule called ozone.
Ozone has the property of letting through the visible light of the Sun and reflecting most of the
ultraviolet radiation, which is important because ultraviolet radiation is of high
energy and if it enters all of it, it would heat up the planet too much. In addition, it negatively affects
living beings, since it deteriorates tissues. If the ozone layer is damaged and becomes thinner,
then more ultraviolet radiation enters, which, when it reaches the ground, heats it excessively. That
heat is given off in the form of infrared radiation, some of which should
go out into outer space and prevent excessive atmospheric heating. Another part
of the heat is needed so that the planet does not freeze and there can be life on Earth.
Greenhouse effect This is the process
that regulates the Earth's heat, guaranteeing that the temperature remains
within a suitable range for life to exist. The ultraviolet radiation that
the ozone layer allows to pass heats the ground and from there the heat is given off as infrared radiation.
Some of this heat is released into outer space, but some is retained by gases in the atmosphere
and reflected back to Earth. These gases are basically water vapour,
CO2 and methane, and are called greenhouse gases.
This is because they have the same effect as a greenhouse cover for growing plants,
retaining some of the heat. If these gases did not exist, the temperature on Earth would be
-15 °C, that is, it would be an ice planet. As you can see, there is a delicate balance
between the energy that the ozone layer lets through and the heat that greenhouse gases retain
, achieving an average planetary temperature of 15 °C where life can thrive.
But what happens if this balance is disturbed? Emission of greenhouse gases
The problem arises when human beings alter the natural balance by
releasing large additional amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere,
such as CO2 and methane, which absorb and emit heat. As well as other gases that
destroy the ozone layer, such as nitrous oxide (N2O) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
These gases are produced by the emission of vehicle traffic exhausts and
thermoelectric plants that burn fuels such as coal or oil.
As from emissions from industries, forest fires,
fermentation and burning in waste dumps, agriculture and livestock.
The Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement to reduce greenhouse gases,
