Effects of global warming

The effects of global warming are the environmental and social changes caused (directly or
indirectly) by human emissions of greenhouse gases. There is a scientific consensus that climate
change is occurring, and that human activities are the primary driver.[1] Many impacts of climate
change have already been observed, including glacier retreat,[2] changes in the timing of
seasonal events[2] (e.g., earlier flowering of plants),[3] and changes in agricultural productivity.[2]
Future effects of climate change will vary depending on climate change policies[4] and social
development.[5]The two main policies to address climate change are reducing human greenhouse
gas emissions (climate change mitigation) and adapting to the impacts of climate change.
[6]

Geoengineering is another policy option.[6]

Near-term climate change policies could significantly affect long-term climate change impacts. [4]
[7]

Stringent mitigation policies might be able to limit global warming (in 2100) to around 2 C or

below, relative to pre-industrial levels.[8] Without mitigation, increased energy demand and
extensive use of fossil fuels[9] might lead to global warming of around 4 C.[10][11] Higher magnitudes
of global warming would be more difficult to adapt to,[12] and would increase the risk of negative
impacts.[13]

Less abrupt changes would occur around the world as average

temperatures increased. In temperate areas with four seasons, the
growing season would be longer with more precipitation. This could be
beneficial in many ways for these areas. However, less temperate parts
of the world would likely see an increase in temperature and a sharp
decrease in precipitation, causing long droughts and potentially creating
deserts.
Because the Earth's climate is so complex, no one is really sure how
much a change to one region's climate will affect other regions. For
example, scientists at the University of Colorado theorize that the
decrease in sea ice in the Arctic could reduce snowfall in Colorado
because Arctic cold fronts would be less intense. This could impact
everything from farmlands to the ski industry.
Most scientists recognize that global warming does seem to be
happening, but a few don't believe that it is anything to be worried about.

These scientists say that the Earth is more resistant to climate changes
on this scale than we think. Plants and animals will adapt to subtle shifts
in weather patterns, and it is unlikely anything catastrophic will happen
as a result of global warming. Slightly longer growing seasons, changes
in precipitation levels and stronger weather, in their opinion, are not
generally disastrous. They also argue that the economic damage caused
by cutting down on the emission of greenhouse gases will be far more
damaging to humans than any of the effects of global warming.
Global warming is caused by an increase in the greenhouse effect.

The greenhouse effect happens because of certain naturally occurring

substances in the atmosphere. Unfortunately, since the Industrial
Revolution, humans have been pouring huge amounts of those
substances into the air.

Future effects
Below is the list of effects that global warming is having on environment, climate and
human kind.
1. Melting of Glaciers: The melting of glaciers will create plethora of problems for
human kind and the animals living on the earth. Due to increased global warming, the
level of the sea will rise which will lead to flooding and this will in turn create havoc
in human life. Apart from raising the sea levels, it will also endanger several
species of animals and thus will hamper the balance of the ecosystem.
Areas in the Arctic are diminishing away and flowing into major oceans. Rising
temperatures create a much accelerated threat to wildlife and whole ecosystems in
these regions. With glaciers melting at vast rates, a chain of events is being set into
motion that cannot be reversed.
2. Climate Change: Irregular weather patterns have already started showing results.
Increased precipitation in the form of rain have already been noticed in polar and sub-

polar regions. More global warming will lead to more evaporation which will cause
more rains. Animals and plants cannot easily adapt to increased rainfall. Plants may
die and animals may migrate to other areas, which can cause entire ecosystem out of
balance.
3. Droughts: While it may be flooding in Savannah, severe drought is happening
elsewhere in the world. As temperatures warm, the presence of drought has increased
in the western U.S. Add on top of that heat waves and no precipitation, whole forests
have begun to disappear including tens of millions of trees in Colorados Rockies.
Large scale evaporation will be the major cause of droughts in many places
particularly Africa. Although, it is reeling under the huge pressure of water crisis,
increased global warming would further make the situation worse and will cause
malnutrition.
5. Hurricanes Frequency: As the temperature of the oceans rises, hurricanes and
other storms are likely to become stronger. With the increase in the global warming,
the water in the ocean warms up and it heats up the surrounding air, creating
hurricanes.
6. Rise of Sea Levels: The melting of polar ice-caps and less water evaporating into
the atmosphere are causing increased sea levels. Quaint coastal towns and cities near
the U.S. east coast and Gulf of Mexico are just a few areas where devastating flood
damage is starting to make its mark in history.
8. Heat Waves: If you thought last summers headlines of record changing
temperature was mind blowing, just wait. Because of greenhouse gases and other
causes, unexpected streaks of severe weather are just the tips of the iceberg in global
warming. Heat waves cause dangerously hot weather and in recent years, more deaths
have occurred due to heat waves than in the last sixty years.

9. Frequent Wildfires: While wildfires are a natural occurrence, with the added
carbon dioxide in the air, and hotter summers, the evidence speaks for itself. More
frequent wildfires continue to surface in vast amounts each year. The rate at which
they burn is longer than the last, and with the release of carbon dioxide into the air, not
only are peoples lives in danger, but wildlife severely suffers. Each time a wildfire
burns, the less oxygen there is to combat the dangerous amounts of carbon dioxide
being released into the atmosphere.
10. Severe Precipitation: Not only is there insurmountable scientific evidence that
global warming is increasing, certain types of events, including extreme precipitation
is on the rise. Global warming also creates conditions that can lead to more powerful
hurricanes and summer storms. Cities and towns on the coast, where sea levels are
already rising, face even more challenges as precipitation poses severe flooding.
11. Longer/Shorter Seasons: Are you a lover of fall? Maybe spring is your favorite
season. Whatever weather and climate you enjoy, it could be happening sooner and
shorter, or later and longer. Global warming affects show spring is occurring 10 days
sooner than it has in the past. While it may be nice to go from snow pants to shorts
sooner, this could cause flooding from reservoirs filling too soon, and droughts were
theres not enough precipitation to provide adequate nourishment for crops.