GS 1, Indian Geography, TLP-UPSC Mains Answer Writing
Evaluate the effects of global warming and its impact on the Earth’s geophysical phenomena such as sea level rise, melting of glaciers and permafrost, and changes in precipitation patterns.
ग्लोबल वार्मिंग के प्रभावों और पृथ्वी की भूभौतिकीय घटनाओं जैसे समुद्र के स्तर में वृद्धि, ग्लेशियरों और पर्माफ्रॉस्ट के पिघलने और वर्षा के पैटर्न में बदलाव पर इसके प्रभाव का मूल्यांकन करें।
Approach
Candidates can start the answer with giving basic idea about global warming and then highlight how its impacting globally on different geophysical phenomena what changes has occurred due to it.
Introduction
Global warming, also known as climate change, is the gradual increase of the Earth’s average surface temperature due to burning of fossil fuels and other human activities. The effects of global warming can have a significant impact on the Earth’s geophysical phenomena.
Body
Global warming can have a wide range of impacts on the Earth’s geophysical phenomena, including:
- Sea level rise: As the Earth’s temperature increases, ice and snow in the polar regions begin to melt, causing sea levels to rise. This can have a significant impact on coastal areas, as it can lead to flooding and erosion.
- Extreme weather: Global warming can lead to an increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts, and heavy precipitation. This can have a significant impact on agriculture and food production, as well as human health and well-being.
- Ocean acidification: As carbon dioxide (CO2) is absorbed by the ocean, it can lead to a decrease in the pH level of seawater, a process known as ocean acidification. This can have a significant impact on marine life, as it can make it more difficult for shellfish and other organisms to form and maintain their shells.
- Wildfires: Global warming can lead to an increase in the frequency and severity of wildfires. This can have a significant impact on human communities, as well as wildlife and their habitats.
- Climate-induced migration: Climate change can lead to the displacement of people due to extreme weather events, sea-level rise and other impacts. This can lead to increased pressure on infrastructure and resources in receiving areas and can lead to conflicts.
- Glacier retreat: As the Earth’s temperature increases, glaciers and ice sheets begin to melt, causing them to retreat. This can have a significant impact on freshwater availability and flooding in downstream areas that rely on glacier meltwater.
- Changes in precipitation patterns: Global warming can lead to changes in precipitation patterns, such as increased droughts in some regions, also heavy cloud burst with flash floods.
- Climate variability: Global warming can cause changes in precipitation patterns, leading to more extreme weather events such as floods and droughts.
- Loss of biodiversity: Global warming can cause changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, which can lead to the loss of habitats for many plant and animal species.
- Natural disasters: Global warming can increase the frequency and severity of natural disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes and typhoons, which can cause significant damage to infrastructure and communities.
Conclusion
Humankind has become dependent on the burning of fossil fuels to support our way of life, but it increases global warming at an unnatural rate that led to meltimg of glaciers. To restore the glaciers we need to utilize alternative energy sources, increase our energy efficiency and decrease our individual carbon footprints.
