Eight Years to Save Planet Earth....

By,
Nishitha Mohandas
Each day human beings are discovering new ways which add ease and comfort to our life. As our comfort level increases we are moving away from reality and increasing the burden of mother earth. We are introducing new luxuries at the cost of earth's destruction. According to UN report there is only eight years to save earth. And a day is not far, when the coming generation will question us for not preserving the natural wealth which also belongs to them.What answer will we give them? Will the future generation have a peaceful life which we all are enjoying now? Has anyone thought of it?

Look around... There are alot of changes happening around us. The earth we saw in our childhood exists no more. It is not so cool now. Its getting warmer and warmer. 2007 is set to be the hottest on record worldwide due to global warming and the El Nino weather phenomenon, says Britain's Meteorological Office.(El Nino, is abnormal warming of surface ocean waters in the eastern tropical Pacific).

Global Warming

Global warming is the gradual increase of the temperature of the earth's lower atmosphere as a result of the increase in green house gases emission. The temperature of the atmosphere near earth's surface is warmed through a natural process called GreenHouse Effect(GHE). This is why our day and night temperature differences are so narrow. GHE is caused by greenhouse gases like water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. Some greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, while others result from human activities such as burning of fossil fuel and coal.

The atmosphere normally contains about 750 million tons of carbon, while 800 billion tons are dissolved in the surface layers of world's oceans. But now the level CO2 is increasing in atmosphere in an alarming level. Each year around 6 million tons of carbon dioxide is entering to atmospheric air. United States alone emits 25 percent of the world's carbon dioxide.

Causes of Global Warming

Some of the factors which contribute to Global warming are the burning of petroleum products like (Sources of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone), deforestation, which increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; methane gas released in animal waste; and increased cattle production which contributes to deforestation, methane production and use of fossil fuels.

Global warming has emerged as one the most important environmental issues ever to confront humanity. In the words of noted documentary film maker Anand Patwardhan this concern arise from the fact that our every day activities may be leading to changes in the earth's atmosphere that have the potential to significantly alter the planet heat and radiation balance.

Does this concern have any basis? Research proves, Global warming is a matter to be look into. Each year earth's temperature level is increasing. According to available data, 1998 is regarded as the warmest year. But the British and American scientists says there is a 60 per cent chance that 2007 will be the warmest year(0.97 degree Fahrenheit).

Alarming Effects Of Global Warming

All our holy books says whatever deeds we do will have its effect. Like wise for what ever we did to our mother earth whether good or bad its time to bear the brunt now. The effect of global warming is getting more and more visible now. Nature is showing its fury. Due to Global warming a lot is happening around us.

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