| Global Warming is one of the major critical | | | | warming. Corals are very sensitive to changes in |
| environmental challenges facing the world today. As | | | | temperature: a temperature increase of one degree |
| industrial development is largely based on the use of | | | | Celsius can trigger them to make bleach and they |
| fossil fuels, which in turn, may boost the | | | | often die, after severe bleaching. |
| concentration of greenhouse gases. Due to which | | | | CO2 pollution is another stress faced by the coral |
| developing countries are under tremendous pressure | | | | reefs. Absorption of CO2 by the oceans makes the |
| to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases that are | | | | water more acidic; with the result there is a greater |
| the fundamental cause of greenhouse effect to | | | | tendency for a seashells to dissolve in acidic water. |
| avoid the perils of any environmental catastrophe. | | | | Coral reefs provide an estimated $375 billions dollars |
| What is Global Warming? | | | | in economic benefits each year globally. But, now |
| It is the process of heating up of the earth's | | | | about 16% of the world's coral reefs were seriously |
| atmosphere when the level of CO2 is increasing | | | | damaged. |
| significantly in the atmosphere. | | | | Environmental Defense Marine Ecologist Rud Fujita |
| What causes Global Warming? | | | | provide assurances by saying that coral reefs may |
| The emissions of green house gases are responsible | | | | be able to withstand with indirect threats like climate |
| for increasing the earth's average temperature. Our | | | | change, if we can reduce some of other direct |
| planet is wrapped in a layer of heat-trapping gases. | | | | stresses on coral reefs. For e.g. threat induced by |
| When these harmful gases released into the | | | | CO2 pollution. |
| atmosphere, it acts like a blanket, trapping heat in the | | | | Many fisheries are also in trouble. Today, 46 |
| atmosphere and altering climatic conditions globally. | | | | important fisheries are depleted in U.S. Ecosystems |
| The principal green house gas that enters the earth's | | | | are being destroyed, and fishermen are losing their |
| atmosphere due to number of human activities, such | | | | jobs. |
| as burning of fossil fuels, solid waste, trees and wood | | | | Rising seas will also have a down falling effect on fish |
| products, and also as a result of chemical reactions is | | | | habitat. As sea level rises, it will convert fresh water |
| Carbon-Dioxide (CO2) - the main driver for the green | | | | into brackish water, and brackish marsh into salt |
| house effect. | | | | marsh resulting into destruction of nursery grounds |
| Other contributors of greenhouse effect are: | | | | for a wide variety of marine life. |
| - Methane - emitted during the production and | | | | There is a need to forge a constructive solution in |
| transportation of coal, natural gas and oil. It also | | | | order to maintain the number of fishes, and to enjoy |
| results from livestock, and other agricultural practices | | | | seafood in future. |
| and by the death and decay of microorganisms. | | | | As global temperature rises, glaciers and sea ice are |
| - Nitrous oxide - released during agricultural and | | | | melting causing a shift in evaporation and precipitation |
| industrial activities, and during burning of fossil fuels | | | | patterns. Due to this, some parts of the oceans are |
| and solid waste. | | | | becoming fresher, while others are becoming saltier |
| - Fluorinated oxides - hydro fluorocarbon, per | | | | at the visible pace and could slowly disrupt the way |
| fluorocarbon, and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) are artificial | | | | the ocean delivers the nutrients to sea life, leading |
| and powerful gases released from the emission of | | | | the sea birds to face mass starvation. |
| variety of man-made activities. Since Industrial | | | | Many species of plants and animals have disappeared |
| Revolution, humans have been burning fuels on a | | | | as a result of global warming. As climate change |
| large scale to run automobiles, to generate electricity, | | | | wreaks its havoc across the globe, the ecosystem |
| to heat homes etc and are releasing CO2 into the air | | | | could disappear altogether, or they may undergo |
| almost without care and cause untold damage to our | | | | serious and irreversible changes. |
| environment. | | | | Changing weather patterns threatens our lives, |
| Climate change is the biggest and serious threat to | | | | livelihood and lifestyle. It impacts heavily on the |
| humanity and nature in the 21st century. We must | | | | livelihood of farmers who have experienced reduced |
| act now to reduce the threat of global warming to | | | | water levels and crop yields, dried up farms, |
| secure a healthy and pollution free life for future | | | | destroyed vegetation and unpredictable rains have |
| generation. | | | | brought destruction and diseases. |
| Not only human activities, natural processes also | | | | Ways To Curb The Emission Of Greenhouse Gases: |
| contribute to rising global temperature and cause a | | | | Our planet is moving towards an immensely warmer |
| drastic change in climate. | | | | future. Our one single step or effort can really make |
| The primary natural resources that release CO2 into | | | | a big difference to save our environment from the |
| the air (sources) and remove CO2 from the | | | | inevitable impacts of global warming and make it a |
| atmosphere (sink) are: - | | | | sustainable earth. |
| - Animals and plants respiration, by which oxygen and | | | | - Keep your city green and clean by planting more |
| carbon-dioxide are converted into the CO2 and | | | | and more trees. It provides cool shade and reducing |
| energy, and process of photosynthesis by which | | | | air conditioning cost by up to 30%. |
| CO2 is removed from the atmosphere and stored as | | | | - Using high efficiency compact fluorescent light |
| carbon in plants biomass. | | | | saves both energy and money, and lasts up to 10 |
| - Ocean atmospheric change in which oceans absorb | | | | times longer than standard bulbs. |
| and release CO2 at the sea surface. | | | | - Use energy saving, water saving, and power saving |
| - Volcanic eruptions, which releases carbon from the | | | | products. |
| rocks deep in the earth's crust. | | | | - Buy organic products. It can benefit your health and |
| A variety of human activities that release CO2 into | | | | environment. |
| the atmosphere and remove CO2 from the | | | | - Say "NO" to plastic bags and use your own bag. It |
| atmosphere are: - | | | | also reduces waste. |
| - Combustion of fossil fuels is considered as the | | | | - Choose biodegradable cleaning products. They have |
| major emitter of CO2. | | | | less negative impacts on the soil and water system. |
| - A number of specialized industries production | | | | - Reduce the consumption of paper by reusing and |
| processes such as metal production, mineral | | | | recycling it. |
| production and use of petroleum-based products can | | | | - Use laptop instead of desktop. It consumes 5 times |
| lead to emission of CO2. | | | | less electricity. |
| - Carbon Sequestration - is the process by which | | | | - Traveling can also create a huge impact on our |
| growing trees and plants absorb or remove CO2 | | | | environment. Try to avoid it whenever possible. You |
| from the atmosphere and turn into a biomass. | | | | will reduce the carbon emission by riding a bicycle |
| - Deforestation, conversely, can lead to significant | | | | walking, and taking public transportation. |
| levels of emission of CO2. | | | | - Repair the things instead of replacing them also |
| - CO2 can be captured from the power plants are | | | | reduces consumption. |
| released into the atmosphere and then injected deep | | | | - Turn off all the electronic gadgets when they are |
| underground.The layer of green house gases gets | | | | not in use. |
| thicker due to an ever-increasing rate of CO2 into | | | | - Reducing destructive fishing practices, keeping |
| the atmosphere. This, in turn, makes the earth | | | | habitat healthy, and curbing pollution to lessen the |
| warmer and that the conditions under which humanity | | | | threat to marine ecosystem. |
| has thrived are rapidly changing. | | | | - Need to plan for and devise strategies to cope and |
| The world has warmed 0.74 in the past hundred | | | | ward off the global warming impacts. |
| years and it will get warmer in the time to come due | | | | - To reduce forest emission in order to avert any |
| to constant increase in concentration of green house | | | | catastrophic climate change. |
| gases. Global average temperature is forecast to rise | | | | - To grow awareness among the public that |
| 4oc towards the end of 21st century. | | | | indiscriminate clearing of forest causes 20% of global |
| Effects Of Global Warming: | | | | warming. |
| The effects of global warming are quite scary and | | | | - To support the efforts of the nation to cut down |
| every species on this Planet are under the severe | | | | the concentration of greenhouse gases to document |
| threat of global warming. | | | | the impacts of global warming on human health. |
| Due to the destructive phenomenon of global | | | | - Switching to energy-saving products instead of |
| warming, we see that natural calamities are on the | | | | energy-consuming products. |
| rise. Glaciers are melting faster, sea levels are rising, | | | | - To generate awareness and mobilize community to |
| scarcity of food and water, conversion of forests | | | | initiate environmental improvement action.Nature has |
| into deserts, eruption of number of diseases, | | | | given us lot of resources and always helped in |
| changes in weather and climate patterns, and there | | | | flourishing mankind. But, what we as a human being |
| will be more intense and frequent cyclones, | | | | gives back in return. There is a need to move |
| hurricanes, and typhoons. | | | | towards cleaner and greener sources of fuel in order |
| Coral reefs are also seen under the threat of global | | | | to make our planet healthy and beautiful. |