Since the pre-industrial period, human activities are estimated to have increased Earth’s global average

temperature by about 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit), a number that is currently increasing by
0.2 degrees Celsius (0.36 degrees Fahrenheit) per decade (NASA).
Anthropogenic Causes of Global Warming
1. Burning of Fossil Fuel
- Fossil fuels such as coal, crude oil, and natural gas, are formed for millions of years from buried remains
of plants and animals, thus rich in carbon content
- When these are burned, the carbon content is released into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide,
a major greenhouse gas
- there are also the increased amounts of tiny particles in the lower atmosphere that scientists call ‘black
carbon’ (soot or smoke)
- the resulting layer of black particles in the lower atmosphere absorbs heat like a black blanket
contributing to the warming effect of atmospheric particles
- Although black carbon falls out of the lower atmosphere in days, while it is suspended in the air, it
absorbs the sun’s heat millions of times more effectively than CO 2. Overall, it is considered the second
biggest contributor to global warming after CO2.

- Methane, another greenhouse gas, is also released in the atmosphere by this process
2. Deforestation
- Photosynthetic organisms absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
- Trees are the largest photosynthetic organisms and responsible for absorbing the

- greatest amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

- Most trees on earth are found in forests, making these ecosystems especially important in regulating the
amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Human activities that lead to the removal or destruction of vast amounts of trees is called deforestation
- Reducing the trees available for carbon dioxide absorption relates to an increase in this greenhouse gas
and therefore an increase in global warming
3. Agriculture and Farming Practices
- Methane is a greenhouse gas that is produced by the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter, such as
animal wastes and dead plant materials, which is a natural process
- however, increased agricultural activities have also greatly increased the amount of organic matter
available for anaerobic decomposition, being the number one cause of methane release in the atmosphere
Effects of Global Warming
Climate Change is a long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth’s
local, regional, and global climates. With global warming, the climatic patterns of the earth changed
rapidly, especially for cold areas. Some of the effects of global warming, indicative of climate change
include:
1. melting and shrinking of ice sheets in the Arctic Sea, decrease snow cover of ice-capped mountains,
and glacial retreat, all of which bring about a rise in sea level and coastal submersion
2. intensified weather disturbances that bring about intense rain and wind (la Niña phenomenon), as well
as prolonged droughts and heat wave (el Niño phenomenon)
3. biomes are defined by their climatic characteristics, to which organisms are adapted to. Change in
climatic conditions of biomes likewise affect organismal survival and decreases biodiversity and loss of
ecological balance
4. food crops are likewise vulnerable to climatic changes, leading to a decline in the food supply of the
global population
5. high rates of evaporation dry up lands, reduce freshwater supply, and lead to desertification

Dealing with Global Warming

1. Decrease Fossil Fuel Use
- Conservation of energy
- Use of renewable energy resources such as solar energy, wind energy, hydrogen energy, ocean energy,
hydro power, geothermal power, and bioenergy

2. Reforestation and Afforestation

- The importance of trees in reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide cannot be stressed enough

3. Enacting global and national laws and agreements

- Steep penalties for non-compliant industries and businesses
- Regulating and taxing carbon dioxide emissions of companies

4. Sustainable land management

- Managing livestock to reduce methane emission
- Crop management to avoid methane and nitrous oxides, such as from fertilizers