The main cause of climate change is due to the recent large increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, mostly released by human activities such as burning fossil fuels. Whenever we burn fossil fuels such as coal, petrol, or natural gas for purposes such as heavy industrial machines and transportation, large amounts of Carbon Dioxide are released.
Vehicles such as big trucks, ships, and airplanes rely heavily on these fuels, and their consumption is high as well, which makes the transportation sector one of the top contributors to Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere.
Watch this video to learn more about how these emissions are causing warming to our Earth!
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0:00
What is the greenhouse effect?
0:03
Earth is a comfortable place for living things.
0:06
It’s just the right temperatures for plants and animals – including humans – to thrive.
0:12
Why is Earth so special?
0:13
Well, one reason is: the greenhouse effect!
0:17
A greenhouse is a building with glass walls and a glass roof.
0:22
The clear glass allows sunlight to shine into the greenhouse, while also trapping the Sun’s heat inside.
0:29
This is how a greenhouse keeps plants warm, even at night and in the winter.
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The greenhouse effect keeps Earth warm in pretty much the same way.
0:39
Earth isn’t surrounded by glass, but it is surrounded by a jacket of gases called the atmosphere.
0:47
In the daytime, the Sun shines through the atmosphere warming Earth’s surface.
0:53
After the Sun goes down, Earth’s surface cools.
0:56
This releases heat back into the air.
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But, some of that heat is trapped by the gases in the atmosphere.
1:04
These heat-trapping gases are called greenhouse gases.
1:08
Carbon dioxide, water vapor and methane are all examples of greenhouse gases.
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Earth needs a balance of greenhouse gases to maintain just the right temperature for living things.
1:20
But, some human activities are changing Earth’s natural greenhouse effect.
1:25
For example, burning fossil fuels – like coal and oil – releases more carbon dioxide into our atmosphere.
1:34
These extra greenhouse gases can cause the atmosphere to trap more and more heat, leading to a warmer Earth.
1:42
NASA satellites are constantly measuring the gases in our atmosphere from space.
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They have observed increases in the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
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The information from NASA satellites can help scientists figure out where greenhouse gases are coming from and how they are ending up in our atmosphere.
2:02
This information will help us better understand the impact that greenhouse gases have on our climate.
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And help us better understand this very special greenhouse that we call home.
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Find out more about our Earth at NASA Climate Kids!
Deforestation is also considered another critical factor for accelerating this warming process of earth. Trees play a very crucial role in our ecosystem by absorbing the Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere through a process called “photosynthesis.” However, whenever the forests are cleared for development or for their resources, this stored Carbon Dioxide is released back to the atmosphere. According to National Geographic, there are fewer trees available to soak up the Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere. Hence, the Earth’s natural ability to regulate its temperature has weakened, resulting in rising emissions and declining absorption, which ultimately raises the global temperature.
To fight with all these changes, global efforts are moving towards usage of renewable energy, where we are starting to switch to sources like wind, solar, and hydropower. These energy sources do not release any Carbon Dioxide. Planting more and more trees can also be considered a great step towards reducing our carbon footprint. By following these steps we can save our earth from getting warmer.
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References
National Geographic. “Global Warming Overview.” National Geographic Society, 2024, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/global-warming-overview.
NASA. “What Is the Greenhouse Effect?” NASA Climate Kids, 2024, https://climatekids.nasa.gov/greenhouse-effect/.