The 21st century is proving to be the century in which both climate change and global warming have become two genuine threats to the entire planet. In the case of global warming, it is caused by the increase in the average temperature of the oceans and the atmosphere due to natural causes and primarily as a consequence of human activity.
Scientists and experts in the field have spent decades studying this phenomenon and trying to predict the changes this warming will cause across the planet in the coming years, and whether there is still time to curb these devastating effects that threaten to shorten Earth's natural lifespan. Below, I will explain in more detail, so that you understand perfectly, the causes of global warming and its possible medium- and long-term consequences.
Natural causes of global warming
According to the vast majority of climate change researchers, some of the causes of global warming can be attributed to either natural or human -caused factors . Natural causes have been contributing to global warming for thousands of years. However, these causes are not significant enough to account for the climate changes the planet is currently experiencing, which pose a serious threat to the entire world.
Solar activity
One of the most significant natural causes of global warming , negatively impacting the planet's health, is a substantial increase in solar activity, which triggers short-term warming cycles. Our sun is growing larger and, consequently, generating more solar radiation during its nuclear fusion activity. We know that harmful solar rays are deflected by the ozone layer and the Earth's magnetic field. However, they still contribute to climate change, as some of this radiation remains in the atmosphere, stored as heat, and raises the planet's average temperatures.
Water steam
Another natural cause of global warming is the increase in water vapor in the atmosphere, which causes the average temperature to rise over time and contributes to the warming process itself. Water vapor is a greenhouse gas that naturally traps heat. It contributes to the natural greenhouse effect, and it is thanks to water vapor that we can survive in these temperatures, which are conducive to the formation of life.
The problem is when humans modify this part of the water cycle and generate more water vapor. You could say that this is one of the causes of global warming that looks both artificial and natural at the same time. The greater the amount of atmospheric water vapor, the greater the retention of heat.
Climatic cycles
A third natural cause of global warming is due to the climate cycles that the planet regularly undergoes. These cycles are caused by the sun's rays . Therefore, if the sun is the energy source that drives Earth's climate , it is logical that solar radiation itself plays a predominant role in the temperature changes the entire planet is experiencing.
Man-made causes of global warming
Although natural causes play a significant role in global warming, it is human-caused factors that are causing the greatest devastation on Earth. Most of these human-caused factors result from an increase in greenhouse gases caused by human activity. This greenhouse effect, caused by carbon dioxide emissions , is currently the most significant cause of global warming. These emissions have become a genuine danger and threat to life on the planet, which is why most experts are seeking immediate solutions to mitigate these devastating effects.
Increase in greenhouse gas emissions
These carbon dioxide emissions are the result of burning fossil fuels. Most of this burning is caused by electricity generation and the gasoline used by cars daily on roads around the world. As the years go by and the Earth's population increases, more and more fossil fuels will be burned, negatively impacting the environment and contributing to global warming. Eventually, temperatures will reach dangerously high levels, causing serious problems for the entire world population.
We must understand atmospheric dynamics as something that continually fluctuates due to the concentration of various gases present in the atmosphere. Above all, with CO2, the balance is not always the same, since there are many living beings that carry out photosynthesis and use this gas to survive.
Deforestation
Another human-caused factor contributing to global warming is the deforestation of many of the planet's forests, which leads to an increase in carbon dioxide levels throughout the atmosphere. Trees convert CO2 into oxygen through photosynthesis , and deforestation itself reduces the number of trees available to do so. The result is a higher concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, which in turn contributes to global warming and, consequently, a further rise in temperatures.
Deforestation also brings with it a decrease in biodiversity due to the fragmentation and destruction of the natural habitats of many species. The rate of deforestation does not stop and it is expected that by 2050 more than half of the Amazon rainforest will have been devastated.
Fertilizer excess
The excessive use of fertilizers in agriculture is one of the most significant causes of the dramatic increase in the planet's average temperature . These fertilizers contain high levels of nitrous oxide, which is far more harmful than carbon dioxide itself . As the population grows, the need for food increases, leading to an expansion of farmland and, consequently, greater fertilizer use .
The production and supply of food at a global level requires rapid harvests that translates into the indiscriminate use of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and everything related to optimizing the growth and development of crops. It is necessary to think long term and start consuming local products that do not need as many fertilizers and whose greenhouse gas emissions during transport are minimal.
Methane gas
One final cause of global warming that must be considered is methane gas . This gas has a much greater greenhouse effect than CO2 itself . Methane is also produced through the decomposition of waste in landfills and in all matters related to manure. Decomposing organic matter in the absence of oxygen generates methane gas. This gas is also increasing in concentration, and its heat-trapping capacity is enormous.
As you have seen and verified, there are numerous causes that are driving the increasing global warming and endangering the planet in the medium term . Although natural causes of global warming do contribute to it, it is the human-caused factors that must be addressed as quickly as possible.
It was recently confirmed that 2015 was the hottest year on record globally. This alarming fact, coupled with the increasingly frequent extreme weather events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and cyclones, should spur global society to seek solutions as soon as possible.
Given this critical situation, the governments of the world's major powers must quickly take action and put an end to climate change and global warming , which affects the entire planet every day.
What are the consequences of global warming?
The consequences of the increase in terrestrial temperatures affect the entire globe to a greater or lesser extent. For instance:
- In Spain it is being seen that heat waves are becoming more frequent, lasting and intense. Without going too far back in time, on August 14, 2021, the Cordovan city of Montoro beat its historical maximum, with 47,2ºC, during a heat wave episode that lasted several days.
- The rise in sea level will force us to change course at many points. For example, beaches could be lost, not to mention the threat this will pose to all those living on the coast, something that is related to the warnings about sea ​​level rise.
- Ecosystems will change. This in fact is something that is being seen: the plants that are more resistant to heat and droughts are replacing those that are less.
- Glaciers are melting, contributing to sea level rise. Ice loss is directly related to global warming.
- Animals quickly go extinct. Although here we could talk about poaching as well, there are many animals, such as polar bears that have increasingly difficult to catch their prey, as the ice melts before its time.
- Food could be more expensive. Plants depend on the climate to grow and also to produce their fruits, so if the conditions change, it will be more difficult to obtain vegetables, cereals and/or vegetables, something that is related to the growing threat of fires.
As you can see, global warming is a very serious problem.