Global warming

Since the 19th century, rapid advancements in agriculture, industry, and technology have significantly increased greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide. Additionally, natural events like volcanic eruptions also release greenhouse gases.

How Greenhouse Gases Contribute to Global Warming

1. These gases accumulate in the atmosphere, forming a blanket layer.
2. This layer traps infrared radiation from the Earth's surface, preventing heat from escaping into space.
3. While this process naturally maintains the Earth's temperature, excessive greenhouse gases create a thicker layer, trapping more heat and accelerating global warming and climate change.

Research shows that human activities have contributed more to global warming than natural factors. Some key human activities causing global warming include deforestation and the use of fossil fuels.

Deforestation plays a significant role in increasing global temperatures. Forests help regulate climate by:

1. Absorbing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere.
2. Reducing reflected sunlight, preventing excessive heat buildup.

However, deforestation increases CO₂ levels, intensifying global warming. Large-scale deforestation occurs to meet human demands for:

1. Agriculture
2. Settlements
3. Fuel and building materials

Deforestation in Tanzania

1. Tanzania loses approximately 372,000 hectares of forest annually due to logging, agriculture, and charcoal production.
2. If this deforestation continues, it will lead to severe environmental consequences, including increased greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

The Industrial Revolution in Western countries led to the widespread use of fossil fuels in:

1. Industry
2. Transportation
3. Power generation
4. Construction

Despite alternative energy sources like solar and wind power, fossil fuels remain the primary energy source worldwide.

Effects of Fossil Fuel Use

1. 95% of global transportation energy comes from fossil fuels.
2. Between 1970 and 2011, fossil fuels were responsible for 78% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide and other pollutants, accelerating global warming and climate change.

Some of the human activities which contribute to the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

Through environmental destruction, human beings have played a major role in accelerating global warming and, eventually, climate change.

Climate change can lead to or increase the effects of hazards on human activities and infrastructure. A hazard is a sudden event that has the potential to cause a disaster. Hazards can be natural or man-made. Natural hazards are caused by natural forces and might have negative effects on humans and the environment.

Examples of natural hazards include:

1. Drought
2. Earthquakes
3. Floods
4. Hurricanes or storms
5. Volcanic eruptions
6. Landslides
7. Mudflows

Other hazards are caused by human influence or activities. These include:

1. Accidents (on the roads, waterways, railways, airways, industries)
2. Domestic fires and forest fires

Likewise, unplanned settlements and improper solid waste disposal may cause blockage to waterways and sewage systems. This may lead to the:

1. Occurrence of floods during the rainy season.

Hazards may lead to disasters, causing widespread suffering in society, destruction of property, or environmental destruction. For example:

• Severe drought may lead to food shortage, hunger, malnutrition, and deaths.
• Floods may seriously damage properties, infrastructure, and crops. They may also kill people and livestock.

Global warming has caused climate change in many areas of the world. Global warming has the following effects:

1. Frequent recurrences of weather and climate related hazards such as drought and flooding;
2. Frequent recurrences of storms and strong winds;
3. Melting of snow from higher mountains and areas covered with glaciers. Figure shows a decrease in the snow cover on Mount Kilimanjaro over time.

The effects of global warming on Mount Kilimanjaro

4. The occurrence of heavy rainfall in a short time, causing floods: Global warming increases sea surface temperature, causing high evaporation to the atmosphere. Increased evaporation leads to the formation of clouds and heavy rains, which may cause floods; and
5. Melting of ice and snow from the Earth's poles: This leads to a rise in sea level. The sea-level rise threatens settlements for the people living on islands and in coastal areas.