Have you noticed that winters are not as cold as they used to be? This is caused by a phenomenon known as global warming. National Geographic classifies global warming as “An increase in the planet’s overall average temperature in recent decades.” According to National Geographic, global warming is caused by the excess usage of fossil fuels by humans. This leads to what is called the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is when the aforementioned fossil fuels trap the heat from the sun in the Earths’ atmosphere, which gradually warms the planet. The most prominent gasses trapped are called greenhouse gasses, which include CO2 and methane.
The effects of human emissions on the Earth’s atmosphere was first seen during the Industrial Revolution. Becky Little from History.com classifies the Industrial Revolution as “a period of scientific and technological advancement that lasted from the mid-18th to the mid-19th century.” During this period, there was an uptick in how much coal was used as a power source, as well as an increase in deforestation, which made way for new establishments such as factories. The burning of coal led to an increase in Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. With the amount of deforestation occurring, there were less trees to soak up that CO2 through photosynthesis. This is how the Industrial Revolution led to man made Global Warming, which continues until today.
Global warming could be detrimental to life on earth, causing mass extinctions and ecosystems to collapse over an extended period of time. So what could be done to help slow the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere? Ways an everyday person can help with global warming include biking, walking, or using public transportation to go places they would usually drive to. Planting more native plants and trees could help soak up the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. Saving energy while at home also helps to reduce your emissions by reducing the amount of power and energy your household burns in a day. Lastly, speak up to others about the environment, to spread awareness for the betterment of our planet.
