Oftentimes, global warming and climate change are often interchanged. Some believe that global warming is the same as climate change. I beg to disagree that although climate change is related to global warming they are not the same. Global warming contributes to climate change in our world.

The earth's temperature is increasing at an alarming rate and a lot of countries have been affected by this.

Can the earth be normal again?

What is global warming?

Global warming refers to the prolonged increase in the earth's temperature. Global warming has been in existence, so why now? It has been observed that over the last hundred years global warming has increased in several regions of the world. This can be attributed to the burning of fossil fuels, it can also be termed the greenhouse effect.

This greenhouse effect is described as the reflection of rays of the sun on the earth's surface and its inability to escape back into the atmosphere.

This greenhouse effect prevents heat from leaving the atmosphere. The trapped heat in the atmosphere accumulates and causes global warming.

Global warming contributes to the change in the earth's climate which is the change in weather conditions and seasons around the world. 

What Causes Global Warming? 

Several things can initiate the increase in the overall temperature of the earth. They include:

1. Destruction of natural vegetation or forests: Trees help to maintain the climate. You may wonder, how? Trees are natural carbon dioxide absorbers and they give back oxygen to the atmosphere. Destruction of forest trees reduces nature's way of averting climate change.

2. Burning of fossil fuels: This contributes majorly to the presence of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The use of fuels for cars, plants, generators, and industrial machines has contributed greatly to the change in the earth's temperature. Continuous emissions of these gases have prolonged effects on the earth's atmosphere. Currently, the earth has become warmer and icebergs in regions of extreme temperatures are beginning to melt. 

Effects of Global Warming

• Temperature rise: As the level of greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere increases, the temperature rises. Prolonged increase in temperature or global warming can yield a good breeding ground for various illnesses

• Storms and disasters: Rise in temperature can cause natural disasters. This is because more moisture is absorbed into the atmosphere thereby increasing the chances of rainfall and flooding. Other disasters include hurricanes, tornadoes, landslides and so many more.

• Drought: Loss of moisture because of global warming can produce water scarcity. Global warming contributes to the expansion of deserts. This produces sand storms. Lack of adequate water supply can also affect crops and livestock. 

• Destruction of properties: Global warming has contributed largely to natural disasters in our world. This has caused the loss and destruction of properties

• Poverty or recession: Drought and natural disasters have rendered so many poor and left many hungry. Most times, the source of livelihood may be destroyed by these storms. This has caused downsides in the finances of many.

Global warming and the ice age

Most weather experts believe that the ice age is the Interphase between extreme cold and warm conditions.

It is also a known fact that for past centuries, the climate has been warm. So we are to expect cooler temperatures in times to come.

In conclusion

Activities of humans have contributed greatly to changes in climate and other disasters. 

Therefore the only way to curb this is to develop new ways to stop fossil fuel emissions into the atmosphere. Development of solar and wind energy is currently ongoing and this can serve as a tangible solution to this.