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Global warming facts that you probably did not know about

global warming

Global warming is a fact that cannot be ignored. Scientists, green activists and conservationists have been sounding the alarm bells about climate change for years now, but with very little response. Now with erratic weather patterns and rising heat levels all over the globe, we can no longer turn our backs on it. Toxic gases and chemicals in the atmosphere have already started to show us what we can look forward to in the future. In this scenario, you need to know as much about global warming as you can, to help to reduce it as well as to be prepared, as nature turns the heat on high.

Energy bills will increase even as energy distribution falls

Hydropower

A study conducted in 2016 revealed that power plants are being affected by global warming. The study conducted on 24,515 hydropower plants and 1,427 thermoelectric plants showed that 86% hydropower plants and 74% thermoelectric plants might become defunct in the coming decades, due to lack of water. The supply-demand ratio will be skewed further and we will have to pay the price, literally. On the other hand, the study suggested that this could be prevented by relying on alternative energy and making power plants withstand climate change.

Depleting ozone layer is good and bad

How can ozone layer depletion be good, you ask? Well, it is good when the depletion is in the lower layer, as ozone itself is a greenhouse gas. It traps heat in the lower atmosphere making earth hotter, but ozone in the upper layer stops UV light (which causes cancer), from reaching us. Thus, depleting ozone layer is good for the troposphere, but not good for the stratosphere.

Your food will be affected by global warming

 plant

The increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can affect the quality of your food. Though plants live on CO2, other greenhouse gases are reducing the nutritional value of plants. According to a study, researchers kept plants in an atmosphere which had CO2 levels of the future and discovered that they had lost much of iron and zinc, as well as decreased protein levels. So global warming is going to reduce the food value of plants too.

It will be tougher to excel in sports

In the Rio Olympics, very few records were broken, as athletes just could not perform to their best due to the scorching heat. With the planet heating up, it will be difficult for athletes to set new records.

Historical sites might disappear

OCEAN

It’s best to do all your sightseeing now, because in a few years time, those that are in water might sink in the ocean, some say even the Statue of Liberty, and Glacier Park will partly disappear. Even Stonehenge in England is in danger of sinking due to soil erosion caused by moles and flash floods. The warmer weather has led to a huge mole population underground, leading to underground tunnels. This might make Stonehenge collapse into the ground.

Forests would have more dead trees than living

tree

Several forest have undergone a drastic ‘tree mortality’, due to global warming, and this will increase in the future. Insect populations will also explode and are going to spread all over the world, and Lyme disease, West Nile virus etc will be common worldwide.

Global warming might be due to natural causes too

Some scientists are of the opinion that nature too has a hand in the global warming phenomenon. Volcanic eruptions and increasing heat from the sun in the recent years has contributed to heating up of the planet. But this is debatable, as studies have pointed out greenhouse gas emissions to be the main culprit for the warming phenomenon.

Indoor CO2 levels have increased

aeroplane

 

CO2 levels inside offices, homes, schools etc are higher than 1000 ppm, which causes fatigue and affects productivity, as well as the capacity to make decisions. Aeroplanes can have upto 4000 ppm and schools 2000 ppm, thus affecting pilots and children the most. 

The temperature of the planet is expected to rise between 2-11 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100. This high temperature is going to change the planet as we know it and make life extremely difficult for plants, animals and humans.

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