Earth's structural and functional system is highly complex. Human's interaction in the form of urbanization, industrialization, and developmental construction with structural interfaces of the earth change the way it operates. As a result, natural catastrophes and maladies occur. Global warming is one such anomaly.
The earth is surrounded by bulk of atmosphere, which maintains constant temperature to support life, but in the recent decades, serious disorders have been observed regarding the earth's temperature. This disorder is rapid increment of the earth's surface temperature, which is termed as global warming. Global warming is primarily caused by the trapped radiations coming from the sun. Green house effect, where the earth acts like a glass green house, is fundamental reason for trapping of the sun's radiation. Huge amount of infra red radiation trapped within the earth's atmosphere causes the temperature of the earth's surface to rise. It is also believed that unbalance core temperature of the earth promotes global warming to some extent. Whatever may be the cause, global warming has successfully gained tremendous attention from wide range of population including developed nations, and its leaders. A combined effort is needed to minimize global warming by making a systematic research on hazards of this catastrophe. Global warming has serious effects on the earth with hazardous consequences like polar meltdown, change in climatic pattern, degradation of eco system, and health hazards.
Polar meltdown is one of the effects of global warming. Polar meltdown refers to the melting down of huge ice caps in polar region. The most significant meltdown was observed in 1990 by a group of scientists in Antarctica. According to the paper written by Charles W. Petit, Palmer Station is one of the most warmed up places on the planet. Moreover, glacier flood in the polar regions is another hazard continuously reported (Petit). Continuous meltdown of polar ice shelf has increased the sea level. Coastal areas and island dwellers are experiencing adverse effects directly due to uncontrollable polar meltdown. Surveys based on satellite images of polar regions have revealed the extent of effect of global warming at the poles. Formation of crevasses as deep as 200 feet below the highest point of ice were reported by scientific community. Breaking off of such huge chunks of ice diminishes the amount of preserved fresh water in hydrosphere. Mixing of such huge amount of polar water to contaminated sea water has promoted the rate if the rising of sea level by a considerable amount. Frequent observation has been made in coastal region as a result effect of rise in sea level. There reports suggest that there will be tremendous adjustment in natural and structural unit of coastal region in coming years.
Another study made during same decade as 1990 showed that climate pattern of the entire planet was on verge of changing. Though computer aided climatic models are in place to study the remarkable changes occurring in the climate, no definite conclusion has been drawn to address the cause to these phenomena (Houghton 56). Many intellectual communities believe global warming to be the immediate cause of observed change in climate pattern. From as long as 1979, satellite images have been used to conclude the trend in change of climatic pattern. Over the identical interval of research period, similar range of data was collected to analyze the effects of global warming on climatic pattern. The results published were astonishing and surprising, it was concluded that through small increment in global warming, the atmospheric pressure belts endured heavy impact. Change in climatic pattern have had prolonged influence on the functional structure of air pressure belts. Unexpected droughts in some tropical areas during 1998 have thought to be the effect of change in climate. A broad range of change in temperature and atmospheric precipitation occurred due to nominal increment in temperature of troposphere. As a result, famine and drought were observed.
Along with the nominal and unignorable change in climatic pattern, global warming has serious effects on eco system as well. Eco system is the fundamental functional and structural components of an environment. The environment could be fresh water or salt water, even terrestrial, basic component of an ecosystem prevalent in that stage characterize the ecosystem. Due to global warming and polar meltdown, Palmer station in Antarctica has reported a considerable decline in total amount of krill (an organism) in ice shelf. Since krill constitutes the primary source of food for penguins, decreasing population of Adelic penguin has been frequently reported. Once penguin starts to disappear for the ecosystem, animals who feed on penguin will be in immediate effect of this disorder in food chain. Moreover, same crisis of identical magnitude is observed in coastal region as well.66 some recent ecological genetics extinction of any species in response to climate and environment change is highly probable. Mixing of fresh water at considerable amount to sea water has changes essential contents of marine environment to huge extent. Thus, to adapt to this new environment, species undergo genetic and morphological adjustments. Resulting species may not be characterized by similar behavior as its ancestor. Similar pattern follow in case of terrestrial ecosystem as well (Botkin Daniel B. et al.).
