Earth is a habitat and a place to live for various living things in the world, including humans. However, the earth is getting warmer day by day due to global warming. Do you guys already know what global warming is?
Global warming is a global phenomenon triggered by human activities, especially those related to the use of fossil materials and land use change activities. This activity produces gases that are increasingly in the atmosphere, especially carbon dioxide (CO2) through a process called the greenhouse effect.
The greenhouse effect is a term that is quite closely related to global warming. Called the greenhouse effect because of an increase in the earth’s temperature due to heat trapped in the earth’s atmosphere. The process is similar to a greenhouse that functions to maintain the warmth of the plant temperature inside. The increase in temperature in the greenhouse occurs because of the reflection of sunlight by objects in the greenhouse that are blocked by glass walls, so hot air cannot get out (greenhouse effect).
What causes global warming?
Above the earth’s surface, the greenhouse effect can also occur. This can happen because as much as 25% of solar energy that enters the earth is reflected by clouds or other particles in the atmosphere, 25% is absorbed by clouds, 45% is absorbed by the earth’s surface, and another 5% is reflected back by the earth’s surface.
Solar energy that has been absorbed will be reflected back in the form of infrared radiation by clouds and also the earth’s surface. However, the reflected energy can be blocked by carbon dioxide (CO2) and other gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. The amount of CO2 in the air is one of the factors causing global warming.
Actually, CO2 is needed and will be absorbed by plants to carry out the process of photosynthesis. However, due to the depletion of forests and green lands, CO2 levels in the atmosphere are out of control. Other global warming factors are industrial gases, fuel pollution, and methane gas produced from plastic waste.
What are the impacts of global warming?
It was previously explained that global warming will increase the temperature on the earth’s surface. The increasing temperature of the earth can cause various adverse impacts on the environment and other ecosystems due to global climate change.
One example of the impact of global warming is the melting of glaciers and polar ice caps. This will result in rising sea levels and make some areas submerged in sea water.
Examples of other adverse effects of global warming are such as high rainfall, crop failure, loss of coral reefs, the extinction of various species, to the depletion of the ozone layer in the earth’s atmosphere.
So, how can we Prevent global warming?
There are various ways to deal with this longstanding problem. One of them is to reduce the use of fossil fuels such as oil and coal. The reason is that fossil fuels are the biggest cause of high CO2 levels on earth.
Another way is to do reforestation, which is the process of replanting forests that have been cut down and increasing green land. That way, CO2 will be absorbed by plants and reduce the impact of global warming.
Finally, we can reduce the use of plastic to avoid piles of plastic waste that can produce methane gas. In addition, plastic waste will be difficult to decompose by the environment. Start switching to materials that are more biodegradable.
Cherish and love the earth for us and the next generation, pal, junior high school!
Author: Middle School Directorate Web Manager
Reference: Open Middle School Science Learning Module
