What is Climate Change?
Climate change is the long-term change in the weather patterns of a specific geographical location.
- This change in the weather patterns can either be human-induced or due to anthropogenic factors.
- All these factors collectively raise the temperature of the local environment and hence contribute to ecological imbalances in the weather conditions.
- These weather conditions, when hampered for a longer period of time, lead to a substantial change in the climate of that area; i.e., a rise in the temperature; an increased concentration of greenhouse gases; disturbed natural cycles; all of this leads to change in the climatic conditions of the geographical area.
Causes of Climate change
Below we have mentioned all the causes of Climate Change
Natural Factors
Natural factors are the natural events that occur in the environment. Man has no control over these occurrences. These can include the following:
Continental drifts
The movement of the tectonic plates has been taking place for millions of years. The movement of these plates leads to changes in the physical features of the landmass and the placement of the water bodies on the earth's surface. This leads to a change in the weather patterns, which over the years contributes to climate change.
Plate tectonics
The constant change in temperature of the core of the Earth's surface causes plate repositioning. This affects the local temperature of the environment and other codependent environmental factors, which in turn lead to climate change.
Eruption of volcano
An eruption of a volcano lasts for a very short period of time, but its after-effects are persistent for years. When lava erupts out of a volcano, a large amount of carbon dioxide, dust particles, aerosol droplets, and other greenhouse gases enter the earth's atmosphere. When excreted in large concentrations, these gases can warm up the earth's atmospheric layers and contribute to global warming. Hence, causing climate change.
Ocean currents
The movement of winds in the horizontal direction contradicts the natural flow of ocean currents. Hence, causes temperature variation, which in turn leads to a change in the climate of the particular geographical area. This contributes to climate change as well.
Anthropogenic Factors
Anthropogenic factors are influenced by human actions and deeds. The anthropogenic factors include the following:
Greenhouse gases
The gases that absorb heat radiation from the sun and result in an increase in the temperature of the Earth's surface are called greenhouse gases. These include carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, water vapors, methane, and nitrous oxide. Due to industrialization, deforestation, and urbanization, the levels of concentrations of these gases are increasing in the atmosphere day by day, hence contributing to global warming.
Aerosoles
Aerosols are extremely tiny liquid particles suspended in the earth's atmosphere. Their presence can be caused by a variety of activities such as coal burning, burning of plants grown with ammonia-containing fertilizers, biomass burning, and other industrial processes. aerosols They scatter and absorb solar radiation as well as infrared radiation, causing a change in the temperature of atmospheric layers. They also affect the physical and chemical composition of clouds, including cloud formation. Hence, it has an indirect impact on the climate.
Land use pattern
Extensive usage of land for industrial purposes leads to deforestation, and changes in agricultural patterns lead to increased levels of greenhouse gases. Losing trees means losing the capability of cooling the environment, which is equivalent to increased carbon dioxide levels.
Impacts of Climate Change
Let’s discuss the impacts of climate change below
Landscape Change
Landscape change has contributed to the continuous change in the positioning of land mass and also the movement of the flora and fauna towards the polar regions as they seek a cooler environment to tackle rising temperatures. On the contrary, the habitat of polar species is in danger due to the melting of ice as a result of global warming.
The rise in the Levels of the Sea
The melting of glaciers is the result of global warming due to the increased temperature of the earth's atmosphere. All this water merges with the ocean and results in a significant rise in the sea level leading to a high risk of natural disasters like floods in the coastal regions. These disasters erode the coastlines and destroy the ecosystems and wetlands around it.
Ocean Acidification
Increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere lead to increased absorption of carbon dioxide by the ocean leading to ocean acidification. This, as a result, destroys the habitat for aquatic species like planktons, molluscs, and corals.
Ecosystem Imbalances
Changes in weather patterns disrupt the local environment Hence destroying the suitable ecological conditions and The survival of indigenous species. This causes an imbalance in the ecosystem and destroys the natural environment.
Natural Disasters
Draughts are occurring in various parts of the world as a result of a lack of adequate rainfall and high intensity of solar radiation in that geographical area, depleting the local species. The rise in sea level is another phenomenon caused by climate change that leads to floods, hurricanes, and storms.
Adverse Human Health
Human health is compromised due to the high concentration of toxic gases in the atmosphere, which leads to various respiratory diseases. High temperatures also lead to an increase in various potential diseases in humans.
National Action Plan on Climate Change
The NAPCC is a committee set up by the Indian government with the aim of tackling climate change. It includes the following 8 missions:
- National Solar Mission
- National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency
- National Water Mission
- National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem
- National Mission on Sustainable Habitat
- National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change
- National Mission for a Green India
- National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
Climate Change UPSC
Climate Change is a big part of the GS Paper- 3 of the UPSC Mains Syllabus, and questions on this topic can be asked in the UPSC Prelims as well. That’s why all the UPSC aspirants must thoroughly analyze the topic to have an effective preparation for both UPSC Prelims and UPSC Mains. Candidates also need to count on the right UPSC Books to have fruitful results.
Climate Change UPSC Notes PDF
Climate Change notes for the UPSC exam can be downloaded from the below-given link. Having the printout version of the Climate Change notes would help the candidates to prepare in the best possible way, and make the note-making process easier.
>>Download Climate Change UPSC Notes PDF
Sample Questions on Climate Change
Question. Which of the following statements about the 'Global Environment Facility is/are correct?
A) The "Convention on Biological Diversity" and the "United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change" both use it as a funding mechanism.
B) On a global scale, it conducts scientific studies on environmental challenges.
C) It is an OECD agency that facilitates the transfer of technology and funding to developing nations with the specific goal of environmental protection.
D) (a) and (b) are both correct.
Answer. (A)
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