*GLOBAL WARMING AND CLIMATE CHANGE*
Stephen Dias Dona Paula Please Note: Contents of this article has some inputs from my friend Elvidio Miranda, from Panjim. He authorized me to use it and I agree. To portray a very simple model of the occurrences in the atmosphere, we have to assume first no emissions of any greenhouse gases. The normal air in the atmosphere consists of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water vapour in a certain proportion. Assume that no industrial emissions are billowing into the air, then wind patterns will be decided by the degree of temperature differences in the atmosphere. On earth, we have the Equator, the tropic of Cancer and Capricorn and the Arctic and Antarctic areas, hottest and coolest regions. Hot gases are lighter in density and thus causes a low-pressure area and cold areas are high-pressure areas. Now wind direction is always from the high-pressure area to a low-pressure area. Huge areas like the Amazon area are densely packed with greenery and is a region where because of photosynthesis to a large extent as well as emission of water in the form of water vapour, precipitation in the form of rain occurs at dew point. The billowing of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter due to the burning of fossil fuels modifies the composition of the air. Thus we now have a situation wherein the entire wind direction as well as temperature due to burning of fossil fuels-coal, petroleum coke, petrol and diesel in particular used in all industrial activities, such as coal-fired power plants, petroleum coke used in the steel and aluminium industries, cement production and other industrial activities as well as in vehicular transportation of all kinds is modifying to a great extent, the composition of the atmosphere. High and low pressures and temperature modifications lead to totally different occurrences in the wind direction, in some cases also leading to spiralling atmospheric vortexes which tries to explain the incidence of hurricanes and cyclones wherein very high-velocity winds and even rain and drastic turbulence occur. Assuming that creation of gases in the atmosphere, due to man-made emissions due to industrialization and vehicular traffic, it is sensible to note that burning of fossil fuels is leading to climate change, drastic changes in the composition of the atmosphere. Replenishing of the purity of the air is due to photosynthesis. Except in areas where there are trees dew and fog occur, but the billowing of greenhouse gases means that dew and fog are replaced by smog, which contains high degrees of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter, raising serious concerns about toxicity due to changes in air quality causing especially respiratory diseases. Also, emission of greenhouse gases is leading to acid rain in which nitric acid, sulfuric acid and carbonic acid leading to pollution of seas, oceans, rivers and other smaller water bodies such as lakes and ponds to be carrying water which is not of the natural content and thus detrimental to the earth. Step by step replacement of the use of fossil fuels will lead to better air and water quality. It would then be prudent to curb greatly the use of coal in coal-fired plants since there are other alternatives in the power sector such as solar power, wind turbine power as well as nuclear power plants with built-in safeguards to deal with earthquakes or tsunamis could make nuclear power very safe, by preventing radiation due of uranium and thorium in the power plants. Also, step by step reduction in petrol and diesel vehicles by using electric cars could contain greenhouse emissions. Global carmakers are set to invest minimum $90 billion for the manufacture of electric vehicles, much of which is to cater to the Chinese market. India should leave no stone unturned to initiate efficiently production of electric cars with major Indian car makers investing to produce electric cars for the domestic markets so as to gradually phase out the use of petrol, diesel and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Hydrogen fuel cell cars could also be developed. Here we have to draw from the almost complete abolition of chlorofluorocarbons, (CFCs) used as refrigerants which has been phased out and thus has led to the protection of the ozone layer in the atmosphere. Participation of the entire world in resorting to uses of renewable sources of energy can lead to a much greater salvation of the human race in which everyone is healthier. Governments must make a concerted effort in which no single country is discriminated on the basis of phasing out greenhouse gas emissions. We know that China, US, European Union and India are the largest emitters of greenhouse gases with China accounting for one fourth and US responsible for a little over one-eighth of emissions. A mutually acceptable climate change controlling regime has to be followed to curb greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Global warming is a clear and present danger, lessons of which can be drawn from the very high and low temperatures witnessed all over the world. One example, in particular, is Australia, wherein the temperature has reached the 47.3 degrees Celcius mark. Also, there are huge apprehensions about the melting of the Arctic and Antarctic ice which will definitely lead to the submergence of low lying areas steadily. Also, climate change is leading to migration patterns. Global leaders have to agree to a prudent roadmap. Once every leader realizes that man-made activity is the cause of global warming and climate change, then the world can work towards drastically curbing the drastic changes in climate pattern. END Stephen Dias Dona Paula Mob: 9422443110