Dive into these comprehensive notes designed for IAS hopefuls. This material will also be beneficial for those preparing for other competitive exams such as banking PO, SSC, state civil services exams and more. Today, we will explore the topic of Climate Change.
NCERT Notes: Causes Of Climate Change [Geography Notes For UPSC]
Also Read NCERT Notes: Causes Of Climate Change [Geography Notes For UPSC] in Hindi
Defining Climate
The Concept of Climate
- Climate refers to the long-term weather conditions in a specific region.
- While weather can fluctuate dramatically in a matter of hours, climate changes occur over millions of years.
- Our planet has experienced numerous climate variations since its inception.
Indicators of Climate Change
Signs of Climate Change
- Rising sea levels
- Increase in global temperatures
- Warming of oceans
- Reduction in ice sheets
- Decline in Arctic sea ice
- Retreat of glaciers
- Frequent and severe natural disasters
- Acidification of oceans
- Diminishing snow cover
What Triggers Climate Change?
Triggers of Climate Change
- Climate change can be attributed to several causes. The most significant human-induced factor is the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
- These causes can be broadly categorized into two types:
- Astronomical causes
- Activities related to sunspots
- Millankovitch cycles
- Terrestrial causes
- Volcanic activities
- Accumulation of greenhouse gases
- Astronomical causes
Astronomical Factors
- Astronomical factors include variations in solar energy linked to sunspot activities.
- Sunspots are cooler, darker patches on the sun that fluctuate in a cyclical manner.
- An increase in sunspots correlates with cooler and wetter weather conditions and increased storm activity.
- These activities influence the amount of insolation (incoming solar radiation) received from the sun, which could impact the climate.
- Millankovitch cycles refer to changes in the earth’s orbital characteristics around the sun, the wobbling of the earth, and shifts in the earth’s axial tilt. These cycles can alter the amount of insolation received from the sun, potentially affecting the climate.
Volcanic Activities
- Volcanic activities are also considered a significant factor in climate change.
- Volcanic eruptions release a vast amount of aerosols into the atmosphere.
- These aerosols can linger in the atmosphere for a long time, reducing the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface.
Greenhouse Gas Concentration
- The main greenhouse gases include Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), Methane (CH 4 ), Nitrous oxide (N 2 O), Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and Ozone (O 3 ).
- Certain gases like nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO) can react with greenhouse gases, altering their concentration in the atmosphere.
- The most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere is carbon dioxide.
Understanding the Greenhouse Effect
- The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth's surface.
- While some of the sun's radiation is reflected back into space, a significant portion is absorbed by the land and oceans, warming the Earth.
- This heat radiates back towards space.
- Some of this heat is trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, maintaining the Earth's temperature at a level suitable for life.
- Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture, and deforestation increase the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.
- This increase traps additional heat, causing the Earth's temperature to rise, leading to global warming.
Global Warming Explained
- Global warming refers to the gradual increase in the Earth's surface, ocean, and atmospheric temperatures.
- Global warming starts with the greenhouse effect, which is brought about by the interaction between the sun's radiation and the Earth's atmosphere.
- The atmosphere acts like a greenhouse due to the presence of greenhouse gases.
Further Reading:
| Factors controlling the temperature distribution |
| Circulation of the atmosphere |
| Volcanoes |
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