Global Warming vs. Climate Change: Know what is the real difference, causes and steps for controlling | – The Times of India

The terms ‘global warming’ and ‘climate change’ are often used by people interchangeably but they vary in different aspects that have the same base which is environmental issues. Thus, the environment is getting brutally affected by both of these issues and also, there are multiple issues that can be seen today in the environment because of these two factors. Therefore, it becomes important to know the meaning, causes as well as the steps that are needed to be taken in order to resolve these issues in order to make the planet a healthier planet for survival.

How global warming and climate change differs from each other

What is global warmingGlobal warming is the long term increase in the average temperature of the Earth which is mainly caused by various human activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, increase in the number of transportation and so on. These activities release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere which trap heat from the sun and lead to “greenhouse effect” which raises the temperature of the Earth. Thus, the climate of our planet has changed over a period of time naturally but global warming is becoming the reason for its faster increase for which human activities are held responsible. The other factors affected by global warming are rising sea levels, melting glaciers and change in weather conditions all over the world.Causes of global warmingThe factors that are contributing in the rise of Earth’s temperature in the form of global warming are:

What is climate changeClimate change refers to the long term changes in the average weather patterns of the Earth such as temperature, precipitation and wind that can happen naturally over time. But today, climate change means significant warming of the planet that is caused by human activities such as burning of fossil fuels,deforestation, pollution and so on that leads to the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that leads to rising temperatures, melting ice caps, more extreme weather events and shifts in ecosystems.Causes of climate changeThe factors that are contributing in climate change on Earth are:

How global warming and climate change affects the environmentThe factors like global warming and climate change have a serious impact on the environment that can lead to serious issues in the future as well which are harmful for the planet as well as the organisms living on it. These factors affect the environment in the following ways:1. Increase in temperatureIt affects the intensity of heatwaves and the frequency of weather and makes them hotter that leads to longer warm seasons which affects winters by making them shorter that disrupt the ecosystem as well as the agriculture.2. Melting of glaciersIt reduces freshwater sources and even leads to melting of polar ice caps that becomes a threat for polar species like polar bears and seals. Also, it decreases the ability of our planet to reflect sunlight.3. Rising sea levelsThe rise in sea level is also a factor that is caused as these factors lead to the melting of glaciers and also lead to the thermal expansion of the water in oceans. 4. More extreme weatherThey result in stronger storms in the form of hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons that can become life threatening too. The chances of heavier rainfall also increases which can lead to floods and even landslides.5. Impact on ecosystemsIt can lead to habitat loss as many animals and plants may not be able to adapt their living conditions and adaptations which can lead to the extinction of various species too. It may also disrupt the food chain due to the changes in migration patterns.6. Forest and vegetation stressThey can lead to droughts and can even weaken the forests by making them more prone to forest fires which can destroy the ecosystem and may release more amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere.7. Changes in oceanThey can lead to the presence of acidification in the oceans and can even lead to heat up the oceans that can disrupt marine life and shift in the population of these marine animals.8. Agriculture and food securityThey can lead to the change in the climate that can negatively affect the crops and agriculture too. It can even cause shifts in rainfall and food shortage may occur as well.Steps for controlling global warming and climate change

FAQs that you may find helpful

Does global warming contribute to frequent and intense wildfire events?According to the U.S. Geological Survey, there is not a direct relationship between climate change and fire but researchers believe that there is a significant relationship between warm summer temperatures and large fires so it is widely agreed that climate change will lead to more frequent wildfires.However, hot and dry conditions do not automatically mean fire instead it states that something needs to create the spark and actually start the fire. In some parts of the country such as Alaska, most fires are sparked by lightning whereas in other regions such as California, humans are responsible for these fires. Climate models clearly state that the average summer temperatures will continue to increase through this century but ignition is the wild card. The future is still unpredictable as we have no idea of what is going to happen in the upcoming years because of the unawareness of convective storms and lightning. In what ways does climate change influence natural disasters?The increase in the global surface temperatures directly influences the possibility of more droughts and high intensity storms. The more amount of water vapor evaporates into the atmosphere directly becomes fuel for the development of more powerful storms. Also, increased heat in the atmosphere and warmer surface of the ocean temperatures can affect the speed of wind in tropical storms. On the other hand, rising sea levels highlight the higher locations which are not usually subjected to the power of the sea as well as to the erosive forces of waves and currents.What causes climate change and what are its contributing factors?There are natural as well as human generated factors that contribute to change in climate over the years. Climate change has been taking place on our planet since ancient times which is clearly seen in the geological record with rapid rate but the magnitude of climate change occurring now is raising concerns for everyone worldwide. The greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb the heat radiation. Another factor that has been largely contributing to it are human activities that have increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution which has led to more heat generation and an increased temperature on the surface. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the atmospheric particles alter the climate by scattering and absorbing solar radiations and they may also change the microphysical and chemical properties of clouds. Lastly, the land use changes such as deforestation have also led to changes in the amount of sunlight which is reflected from the ground back into space.Also read: Sun’s south pole unveiled by ESA for the first time; here’s why it matters