By Professor Maung Maung Aye
Introduction
The main aim of this article is to succinctly present the ‘Climate Change and Global Warming’ from geographic point-of-view. First, the top ten worst environmental issues of the world will be mentioned, and it will be followed by presenting two worst environmental issues:
- Climate Change, and
- Global Warming based upon geographical perspectives. Finally, the most remarkable changing climatic events that have taken place in Myanmar will be briefly highlighted.
Today it is commonly agreed upon the fact that there are the world’s top 10 worst environmental issues such as:
1. Climate change
2. Global warming
3. Over development
4. Overfishing
5. Clear cutting
6. Acid rain
7. Smog
8. Salinity
9. Driftnet fishing
10. Coral bleaching
Out of these ten worst issues of the world, only the first two issues of climate change and global warming are to be briefly presented here, from the view-point of Climatic Geography, to the readers of the Global New Light of Myanmar Daily Newspaper.
Climate Change
What is meant by the term ‘Climate Change’?
Climate change in general refers to any long term change in local or global weather pattern when measured over a number of years. Climate also includes temperature, precipitation, days of sunlight, and other indicators. When climate change is used in an environmentalist sense it is usually meant to indicate negative changes in the climate such as global warming.
The difference between Climate and Weather
To many people the words climate and weather seem interchangeable, but in truth they are two distinct terms. When we refer to weather we mean the day to day changes in temperature, precipitation, and winds that is chaotic and generally unpredictable. We may have weather forecasts, but we can never truly pin down the exact weather pattern for any given day or week. Climate on the other hand refers to the long term trends in weather patterns globally. While weather changes from day to day, climate change takes place over thousands or millions of years, and helps shape the environment around us.
Factors Influencing Climate Change: The Natural
Many factors, both man-made and natural influence climate change. Natural factors include volcanic activity, solar variations, orbital variations, and plate tectonics. Volcanic activity can contribute to the carbon dioxide (CO2) buildup in the atmosphere, but also cause cooling trends. CO2 emitted by volcanoes is actually very little when compared to that emitted by human beings. Variations in the sun’s rays can also cause warming or cooling trends, as can slight deviations in the orbit of the Earth around the sun. Climate change is also a very interdependent process, meaning that one small climate change, such as glacier retreat, affects many other aspects of the global climate as well.
Factors influencing Climate Change: The Man-Made
Though our planet has seen warm periods and ice ages before the Industrial Age, it was nothing compared to the rapid climate change we are seeing now. This is mostly due to the greenhouse gas (GHG) effect, a phenomena where the CO2 released into the air helps trap heat on the Earth’s surface, warming the planet up. Without some CO2 in the atmosphere the Earth would be uninhabitable, but too much creates a steamy situation.
According to research that tests CO2 levels by studying fossils and glaciers, the CO2 levels in our atmosphere are higher now than at any other point in the last 750,000 years. As more heat becomes trapped on the Earth’s surface glaciers melt, sea levels rise, and weather patterns become more extreme.
But it’s not only industry that creates so much CO2 in the atmosphere. Deforestation and land use may have begun human-influenced climate change thousands of years ago. As more and more trees are cut down and cleared for farming, the Earth’s capacity to turn CO2 into oxygen through plant life is diminished. Halting global warming and climate change not only relies on clean manufacturing, but also respect for the vital role of flora in our global ecosystem.
Methane and aerosols in the atmosphere are also byproducts of human activity. Aerosols cause ozone depletion, but also block some of the sun’s rays, while methane contributes to the greenhouse gas effect.
Effects of Climate Change
Climate change has a huge impact on the flora and fauna of the planet. Mass species extinction could be a result of global warming. Take the example of the polar bear. Glaciers are already melting due to global warming. As arctic regions melt and shrink the polar bear has less territory and prey, and thus teeters on the brink of endangerment. As temperate areas become warmer local organisms may no longer be able to survive, and will become extinct.
The warming of the global climate will also result in intense weather events, like hurricanes, cyclones, typhoon and tornadoes, which will become increasingly more devastating. Desertification and flooding will also result. In truth, it is actually underdeveloped nations like Africa, who have not contributed to the massive emissions of greenhouse gases, who will pay the most.
What can you do About Climate Change?
Climate change is a problem we can all band together to fix. We need to call for greater accountability in our leaders, and support environmentally conscious companies and countries with our purchasing decisions.
Global Warming
A new threat?
In recent decades a new threat to the health of our planet has emerged: global warming. Whether or not you believe in the phenomena, scientific fact has proven that global temperatures have risen roughly one degree Fahrenheit (0.74 degrees Celsius) since 1950, and are projected to rise by much more than that in the future. So what if it gets warmer, right? We can all wear shorts and sip fruity drinks by the pool. Or, may be not. With global warming comes a host of problems to plague or planet, from mass species extinction to rising sea levels. Global warming is a problem, and unless we act fast, the consequences could be permanent.
Causes of Global Warming
There are many sources of global warming, and not all of them stem from human causes. For example, both solar variation and volcanic activity have both played a role in global warming in the past history of our planet. But the sharp increases seen in the last few centuries have been linked by the vast majority of scientists to human behavior, specifically CO2 emissions.
These CO2 emissions contribute to the greenhouse gas effect, which was discovered in 1824 by Joseph Fourier. The Earth actually has greenhouse gas effects occurring naturally, mostly caused by evaporating water, without which our planet would be too cold to live on. However, the vast quantities of carbon dioxide and methane found in our atmosphere are far from natural. Consider this: the atmospheric levels of CO2 have risen 31% and methane 149% since the beginning of the industrial revolution in the mid-1700’s. Obviously the increase in greenhouse gases (GHGs) is largely tied to human behavior.
These gases are released through industrial production, burning of fossil fuels (i.e. cars), and deforestation. Obviously if we want to lower our greenhouse gas emissions, we need to find new sources of energy and replant our forests.
Consequences of Global Warming
Obviously the warming of our planet is going to have global repercussions. Current climate projections estimate that by the end of the 21st century we could have global warming of 1.1 to 6.4 degrees Celsius (2 to 11 degrees Fahrenheit). With these warmer temperatures a variety of changes would happen. Glacier retreat (which is already happening) would speed up, and the Arctic landmass would also be subject to melting. This in turn would raise sea levels up to 0.46 metre (a foot and a half).
Global warming will also have an increasingly large effect on the patterns of extreme weather on our planet such as hurricanes, cyclones, typhoon tornadoes, floods, and drought. Hurricanes (Cyclones & Typhoons) will become less frequent but far more intense, and areas currently experiencing drought will widen. Many locations that rely on a flow of summer streams will lose water during the warmer months as well.
Any species who cannot adapt to the climate change and resulting effects on locations around the world will become extinct. It is thought that this number could reach the hundreds of thousands, including both flora and fauna.
While plants and animals decline, certain diseases will thrive in the increasingly warmer climate. Both malaria and dengue fever will spread as new areas become warm enough to support the mosquitoes that carry the diseases. This will dramatically affect human life, especially in developing countries which lack basic health care.
What can we do?
Sadly many scientists think that global warming has not even leveled out yet, because of the massive temperature holding abilities of our oceans. That means that even if we were to halt our CO2 producing industries this second, global warming would still increase for a while before declining. However, we can still make a difference for the future.
By supporting renewable sources of energy in our homes and vehicles each person can make a difference. Clean energy can help stop global warming. For those of you fortunate enough to live in democratic countries, vote for leaders who truly care about our environment and are committed to making a difference.
Climate Variation due to Climate Change in Myanmar
The climate change has already been occurring in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
The most remarkable changing climatic events are as follows:
- Late onset after 1977 (Later onset of southwest Monsoon)
2. Early withdrawal after 1977 (Earlier withdrawal of southwest Monsoon)
3. Shorter Monsoon duration after 1977 (Shorter duration of southwest Monsoon)
4. Retardation of Monsoon advancement increased in 1990s
5. Monsoon strength sharply decreased after the warm episode of 1978 – 1983
6. Heat indices increased after 1977 (Warmer temperatures)
7. Annual rain decreased after 1977 (Lesser rainfalls)
8. Normal ‘Monsoon Break’ disappeared in 1990s
9. The Monsoon depressions became less significantly in 1990s (Lesser storms in the Bay of Bengal)
10. The abnormal synoptic situations occurred in 1980s and 1990s
Carbon Budget of Myanmar
With reference to the speech delivered by the Union Minister for Environmental Conservation and Forestry at the 12th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit held from February 2 to 4, 2012 in New Delhi, India, certain facts and figures are noteworthy. As part of the UN environmental conservation programme, Myanmar, joining hands with the NGOs, is drawing the national level report and the tasks which would be in harmony with environment. According to the statistics in 2000, Myanmar released 74 tons of carbon every year while its forests absorb about 142 tons of carbon. The country hopes for participation in regional and global environmental conservation programmes as it is still facing the over population, poverty, deforestation and wrong land utilization.
Conclusion
In short, this author would like to make the salient point that no one else but we human beings are responsible for the causes of such worst environmental issues as global warming and climate change. Therefore, no one else but we human beings are responsible for the repair of the damage we have done. The author firmly believes that with “respect for life as part of the Buddhist moral code” and genuine concern for all things – living and non-living.
there is no reason why we cannot mend our mistake. Global warming and climate change are global challenges, and accordingly these environmental issues are global concern. As responsible citizens of the world, we should all push in with this great and noble task of restoring our environment for the benefit of not only the present generation but also for that of the generations to come.
