Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years.
It may be a change in average weather conditions, or in the distribution of weather around the average conditions (i.e., more or fewer extreme weather events).
The subject of climate change is one dear to my heart. I am saddled with the responsibility of 'saving the planet' in the little way i can and spreading the word on the need to take good care of our environment not just for us but for our children and children's children, right down to many more generations to come.
My friend, Abdul Bala, a plant biologist and environmental activist wrote this article and I thought i should share it with you guys.
Read after the jump break...
Environmental Discussions and forums is no longer a new thing to the world now,especially the word “CLIMATE CHANGE”. But do we really know how the whole system is inter-twined? This piece will help shed more light on it.
The major role players in our environment are: Solar Energy,The atmosphere,The Arboreal,Terrestrial and Aquatic habitat,and how these activities affects the abiotic and biotic system.
THE TECHNICALITIES:
The Solar system as known is said to be the provider of solar energy to the earth,and this energy which is composed of sun rays and some toxins are are released and passed through the atmosphere down to the earth for various economic uses.
The Atmosphere which serve as the passage and house for many substances like the toxics and many elements like nitrogen and other components of air serve as the passage for both the “To and Fro” movement of all atmospheric moving elements.
The Arboreal habitat is composed of trees,shrubs and grasses, and the animals occupying these territories like bats,butterfly e.t.c.
The terrestial habitat is composed of land and its inhabitants. This land is the supporter of growth for most plant (except some lower plants like some micro-spores that survive on air and water). This part of the ecosystem is where majority of animals live, and man is their most advance.
Aquatic Habitat is the water part of the ecosystem.this habitat is made up of where some water plants like water lilly,animals like fish, e.t.c are found.
Biotic factors are connected with the living things while abiotic factors are concerned with the non living things.
THE PROCESS:
The major and simplified process is as follows:
The sun emits solar energy (rays and toxic substances) to the atmosphere,but the toxins are been filtered off by the ozone layer,and the major thing now reaching the earth through the environment is the pure energy (sun rays). This energy upon reaching the earth of course is being utilized by many factors that needs it. Remember that its natural importance is recognized globally (lightens the ecosystem). Upon reaching the earth and aquatic surface,this energy strikes the surface and is immediately re-radiated as heat energy,which tend to now move back in an upward direction. This movement naturally reduces its intensity due to work done by it to move up, and the imminent collision the molecules encounter.
This explains why it’s heat is hotter in the leg than in the head, why it is hotter on the surface that in a sky scraper or mountain.This explains the phenomenon “The Higher you go, The cooler it becomes”
CAUSES AND EFFECTS:
As this seem well understood,why then do we have a change in intensity of heat, and more water as flood, and more anthropogenical environmentally induced problems?
Remember that this system flow will only give a stable condition if and only if the components are given the normal and natural room to act. One major problem which is the depletion of the ozone layer has exposed all entities including man to be exposed to the dangerous rays which should have normally been filtered off by the ozone.what Depleted the ozone?toxic chemical substances mostly released by human actions, which naturally are been arrested by the plants have been given free room to move up,and with its accumulation,have caused a hole in the ozone.I.e the trapped dangerous rays which have been trapped since solar inception,now have a leak to the earth.
Plants have this innate ability to arrest these toxic substances whether those released by human actions or from the solar system, and won’t cause any damage to them because their system is been defensively built that it won’t get into their inner system easily. Some plants help greatly in environmental cleaning up and bio-remediation.
But as these plants are been irreplaceable reduced by falling,clearing for building and business,of course this allows the free flow of these toxins around inhabitants of land,water and even atmosphere.
Secondly, more heat is now been felt on earth because some of the users e.g plants,are no longer there,we now have more of it around.this is simpler explained why we seek shelter under the tree when the heat intensity is much.
Thirdly,as we have now known what causes the increase in the heat intensity,we can see the effects on land as desertification becomes more pronounced in the Sahel,the soil is now not so habitable due to damaging of soil nutrients by the toxins,this heat intensity also have caused melts of ice in the polar region causing increase in the sea and ocean water level, and this extra water flows unto the soil surface,and as there are no enough trees to reduce the flowing water strength,the flood then cause great loss of lives and property which include the washing away of topmost soil.
This resultant effect lead to problems like food shortage,giving room to more refugees. loss of shelters to many,and even health hazards.
SOLUTION:
As a plant biologist,and an environmental expert,the first solutions will have to do with plants.
* stop indiscriminate falling of trees (which is also a solution to desertification)
* Encourage planting of trees in virgin lands and re-afforestation (for cleaning up,flooding reduction,beautification,and reduction of health hazard)
*Effective Legislation
* Find alternative to energy source e.g bio-fuels makes our environment cleaner,safer and greener.
* Reduce emission of carbon compounds by making industrial legislation.
* Education,Seminars and enlightenment should be enhanced.
Remember that our economy is climate dependent,be wise about what concerns you most, and make the environment greener,cleaner and safe,then you can live a better life.
GREEN IS LIFE.
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