GLOBAL WARMING: PLEASE PAY ATTENTION

_{The situation at hand}

_{If you look at the globe you will find that Pakistan lies between 23 degrees 35 minutes to 37 degrees 05 minutes North latitude and 60 degrees 50 minutes to 77 degrees 50 minutes east longitude. Basically it lies in South of the continent Asia. We have four seasons: Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring. Currently it should be Summer on our side but what we are experiencing is the lingering Spring.}

Conversations, these days, taking place around me:

Wow, it's May and doesn't feel like it.

I know, right? It's such a blessing we don't have to switch on the air conditioning... It's May and still pleasant.

Exactly! Doesn't feel like May at all. It's like we're getting an extended spring this year.

I'm not complaining though. I'll take this weather over scorching heat any day.

Absolutely, let's enjoy it while it lasts!

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I'm unsure if there's a more appropriate platform than this science-focused community to share thoughts on the current situation, a byproduct of global warming.

It's already May in Pakistan, but the weather doesn't reflect it. While many around me are commenting on this unusual weather, particularly during the wheat harvest season, where untimely rains and hailstorms have led to significant losses for farmers nationwide. In a developing country like ours, where wheat is a primary crop vital for both economic sustainability and food security, this situation is deeply concerning.

Some may welcome the cooler temperatures, grateful to escape the usual scorching heat of May. However, only a few are connecting these weather anomalies to global warming, a perspective I share.

Reflecting on my childhood, I recall, I never liked my mother's concerns about rain during the harvests. I didn't want to worry then. I was more concerned about missing out on playtime. Ironically, now, I find myself echoing her worries, albeit with a greater sense of urgency and understanding.

If I may quote this article from NASA:

Earth Will Continue to Warm and the Effects Will Be Profound

The potential future effects of global climate change include more frequent wildfires, longer periods of drought in some regions, and an increase in the wind intensity and rainfall from tropical cyclones.
left - Mike McMillan/USFS, center - Tomas Castelazo / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0, right - NASA.

This increase in the intensity of winds and subsequent rains are what we are experiencing right now in our country. This effect is more clearly elaborated as:

Global warming refers only to the Earth’s rising surface temperature, while climate change includes warming and the “side effects” of warming—like melting glaciers, heavier rainstorms, or more frequent drought. Said another way, global warming is one symptom of the much larger problem of human-caused climate change. ⬅️↘️

The only controllable variable in this situation is "human-caused climate change". While climate changes are natural phenomena resulting from Earth's rotation and tilt, the drastic changes we're witnessing are a result of human-induced alterations to nature.

These terms global warming versus greenhouse effect used to confuse me a lot. I would always think that the 'greenhouse effect' should be a good thing and would picture a nursery of plants under some green-tinted glass. I understand you people are all very knowledgeable, and you know that if this greenhouse effect were to encompass the whole globe, it would make the entire Earth very warm.

This term 'greenhouse' was originally coined for the effect that was meant for artificially creating a temperate environment for a few plants. So what is this Greenhouse actually?

The greenhouse, typically made of glass or transparent materials, is designed to provide controlled environmental conditions for growing plants. It allows sunlight to enter, heating the interior, while preventing heat from escaping, thus creating a warmer climate than the surrounding outdoor environment.
_{(a brief recap assuming everyone is familiar.)}

Now, imagine what would happen if the entire Earth came under this very effect? The grave implications of this phenomenon. YES, this has been happening for quite some time now, and the intensity is only increasing day by day. The impacts are so profound that we are experiencing them on our level. These changes are not confined to the melting glacier facets - an aspect that one can overlook under the perspective: 'out of sight, out of mind'!

In essence, global warming is the rise in global temperatures, primarily caused by human activities like burning fossil fuels, industrialisation and deforestation, which release greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). These gases trap heat within the Earth's atmosphere and prevent it from escaping into space. This effect is further amplified by atmospheric barriers. This trapping of heat into the earth is called the greenhouse effect.

So that's where our role comes into light. Most of the activities that contribute to the increase of the greenhouse effect are triggered by us, humans. The very first step towards reducing this phenomenon could be awareness. Campaigns should emphasize in all caps: "IT'S GLOBAL WARMING: PLEASE PAY ATTENTION!" As much as I want to enjoy this kind of weather in May, I should be very well aware that it is not because it was meant to be, but it is because we have been interfering with nature a little too much.

_{Cloudy weather today}

The gradual changes and effects that have been occurring in the past have now reached a critical point, confronting us directly. They have exceeded the threshold level! The climate changes involve significant alterations in weather patterns, temperatures, precipitation, and sea levels, all noticeable in our daily weather and climate. These shifts have extensive impacts on ecosystems, weather events, agriculture, water resources, and even on human health.

These are not merely wild observations or blabbering; there is tons of data supporting this evidence. Many people still stubbornly refuse to accept that these changes are not just nature's way. They want to remain naive and believe that it's just nature working in its own mysterious ways. They really don't believe in the science behind this. I suggest that they should stop living in a fool's paradise because scientists use data, computer models, and theories to study and predict global warming and climate change. They are figuring out how the atmosphere, oceans, land, ice, and living things all interact to help us deal with these changes. And mind you, the scientific consensus unequivocally affirms that human activities are the primary catalysts of recent global warming and climate change.

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What is the takeaway point/s of this entire conversation?

• Stay aware of the impacts of global warming and our role in it.

• Take mindful actions to reduce its effects.

• Recognize our responsibility and live conscientiously.

• Protect the health of our planet by working to prevent further global warming.

Let's each play our part, however small it maybe...