Abstract

Deforestation Causing Global Warming and Climate Change

Author(s): Bhartendu Ajay

Deforestation is the act of cutting down or burning the trees in an area. Soil erosion is being caused by widespread deforestation. Deforestation is contributor to global warming and is often cited as one of major causes for the enhancement of green house effect. It could account for one third of total anthropogenic carbon dioxide emission. Recent findings suggest that carbon dioxide emission due to deforestation contribute about 12% of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emission with a range from 6-17%. Tress and other plants remove carbon in the form of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during the process of photosynthesis and release oxygen back into the atmosphere. Both the decay and burning wood releases much of these stored carbon back to atmosphere. Deforestation may cause carbon stores held in soil to be released. In deforestation areas, the land heats up faster and reaches a high temperature leading to localized upward motions that enhance the forest of clouds and ultimately produce more rainfall. Producing emissions from the tropical deforestation. REDD, has emerged as new potential to complement ongoing climate policies. Global warming refers the rising average temperature of earth’s atmosphere and oceans. Climate model projections are summarized in 2007. Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) by IPCC indicates that during 21st century the global surface temperature is likely to rise a further 1.1 to 2.9ºC (2 to 5.2ºF) for their lowest emission scenario and 2.4 to 6.4ºC (4.3 to 11.5ºF) for their highest. The ranges of these estimates arise from the use of models with differing sensitivity to Green house gases (GHG) concentrations. GHG can stay in the atmosphere for an amount of years ranging from decades to hundreds and thousands of years. Five deadliest effects of global warming are: (i) Polar ice cap melting, (ii) Economic consequences, (iii) Increased probability and intensity of droughts and heat eaves, (iv) Warmer waters and more hurricanes and (v) Spread diseases. Government of India and Indian citizens have cautiously to take preventive measures otherwise A. Bhartendu: Deforestation 1732 Causing Global Warming and…. places and famous towns of India like Mumbai, Goa, Kolkata, Puri, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai, Pondicherry etc., are, very soon, going to be under water due to the effects of global warming. Forest are able to extract carbon dioxide and pollutants from the air, thus, contributing to biospheres stability.