5.Investigating the Impact of Human Activities on Ecosystem and Climate Change |
Manish Kumar, Shahina Kalim, Sandeep Arya, Anju Singh and Nirmala Devi |
Climate change, the long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns, is a pressing global issue with far-reaching consequences. Understanding the factors that drive this complex phenomenon is crucial for mitigating its impacts and adapting to its realities. The Earth's delicate balance between ecosystems and climate is facing unprecedented challenges, primarily driven by human activities. The burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas releases large amounts of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, leading to global warming and a cascade of ecological consequences. Forests play a vital role in regulating climate by absorbing CO2. However, deforestation for agriculture, logging, and development is rapidly diminishing these vital carbon sinks, further exacerbating climate change. Intensive agricultural practices like monoculture farming, excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, and large-scale livestock production contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, soil degradation, and water pollution, impacting both climate and ecosystem health. Overfishing disrupts marine ecosystems, while pollution from plastics, chemicals, and agricultural runoff contaminates water bodies, harming aquatic life and disrupting food webs. These factors impact both climate and ecosystems, with consequences for ocean health and coastal communities. Global warming disrupts weather patterns, leading to more frequent and intense heat waves, droughts, floods, and wildfires. These extreme events further degrade ecosystems and threaten human livelihoods. Loss of forests weakens the natural buffer against climate change, as trees absorb and store carbon dioxide. Deforestation also alters regional weather patterns, contributing to increased rainfall variability and droughts. Keywords: Deforestation, Pollution, Carbon, Climate, Ecosystem |