THE IGNORED MENACE
Global warming refers to climate change that causes an increase in the average temperature of the lower atmosphere. Global warming can have many different causes, but it is most commonly associated with human interference, specifically the release of excessive amounts of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), water vapor, and fluorinated gases, act like a greenhouse around the earth. This means that they let the heat from the Sun into the atmosphere, but do not allow the heat to escape back into space. The more greenhouse gases there are, the larger the percentage of heat that is trapped inside the earth’s atmosphere.
Without a natural greenhouse effect, the temperature of the Earth would be about zero degrees F (-18°C) instead of its present 57°F (14°C). So, the concern is not with the fact that we have a greenhouse effect, but whether human activities are leading to an enhancement of the greenhouse effect.
There has been a general, but not global, tendency towards reduced diurnal temperature range (DTR), (the difference between high and low daily temperatures) over about 50% of the global land mass since the middle of the 20th century. Cloud cover has increased in many of the areas with reduced diurnal temperature range.
As temperatures rise, disease-carrying mosquitoes and rodents spread, infecting people in their wake. Doctors at the Harvard Medical School have linked the recent U.S. outbreaks of dengue fever, malaria, Hantavirus and other diseases directly to climate change.
Super powerful hurricanes, fueled by warmer Ocean temperatures are the “smoking gun” of global warming. Since 1970, the number of category 4 and 5 events has jumped sharply. Human activities are adding an alarming amount of pollution to the earth’s atmosphere causing catastrophic shifts in weather patterns. These shifts are causing severe heat, floods and worse.
The biggest cause of global warming is the carbon dioxide released when fossil fuels like oil and coal are burned for energy. So when energy is saved global warming is resisted.
Tragically, we are about half a century away from being ecologically and economically bankrupt because of global warming We can just do our bit by choosing an efficient, least polluting vehicle, buying energy efficient appliances and trying and incorporating the use of compact fluorescent bulbs instead of the incandescent bulbs which we normally use and last but not the least by weatherizing our homes and cutting our heating and cooling expenses and reducing the burning of fossil fuels.
After all, the advent of changes in global climate signals that we are now living beyond the Earth's capacity to absorb a major waste product.
Monday, 7 April 2008
Article for TOI
ON THE THRESHOLD OF A NEW TOMORROW
College—a placid word, but with an increasing number of interpretations for every student, always brings out a twinkle in the eyes. Sending messages on mobiles during lectures, managing of the bunk sheets for the defaulters lists, spending sleepless nights worrying about the passing marks, late-night submissions and a series of night outs, departmental rivalry, cultural activities, the college sweatshirts—all seems like the perfect snapshot of the astounding period of college life!
But all good things in life come to an end and college life is no exception. Before you know, you have already grown up! You reach a point where you suddenly are bombarded with lot of decision making. Life, which was always so happening and eventful, suddenly takes a turn towards serious issues and radical maturity.
Devayani Mulay, a last year Psychology student holds, “The last day of college is indeed depressing. For me, it’s the end of one of the most memorable and best periods of my life. As a Psychology student, I have always found my college life very fulfilling and have enjoyed every moment of it. The three years of my graduation passed really fast and I am in the transition phase now. Life will change but the time I spent in my college will always be cherished.”
Aditya Tapadia, a last year engineering student says, “College life was full of submissions, deadlines and pressures. But despite that I enjoyed a lot with my friends and was also very active on the cultural front. Although I will miss my college days, I believe that it’s a phase and it has to go. I am looking forward to my post graduation and am hoping that it will be as enriching as B.E.”
Sheetal Pathak, a last year M.A. Economics student opines, “The last day of college literally got butterflies in my stomach. It was like a nightmare to accept that from the next day, life would be completely different. All of us who were together now would segregate and go their own way. Another factor was stepping out of the shell and making up my mind with regards to what I wanted to do next.”
The last day of college is like the final page of your favorite novel, where you look back and feel the euphoria of having known the entire book but with the grief of it having ended. But come what may, one has to come to terms with reality and be optimistic towards walking up the next phases of life. Time flies; what remain are the memories. So cheers to them!!
College—a placid word, but with an increasing number of interpretations for every student, always brings out a twinkle in the eyes. Sending messages on mobiles during lectures, managing of the bunk sheets for the defaulters lists, spending sleepless nights worrying about the passing marks, late-night submissions and a series of night outs, departmental rivalry, cultural activities, the college sweatshirts—all seems like the perfect snapshot of the astounding period of college life!
But all good things in life come to an end and college life is no exception. Before you know, you have already grown up! You reach a point where you suddenly are bombarded with lot of decision making. Life, which was always so happening and eventful, suddenly takes a turn towards serious issues and radical maturity.
Devayani Mulay, a last year Psychology student holds, “The last day of college is indeed depressing. For me, it’s the end of one of the most memorable and best periods of my life. As a Psychology student, I have always found my college life very fulfilling and have enjoyed every moment of it. The three years of my graduation passed really fast and I am in the transition phase now. Life will change but the time I spent in my college will always be cherished.”
Aditya Tapadia, a last year engineering student says, “College life was full of submissions, deadlines and pressures. But despite that I enjoyed a lot with my friends and was also very active on the cultural front. Although I will miss my college days, I believe that it’s a phase and it has to go. I am looking forward to my post graduation and am hoping that it will be as enriching as B.E.”
Sheetal Pathak, a last year M.A. Economics student opines, “The last day of college literally got butterflies in my stomach. It was like a nightmare to accept that from the next day, life would be completely different. All of us who were together now would segregate and go their own way. Another factor was stepping out of the shell and making up my mind with regards to what I wanted to do next.”
The last day of college is like the final page of your favorite novel, where you look back and feel the euphoria of having known the entire book but with the grief of it having ended. But come what may, one has to come to terms with reality and be optimistic towards walking up the next phases of life. Time flies; what remain are the memories. So cheers to them!!
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