Page 216 - ICSE Chemistry 8

Effects of Global Warming

Following are the eff ects of global warming.

• Mel ng of glaciers: The increased global warming has resulted in the mel ng of glaciers which
leads to the rise of sea level that will cause catastrophic fl oods in the future.

• Climate change: Global warming has resulted in irregular weather pa erns. Increased precipita on
in the form of rain makes it diffi cult for plants and animals to survive. This may cause plants to die
and animals migra ng to other areas which result in an imbalance in the ecosystem.
• Droughts: Increase in global warming causes large scale evapora on of water which is a major
cause of droughts in several areas.

• Crops: Due to change in seasons, weather pa erns are aff ected thus resul ng in change in the
pa ern of crop cul va on (crop cycle).

• Agriculture: Global warming can aff ect agriculture. Due to an increase in the global temperature,
plants will fi nd it harder to survive and will eventually die. This may result in shortage of food as
plants are a major source of food.
Causes of Increased Concentration of Carbon Dioxide

Following are the causes of increased concentra on of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
• Cu ng down of trees (deforesta on) leads to the accumula on of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere.
• Air pollu on due to burning of fuels, industrial ac vi es and use of chemical weapons also
contributes to an increase in the concentra on of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Measures to Balance the Concentration of Carbon Dioxide

It is important to adopt measures to balance the concentra on of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Following are some of the measures that can be adopted.

• More plants and trees should be planted.

• Renewable sources of energy should be used.
• Consump on of fossil fuels should be reduced.

• Filters should be used in the chimneys of factories and powerhouses.

CARBON MONOXIDE

Carbon monoxide is an oxide of carbon and its molecular formula is CO. It is a highly poisonous and
fl ammable gas. Carbon monoxide is found in small quan es in coal gas which is found in coal mines.
It is released in the atmosphere during volcanic erup ons and also when carbon (charcoal) burns in the
presence of insuffi cient supply of oxygen (air).
2C + O 2CO
2
Carbon Oxygen in Carbon monoxide
limited supply

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