Explain five possible effects of increase of green house gases in the atmosphere.

Explanation

(i) Increase in the level of green house gases has led to considerable heating of earth, resulting in the increase in temperature called global warming. During the past century, the temperature of earth has increased by `0.6^@C` and the average global temperature may increase by `1.4-5.8^@C` by the year 2100.
(ii) Rise in temperature, leading to deleterious changes in the environment and resulting in odd climatic changes (e.g. ELNino effect).
(iii) Leading to increased melting of polar ice caps glaciers as well as Himalayan snowcaps, etc.
(iv) It will result in a rise in sea level that can submerge many coastal areas.
(v) It will lead to rise in temperature of `2-5^@C`, will push the temperate range by some 250-600 km pole-wards. Many tree species and others sensitive to temperature will die.
(vi) Food Production. Rise in temperature is harmful to crop productivity. Rice yield reduced by 5% in South-East Asia for every `1^@C` rise in temperature. Small temperature rise may increase productivity, but higher temperature rise will be detrimental.