The world is heavily dependent on fossil (carbon-based) energy sources, and burning fossil fuels is the primary cause of global warming. Sustained global warming is causing climate challenge. All fossil fuels release energy due to the combustion of carbon, a chemical reaction in which carbon contained in any fossil fuel combines with oxygen from air to form carbon dioxide. While energy is generated, the carbon dioxide released in the air gets accumulated in the atmosphere over time.
Some of the sun’s radiation energy striking the surface of the earth is absorbed, while the rest is reflected back. However, greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, absorb a part of this reflected radiation and reflect back some portion of it back towards the earth. Thus, there is relatively more heat retained by the earth’s atmosphere. This causes a warmer planet.
In this way, greenhouse gases act like a blanket around the planet. Thus, the higher the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the greater is the blanket-like effect and the greater is the warming.
However, things do not stop there. The oceans, which form more than two-thirds of the surface of the planet, absorb quite a bit of heat. As a result of this, the oceans have been becoming warmer. Earlier, this effect was marginal and the small increments in temperature were such that they could be considered statistical variations. However, based on the work of many dedicated teams of scientists, oceanographers, marine biologist and researchers over several decades, it gradually started becoming apparent that the increasing temperatures were real and significant. Latest technological advances and precision measurement systems, as well as highly coordinated international cooperation on marine research has shown that adverse changes are indeed occurring to oceans due to the warming of the planet. Also, the detrimental effects are occurring faster than what was expected a few decades earlier.
Perhaps the most vulnerable of all marine creatures are the tiny planktons, which are at the base of the marine food chain. A significant decline in plankton points to multiple domino effects that would cause widespread damage to many higher marine lifeforms that depend on their survival directly or indirectly on these tiny creatures. This kind of damage is presently seen in a few isolated areas, but as climate change progresses, the ill-effects would be more widespread. Eventually, this could lead to significantly lower fish catch, thus affecting humanity’s food basket, among many other ecological risks.
Another victim of global warming are coral reefs. Marine biological hotspots, coral reefs are nature’s wonder. They support a huge variety of life in the ocean. Some of the biodiversity found in and around coral reefs is so unique that it is not found nowhere else in the oceans. Coral reefs are extremely sensitive to temperature rise. In the last several years, global warming has led to a destructive phenomenon called “coral bleaching”. Even at seemingly small higher temperatures, corals begin to show severe distress. Several coral reefs globally are already dead, or “bleached” because of global warming. The term “bleaching” means “removal of colours”. This is exactly what happens to coral colonies when they die – they become colourless barren skeletons.
If this is level of damage that happens in the early years of global warming, imagine what could happen to marine biodiversity if further global warming is not slowed down quickly.
Acidification is another damage that is occurring to oceans, due to higher atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Ocean acidification occurs when more carbon dioxide dissolves from the atmosphere into ocean waters, forming carbonic acid. This makes the oceans slightly more acidic. Many crustacean creatures cannot grow their skeletons properly under increased acidity, as their skeletons dissolve partially during the growth phase because of ocean acidification. This menacing trend also points to lower yields in ocean catch in the coming years.
With reduced fish catch, millions of people could be directly affected economically. In addition, mankind could be looking at acute food shortages in the future. All these evils are due to global warming, predominantly caused by human actions, especially occurring from the way power is generated – using polluting energy sources.
Not only oceans but terrestrial ecosystems are also affected in many ways as a result of changing climate. Based on the realization of this understanding of how our planet is suffering from the choices humans make, it is without any doubt that the most urgent task for our generation is to opt for clean energy, instead of the traditional polluting source of power generation.
Among environment-friendly sources of power generation, nuclear energy has been providing clean, climate friendly, ultralow-carbon power for about 30 countries globally. It has been a proven baseload (24x7) power generation option globally for over six decades.
India has 22 nuclear power reactor, with an installed capacity of 6780 MW. There are several projects under construction and more are planned for the future.
The need of the hour is to reduce carbon footprint in order to tackle climate change. Nuclear fuel is carbon-free and extremely energy-dense. So a very tiny amount of nuclear fuel can replace huge amounts of fossil fuels for power generation. Thus nuclear power plants have a very small environmental footprint also – which is another way in which nuclear is planet-friendly.
Scientists all over the world recognize the many advantages of nuclear power. It is now high time for the people from all walks of life to realize the benefits of nuclear power.
There is an information divide that exists in the society about nuclear power. Many people believe several things about nuclear power which are not based on scientific facts but are derived from hearsay. Therefore, the need is to bridge this gap in understanding by aligning opinions along the scientific facts. The more the masses realize the benefits of nuclear power, the faster we can develop this helpful resource further – to benefit the entire humankind and thus strengthen our efforts to save our planet.
Saturday, September 5, 2020
