Global warming is the definite term used by scientists all around the globe to point out the rising worldwide temperature due to ozone-depleting substances in the air;
Whereas climate change is referred to as the average change in the climate around the world. It can be due to many reasons like an increase in the atmospheric temperature etc.
Key Takeaways
- Global warming is the long-term increase in Earth’s average surface temperature due to human activities.
- Climate change encompasses the broader range of changes in global weather patterns and conditions caused by various factors.
- Global warming is a primary driver of climate change, with increased greenhouse gas emissions being a major contributor.
Global Warming vs Climate Change
Global warming refers to the long-term increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere. This increase is primarily caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases. Climate change refers to the broader set of changes that are occurring across the entire climate system, including changes in temperature, precipitation, and weather patterns.
Global warming is, referred to as the rise in global temperatures due to the release of harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
It is, caused due to human activities like burning fossil fuels which releases gases into the atmosphere.
The global warming impact causes the ascent in the worldwide temperature after some time which builds the level in the ocean.
Climate change is, referred to as the long-term cause of the climate and weather, which changes the pattern of weather all around the world.
It is mainly due to the rise in global temperatures, which changes the rate of precipitation, temperatures, and wind patterns all over the globe. Thus, causing a varying temperature.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Global Warming | Climate Change |
|---|---|---|
| Discovered | It was first discovered in the year 1859. | It was first discovered in the year 1896. |
| Effect on the Environment | It causes the global rise in temperature which leads to an increase in the sea level. | It causes the change of weather patterns all over the world. |
| Cause | It is caused due to the greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere. | It is caused to the rise in the global temperature which makes the weather change all over the world. |
| Impact | It causes an impact on the ecosystem. | It causes an impact on the land and water bodies. |
| Indicators | Some indicators of Global warming like humidity, rise in sea levels, etc. | Indicators like less rain formation, decreasing the time of the winter belt, etc. |
What is Global Warming?
Global warming is the term used by scientists to refer to the increasing temperature all around the globe.
It was first discovered in the year 1859. It is, caused due to the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which makes the temperature rise and thus causes damage to the ecosystem.
Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO 2), nitrous oxide ( N 2O), and methane ( CH 4) are some of the gases that are released by burning fuels.
When these gases are released into the atmosphere, it causes damage to the Ozone layer.
The ozone layer is a defensive layer that guards people and creatures against the UV beams of the sun.
If the concentration of these gases increases in the atmosphere, it causes damage to the ozone layer.
If the animal or person is, exposed to the direct UV rays of the sun, it can cause skin cancer and various other diseases.
The main reason for the rise in the global temperature is due to human activities like burning fossil fuels which releases an excess amount of CO2 into the atmosphere.
CFCs are called chlorofluorocarbons which cause excess damage to the ozone layer. CFCs are released when using refrigerant and air conditioning.
This increase in the global temperature melts the glaciers and increases the water at the sea level, which causes tsunamis.
What is Climate Change?
Climate change is, referred to as the change in weather conditions all around the world.It is due to the rise in global temperatures, which is caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
In environmental change, the weather patterns get impacted like the precipitation and temperatures.
For example, suppose an area is receiving a good amount of rainfall all over the year, but due to a rise in the global temperature, the area will get dry after ten to twenty years.
Environmental change influences both the land and water bodies. If the land isn’t getting sufficient rainfall.
It will make that specific region dry, and water bodies will get vanished gradually because of the hotness of the sun.
One such example is the Aral Sea, which is located in Uzbekistan.
During the 1960’s it was one of the largest seas in the world, as climate change got affected, with times it got dried and, as of today, only 10% of the water is available in the sea.
Climate change affects the glaciers and winter belts. Previously, the winters used to be five to six months long, but as of today, this belt is getting decreased year by year.
Main Differences Between Global Warming and Climate Change
- Global warming causes the rise in global temperatures all around the globe, whereas climate change is, referred to as the change in weather patterns.
- An increase in the level of global warming affects the level of the sea, i.e., it increases while the change in the climate patterns affects the particular region to get dried.
- Global warming is, caused due to the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which increases the temperature globally, whereas climate change is caused mainly due to the irregularities of burning fossil fuels, thus releasing gases into the atmosphere.
- Global warming was first discovered in the year 1859 by Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius. Whereas climate change was first discovered in the year 1896.
- Indicators of global warming are humidity, temperature, and rising sea levels. Whereas indicators in climate change like less rainfall increased level of evaporation, which leads to dryness.
Last Updated : 21 July, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
