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Global warming is a reality. Human activity has been emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere for several centuries now. Carbon dioxide affects the radiation of heat back into space and contributes to global warming. We all know this. But it is also true that we need repeated reminders to remember this. In the absence of such periodic pokes, global warming and climate change remain just buzzwords.

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New videos released by NASA can be the perfect reminder of why the planet's health needs to be at the top of our priority. 

NASA has released three videos. In each of these videos, the carbon emission from different parts of our world is shown. In addition to carbon emissions, carbon absorption due to trees and oceans is shown as well. The videos show CO2 being released in the year 2021.

Carbon emissions due to the burning of fossil fuels are represented by the colour orange. Red represents the burning of biomass. Green denotes land ecosystems and blue stands for oceans. Blue dots show where carbon dioxide is being absorbed by oceans and green dots are representing CO2 absorption by trees.

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In this video showing North and South America, it is important to note the concentration of carbon emissions in North America, particularly in the Northeastern part of the US. These are the pollution hotspots. The pulsing green colour in South America represents the absorption of carbon dioxide by Amazon rainforests during daylight hours.

"New computer modelling techniques in NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office allow us to dissect our atmosphere and understand some of the major contributors to this runaway insulator," says NASA in the blog post.

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The second video shows Europe and Africa. The high concentration of carbon emissions from European countries and Saudi Arabia is evident. The green pulsing of the sub-Saharan region represents absorption of CO2 due to forests.

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Then the third video is about Asia and Australia. Carbon emissions from China are starkly visible. Australia in comparison, shows less emissions due to lesser population density in the country.

Also Read | A flash of green: NASA's Juno spacecraft captures image of lightning on Jupiter

Carbon dioxide forms just 0.04 per cent of Earth's atmosphere. This proportion may seem very low and fool anyone into thinking that carbon emissions are not a big deal. But the effects of global warming have started to become evident. Increased intensity of storms and increased instances of devastating wildfires are consequences of global warming, say experts.

Let us hope that NASA's visualisations raise greater awareness. 

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