Concept: Global warming and climate change mainly affect the physical and environmental systems of the Earth. These effects include rise in temperature, melting of glaciers, change in rainfall pattern, warming of oceans, sea-level rise, and increase in extreme weather events.
Step 1: Understanding the direct effects of global warming.
Global warming increases the average temperature of the Earth. Due to this increase in temperature, glaciers start melting, oceans become warmer, and rainfall patterns change.
\[
\text{Global warming} \Rightarrow \text{Temperature rise} \Rightarrow \text{Environmental changes}
\]
Step 2: Checking each option one by one.
Glacial melting is a direct effect because ice melts when temperature rises.
Precipitation changes are also an effect because climate change changes rainfall distribution.
Warming ocean is also a direct effect because oceans absorb a large amount of extra heat.
Step 3: Identifying the option which is not a direct climatic effect.
Population changes may happen indirectly due to migration, disasters, food shortage, or economic issues. But it is not a direct physical effect of global warming and climate change like glacial melting or ocean warming.
\[
\text{Population changes} \neq \text{Direct physical effect of climate change}
\]
Therefore, the correct answer is Population changes.