Cause And Effect On Climate Change

Global climate change has become an undeniable and unavoidable reality. In its latest assessment report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the international body that provides the most comprehensive reports dealing with the science of climate change, has established that warming of the climate system is ‘unequivocal’. Additionally, it concludes that human activities such as land clearing and burning of fossil fuels have increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to unprecedented levels (IPCC 2013).

Have you ever imagined a world almost completely engulfed in water? Well, if we keep up our way of living all the ice will melt, getting rid of major places on Earth. This ice will melt due to something called climate change. Humans cause climate change because an overwhelming scientific consensus thinks this way, the specific form of carbon dioxide is increasing due to human activity, more greenhouse gases are being released, and the average temperature of Earth is increasing.

Global warming is the steady heating of Earth’s land, oceans, and atmosphere caused primarily by human activity. Climate change is one of the world’s biggest challenges right now, from people actively arguing that it doesn’t exist- to other’s who don’t care enough to do anything about it. There’s evidence showing that climate change is happening and affecting our world now and from what it seems, if action isn’t taken, major consequences will soon arise. Most of the world’s land mass has experienced a 0.2-1.0 degree Celsius average temperature increase since the 1970s, the temperatures of the Artic has increased at almost twice the mean global rate. Climate change is caused by human factors such as greenhouse gases and ozone depletion and because humans are so dependent on fossil fuels in their day to day lives, the issue at hand is only going to get worse.

Climate change began in the 1820s with Joseph Fourier and in the 1860s with John Tyndall. Fourier put into motion the “greenhouse effect.” An effect where trapped gasses in the lower atmosphere absorb the sun’s heat. Tyndall found that “greenhouse gasses” cover the earth like a sheet. This is how the earth keeps cool and warm. Yet, too much greenhouse gasses can be futile. During this time, humans did not know that they were the ones causing implications. 100 years later, Svante Arrhenius proposed that “…doubling the CO2 content of the planet’s atmosphere would raise its temperature by 2.5 to 4.0 degrees Celsius” (Frank, para 7). Any slight change in temperature can offset the ecosystem. People began to act to save their planet, but there are still many in denial.

The Earth's climate has changed throughout history. According to the findings of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the change of the earth’s climate has evolved through time. The global sea level rose about eight inches in the last century; the planet's average surface temperature has risen about 2.0 degrees Fahrenheit since the last 19th century; the oceans have absorbed much of this increased heat of 0.302 degrees Fahrenheit since 1969; the increasing number of record high temperature and intense rainfall events since 1950; and the overall increase of ocean acidification by about 30 percent. Most of these climate changes are attributed to very small variations in Earth’s orbit that change the amount of solar energy our planet receives. The heat-trapping nature of carbon dioxide and other gases was demonstrated in the mid-19th century. There is no question that increased levels of greenhouse gases cause the Earth to warm in response.

Humans are pouring carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at a much faster rate than the rate at which plants and oceans can absorb it. Global warming is the increase in the overall temperature of the Earth 's atmosphere; global warming is a delicate topic because it is happening right now no one can stop it from happening. It is already transforming life on Earth, shifting the seasons, raising the temperature and rising the sea level. Other effects of global warming include stronger storms, extinction of species, rapid disappearance of Artic ice, and the increase of the ozone hole. It became an issue in 1988 when a scientist from NASA found that "Global warming has reached a level such that we can ascribe with a high degree of confidence a cause and effect relationship between the greenhouse effect and observed warming" (Hansen). James E. Hansen testimony was a big thing that everyone start to worry about it and everyone was talking about global warming because the media contribute to it. Global warming is a big thing happening right now but we don’t listen to others and we continue with our life’s without looking around us and without helping to stop the cause of it because as a humans we make errors during life but we learn from the errors and the bad choices. Although some people believe mankind is not responsible for global warming, it is a serious problem worldwide and measures are need to help slow the problem.

Is global climate change man-made? Global temperature has been changing for the past couple of decades. This leaves researchers to believe that mankind is to blame for this abrupt change. Life on earth depends upon the average climate that has been around for thousands of years. Without this favorable climate, life on earth will be unsustainable. Those who argue that climate change is not affected by humans state that the emissions humans put into the atmosphere are too small to have an effect on the climate. Either way climate on earth is changing at a concerning rate and is a major issue.

The United States Environmental Association (EPA) has listed natural changes in greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations, volcanic eruptions and solar energy as some of the natural causes of climate changes on earth. However, the recent climate changes cannot be explained by natural causes alone. Research indicates that natural causes are very unlikely to explain most observed warming, especially warming since the mid-20th century. Rather, human activities can very likely explain most of that warming. These human activities are the causes of anthropogenic climate changes. The article also adds “Since the Industrial Revolution began around 1750; human activities have contributed substantially to climate change by the addition of CO2 and other heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere. These greenhouse gas emissions have increased the greenhouse effect has caused Earth’s surface temperature to rise. This is the primary reason which is affecting the amount and rate of climate change is greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels.” Other activities that initiate climate changes are caused by the gas emissions from fossil fuels used to heat homes, petroleum based fuels like gasoline and diesel used for transportation and electricity production which comes from burning fossil fuels.

Humans are the main factor in the ongoing climate change. Many daily activities contribute to climate change. These activities include the burning of fossil fuels (“A Blanket Around the Earth”). Co2 is the main heat trapping gas (“How Do We Know That Humans Are the Major Cause of Global Warming?”). Humans produce a lot a CO2 every day. When individuals burn fuel, CO2 is released into the atmosphere. The fuels that are being released are jumbling with earth’s natural greenhouse gasses. For every gallon of gas that is burned, 1300 times that of CO2 is released. Also a gallon gas weighs 6lbs, but the CO2 that is released weights over 19lbs (“How Much Does Human Activity Affect Climate Change?”). CO2 is also emitted from farms, landfills, and power plants, which are all human run facilities (“How Do We Know That Humans Are the Major Cause of Global Warming?”). Human activities can also alter earths’ reflectivity. When we construct roads and farm we alter earth’s reflectivity. This causes sunlight to reflect

CBS News reported that humans release around “38.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide [CO2] into the air from the burning of fossil fuels” (CBS). This is nearly 2.4 million pounds of CO2 per day. This extra CO2 traps heat from escaping earth atmosphere. Holly Shaftel, an editor for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) reports in their article “Climate Change: How do we know?” that “The current warming trend is of particular significance because most of it is extremely likely (greater than 95 percent probability) to be the result of human activity since the mid-20th century” (Shaftel). While some believe that humans are accountable for climate change others see the changes as natural. William Happer, professor of physics at Princeton

Global climate has been drastically changing over the past decade reflecting a wide range of impacts that affect not only the environment, but humans as well. Over the last 50 years the magnitude of global warming has been increasing mainly due to human activities. Since the industrial revolution in the 1800s economic growth has been driven by the progress of manufacturing processes, these have significantly contributed to global warming. It is in this period of time when the global concentration of greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere had a significant increment from 280 parts per million (ppm) in the 1800s to the modern levels of 400 ppm in 2016. (CITE acs.org).Greenhouse gases are the most significant drivers of climate change due to their persistent effects over a long period of time that can therefore negatively affect the present and future generations.

A scientist that reports for National Geographic Magazine stated, “Since 1990, yearly emissions have gone up by about six billion metric tons of “carbon dioxide equivalent” worldwide, more than a 20 percent increase”(“Causes of Global Warming”) Humans are the cause of global warming. Overpopulation of the human race has resulted in a multitude of carbon dioxide gas getting trapped in the atmosphere, warming the earth as if it was a greenhouse. Carbon dioxide (Co2) is a “waste” gas of human beings. One human approximately exhales two and one third pounds of carbon dioxide gas a day(Palmer) Consequently, the gas is warming the earth from the core up. Humans are the cause of global warming.

Global Warming also caused very hot weather which is bad for humanity for having too much heat, people can have heatstroke because of this. Scientists who assess the planet's health see indisputable evidence that Earth has been getting warmer, in some cases rapidly. Most believe that human activity, in particular the burning of fossil fuels and the resulting buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, have influenced this warming trend. In the past decade scientists have documented record-high average annual surface temperatures and have been observing other signs of change all over the planet: in the distribution of ice, and in the salinity, levels, and temperatures of the oceans. Most humans believe that it is their fault, which is true because humans do not take care of their

To further understand Climate Change, one must recognize what it is. When people ponder about climate, they think of the patterns of biomes in terms of weather, temperature, precipitation, wind, seasons, and humidity. This element is what shapes the planet and human economies, and is no longer a predictable factor due to human readjustment. Climate change is the transition of these elements into more harmful factors. Human factors such as deforestation, carbon emissions, factory emissions, and much more impact the dying, aging Earth. Greenhouse gases are the main cause of climate change, as the glaciers are melting due to what is known as the greenhouse effect. As scientist Alex Hohensee explains it, “The greenhouse effect is how gases in the atmosphere, like water vapor, carbon dioxide and others trap energy from the sun... if there was not that effect from the gases the Earth’s surface would be sixty degrees colder” (Alec

Global climate change is real, it has noticeable effects on the environment. Climate change in the earth is caused by numerous activities. When climate change happens; temperatures can rise tremendously. Rapid warming notice nowadays is uncommon in the history of our planet. The rising temperatures will have great effects on the plant’s climate patterns and on all living things. When temperatures increase, different adjustments can occur on earth. For example, it can cause droughts, floods, air pollution, as well as extreme heat waves. Oceans are also experiencing changes: oceans are warming and becoming more acidic, glaciers are melting, and sea levels are rising. As these adjustments will occur in the future, it will cause challenges to our society and environment.