Earth Science : Critical Thinking Exercise Questions

All in the climate is changing. Climate change has been ongoing throughout all of Earth's history, worryingly humans are now the main cause for it. Over the past decade, the average Global surface temperature rose by approximately 0.6° Celsius. (UCAR, 2015) Melting glaciers, polar ice sheets and ice caps have seen a decline, Artic sea ice extent has decreased by 2.7% per decade, snow cover and mountain glaciers have declined in both northern and southern hemispheres as shown in figure 1. (ICPP, 2007) Due to a rising increase in greenhouse gases, a hole in the ozone layer has developed, causing change in Antarctica. With a higher climate in Antarctica comes melting ice around certain regions. Due to harsh winds produced by climate change, an uproar in warmer weather has spread across the Western Coast of Antarctica, whereas other regions are facing cooling trends. We can only come to the conclusion that climate change is at its worst. So what's causing the change in climate? Fossil fuels. Fossil fuels have contributed to 75% of the climates uproar. (Max De Boo, 2002) Once they burn they release CO2 into the atmosphere. The Earth is getting warmer due to the greenhouse gas layer thickening. Nothing can resolve climate change but things can be done to reduce it from becoming lethal. Using an alternative to fossil fuels, using transport less - cycle, walk, use public transport, these are all small starting point that add up in everyone contributes. (WWF,

We might disagree on the causes of global warming; however, we cannot ignore that it is happening. Although we still experience cold winters, average global temperatures has risen drastically for the past three decades. Polar ice caps are melting; as a result, sea levels are rising. Scientist predict more extreme weather in the coming decades, in fact, droughts will probably be more common. Also, flooding and tropical temperatures might cause large amounts of methane gases to be released, which could be disastrous for our atmosphere. Climate change may have human causes and also it might be a natural occurrence. Nevertheless, we must find ways to save our planet.

The earth is constantly undergoing changes. This ranges from tectonic activity to atmospheric and climate changes. The most recent change that we have noticed, is the increase in temperature. Some believe that this increase is the result of human activity. However, this is not the case. The increased temperatures are within the normal tolerances from the past few thousand years (Robinson, Robinson, & Soon, 2008). This and other changes to the atmosphere have been going on for millions of years. Global warming is not our fault because it is a natural occurring phenomenon.

Even scientists who think human activity is the main cause of climate change don't deny that natural changes will cause temperature fluctuations on Earth. However, their argument is that in the current cycle of climate change, the impact caused by man is far greater. But there’s no indication that the two sides of the climate change debate will reach any common ground in the near future on what scientific evidence is showing, or what policy decisions should be adopted.

The human race all around the world wonders if the climate is changing due to human activity or if it is just a natural occurrence. At certain parts of the Earth's surface, the climate can be observed much differently than other locations. As the years go by the average temperature of the Earth increases by little intervals. There are several different reasons why people believe the climate is changing every year. However, the increase of worldwide population and production of heat to the atmosphere is due to the increase of human activities that take place on a daily basis. Human activity is the main cause of the global climate change. The human impact on climate exceeds any known changes due to natural processes. The impact of this human activity is often misunderstood when looking at climate change.

Throughout the years climate change has been a controversial issue affecting individuals worldwide; climate change has been debated by scientists including the rest of the world. Many factors can affect climate change such as biological factors and human actions. The intricate details are what go unnoticed and unmanaged, people may be greatly against this claim. However, it is underlying factors, like landfills and driving cars, that help maintain the increasing temperature of the earth thus, climate change has become a controversial topic. There have been concerns that climate change does not exist but there is reliable proof that it does even if many scientists do not agree on the existence of climate change.

Some climate change is natural, yes, but the ones we’re experiencing are not. The global average temperature increased by more than 1.3°F over the last century (Science-Climate Change, 2014). Global temperature shouldn’t be that high. The average temperature in the Arctic rose almost twice as much (Science-Climate Change, 2014). A few other changes are precipitation patterns, increases in the ocean’s temperature, and the melting of glaciers, to name a few. Some of the things we do, like driving, manufacturing, electricity generation, and clearing forests contribute to creating the greenhouse gases and warming the planet (Science-Climate Change, 2014). It also releases carbon dioxide and heat-trapping gases. Road construction and agriculture also contribute to it too (Science-Climate Change, 2014). Greenhouse gases are created by burning fossil fuels, clearing forests, fertilizing crops, storing wastes in landfills, raising livestock,

Climate change is defined as the change in global or regional climate patterns, which is apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards. When looking at climate change there is an abundance of evidence that supports that humans are the leading causes of the drastic shift in the weather pattern but there is also a lot of evidence against humans actually causing climate changes. For example, the increasing levels of man made gases that are let into the atmosphere may have created a greenhouse effect, which traps heat and ultimately causes global warming. But there are also many scientists who believe that the earth has always naturally cooled down or warmed up at its own pace.

At the outset, there are numerous reasons why the climate change is probably caused by human activities, and the most conspicuous one stems from the fact that the phenomenon became increasingly obvious as the technology advances. For example, a recent seminar conducted by the University of Sydney manifested that the pullution is

Climate change is a fake. Many people say we have climate change, it’s because we use too much fossil fuels. We produce too much carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases. And then we have global warming. But actually, we feel the climate change or global warming it’s because human existence too short. Earth was formed around four and a half billion years ago. But human just appear only a sudden.

We all see the weather change from day to day and it is just a normal occurrence. Seasons change from warm to cold and we all just go about our business. But what most people don’t see change is the climate. Climate changes over a long period of time and it has shown a warming trend in the past few decades. Many people attribute this warming trend to the alarming rate that humans are burning fossil fuels and pumping Co2 into the atmosphere, however some people think that climate change is merely a myth or that global temperatures have always risen and fallen during Earth’s lifetime.

Earth’s climate system has been experiences changes during the last century. Dating back in 1859 a Swedish scientist named Svante Arrhenius was the first to claim that fossil fuel combustion eventually resulted to the contribution of global warming. According to S.M. Enzler MSc, in his article “History of the Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming”, published by Lenntech, Dr. Arrhenius’ findings were long forgotten, “At that time it was thought than human influences were insignificant compared to natural forces, such as solar activity and ocean circulation. It was also believed that the oceans were such great carbon sinks that they would automatically cancel out our pollution.” (Enzler 1.). Global Warming was just an illusion up until the mid-1900s a scientist named Gilbert Plass began experimenting with carbon dioxide which he soon concluded that adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere would intercept infrared radiation, that is otherwise lost to space, thus warming the earth. Dr. Plass’ conclusion is very similar to that of Dr. Arrhenius, and the reason why it was not overlooked was due to the advances in technology during Dr.Plass time, proven to have a more accurate data compared to the past. Further research was conducted to help explain the rise in the global annual mean temperature. As of 1988 it was finally acknowledged that climate was warmer than any period since 1880. I agree that

Climate change is the term used to describe the warming of the average surface temperature on earth. Climate change; often referred to as the general term global warming, is a topic that often inspires fierce debate among those on both sides of the issue. One thing those who are pro and those that are con both agree on is that the temperature on earth has increased over the past century by an average of 1.4 degrees. The big debate on the two sides is if the warming temperatures are caused by human activities and if it is not stopped it will have dire consequences (the pro side) or if it is the result of natural causes and the earth’s surface will find ways to adapt such as crops becoming more heat resistant (the con side).

The planet has been experiencing considerable climate change for the last several decades. There have been many explanations toward the main causes of the increased warming of the planet. On one hand are the environmentalists who believe that the major cause of this increased warming of the planet is the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere induced by human activities. On the other hand, the scientists believe that there are natural causes of global climate change. While the supporters of the man-made theory of global climate change reason that the major greenhouse gas causing global warming is carbon dioxide, the advocates of natural causes

The climate changing was first suspected in the 19th century when scientists in britain debated whether Europe was covered by ice in the past. “Guy S Callender suggested that the warming trend revealed in the 19th century had been caused by a 10% increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels.” (Harding) The debate intensified by 2005 when a study was published stating that a large scale disruption could occur by 2050 if we do not slow the process of climate change. The debate has now spiraled back to whether climate change is occurring or not. However the climate warming pattern has been increasing exponentially since the 1950’s.