The Causes Of Climate Change

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.

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.

To understand climate change, one must understand what a climate is. A climate can be defined as “the usual weather of a [particular] place…[to] include patterns of temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind, and seasons” (State of Washington, n.d.), just to name a few. Climate differs from weather as a climate is comprised of the usual conditions of a given place (i.e. is it consistently humid, dry, wet, cool, etc.), while weather is the conditions present at a given place at any one time (i.e. it is raining, snowing, sunny, etc.). Climates are unique to individual places and generally stay the same over time, while weather can change by the day.

Climate change is happening, like it or not and is affecting the world. Higher percentages of carbon dioxide(CO2) in the atmosphere is increasing due to human activities, greenhouse gases(GHG) and global warming have shown to have caused negative impacts on the environment and the world we live in. There are many causes of climate change, which cannot be entirely rid of. However, by taking steps in carbon emission industries, it can ensure a reduction of CO2 and greenhouse gasses.

“Climatism is the belief that man-made greenhouse gases are destroying earth’s climate” said Steve Goreham, the executive director of the Climate Science Coalition of America and author of the book “The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Climatism: Mankind and Climate Change Mania”. Historically, earth climate has become a major problem after the Industrial Revolution during the 18th and 19th century and it significantly becomes a big concern in the present days. This essay will illustrate the possible root of climate change which is caused by mankind as well as nature.

Over the past 50 years, the average global temperature has been increasing at the fastest rate ever recorded. Experts say that the heating rate is only going to increase, while people who deny this say that there has been a “slow down” or “pause” in the rising global temperatures. Scientists say that unless something changes, the average U.S. temperature could increase by 10 degrees Fahrenheit over the next century. (1) Almost 100% of the global temperature increases have been the result of increased greenhouse gas concentration like water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and ozone. One of the largest sources of greenhouse gas is the burning of fossil fuels leading to the emission of carbon monoxide. (2) Most scientists have agreed that the main cause of the current global warming is the expansion of the “greenhouse effect”. (3)

Global warming refers to the high rate of increase in the global average surface temperature in recent years (National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA], 2017). Since the late 19th century, the global average surface temperature has increased by about 2.0 degrees Fahrenheit, and most of the warming occurred within the last 35 years (NASA, 2017). These rising temperatures are a result of the “greenhouse effect,” which is described as follows:

Temperatures are rising, storms are crashing down in our homes, and illnesses are affecting everyone all around us. Imagine these threatening matters approaching our life in the nearby future. The causes of these matters are due to global warming. Global warming occurs through the continuing increase in temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere due to the trigger of high levels of carbon dioxide and other pollutants. Global warming is strongly associated with the greenhouse effect and the gases. Other examples include the effects of what global warming does, which vary. A few common issues are floods and droughts caused by an increase in temperature. Global warming remains slowly damaging our planet in ways that can be potentially fatal to all living organisms in it.

Usually people pay attention on daily weather changes and how the weather will be through the week or the month, but do we pay attention on climate change how it affects our lives. Did we ask ourselves what are the causes of climate change? How climate change impacts our activities? Can we do something to solve this big issue before to turn to a big disaster? These questions make me think deeply how we work to solve this problem because the earth is the only place so far we can live on it. Climate change has become a worldwide problem and this issue affects human lives, environment, social and economic. The change in climate has serious impacts on our natural ecosystem and as human we should face it before causing great catastrophe such as water availability, agriculture, rising sea levels and health. Many studies recognize that sign of change is increasing in average temperatures, snow and rainfall, patterns are shifting, and extreme climate events are becoming more common in our days. These changes are expected to grow if we don’t solve the issues or the causes of climate change.

Global Warming is an important topic and it’s something everyone needs to look into. It can cause a lot of problems and damage. A decade ago, the idea of global warming probably wasn’t much of a concern. In this essay, the things that will be addressed are why global warming is important- the evidence, what causes it and the effects of it, the impact how we can prevent it, and other information on it.

Global warming refers to the rising temperature trend of the earth which has seen more noticeable temperature rises due to the increase in fossil fuels and the industrial revolution which started in the late 1970s.

Since the industrial revolution human activities have enhanced the greenhouse effect causing global temperatures to rise significantly.

Global warming, the rise of average global temperatures year, after year. A serious issue yet many people fail to pay much attention to it, or even realize how much of a problem it is. Some people think it’s a hoax from lack of proof, but some scientist would argue otherwise. Human activity such as burning fossil fuels is the main contributor to global warming, as it releases large amounts of C02 into the atmosphere (May). With deforestation happening every day less, and less trees are available to absorb the C02 released into the air. The average temperatures within the US have been rising. This creates droughts, evaporation of lakes, major storms, and devastating floods (May). To combat global warming it is important to support the development of clean renewable energy, such as solar power. Not only is solar a free source of energy, it is clean in that it doesn’t emit C02, and it creates thousands of well-paying jobs. Global warming is caused by human activity, and has large devastating effects on our environment, to sustain a growing human population we must seek alternative energy such as solar power.

Global warming is the heating of the earth at an unnatural pace due to humans. The world regularly undergoes eras of warming and cooling, the current event is due to humans and is happening more rapidly than ever before. Bill Freedman (2014) stated that, "...increases in global temperatures are due to human activity (i.e., not due to solar variations, volcanic activity, cyclic warming or cooling trends, etc.) …" This means that the warming of the earth is only global warming when it is caused by humans. Currently, according to past trends on Earth, the planet is supposed to be undergoing a cooling, but because of global warming the earth is on a heating trend. Global warming is caused by the Industrial Revolution, increased greenhouse gases, and deforestation and effects the world by raising temperatures, melting polar ice caps, rising sea levels, and the extinction of species and the harm of humans.

Climate change is happening, slowly but surely. Our earth is warming and the evidence is clear. Rising global temperatures have been displayed through floods, droughts, or intense rain in parts of the world. As we have established earlier, Climate change refers to any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time. In other words, climate change includes major changes in temperature, precipitation, or wind patterns, among other effects, that occur over several decades or longer (Climate Change: Basic Information). There are various causes, challenges, and consequences of the climate change.