The Effects Of Climate Change On The Earth

Global warming appears to be caused by human beings. There is too much CO2 in the atmosphere for plants and trees to take in all of it. There is strong evidence that humans are to blame, not just due to cars and factories but also from agriculture. A majority of scientists and scientific organizations believe humans are causing global warming.

According to scientists the burning of fossil fuels is the main source for the large amounts of pollutants humans are creating. Fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas produce large amounts of carbon when burned to create energy that we all use. Many people think that the burning of these fossil fuels is not that big of a deal and there are other major contributors in the climate change controversy. The burning of these resources produce thousands of tons of carbon that are released into the atmosphere everyday Most everyone in the United States uses some source of energy produced from fossil fuels. Without the fossil fuels the major cities would not have enough energy to keep everything going. While they are working on increasing the amount of renewable energy sources, they are still dependent on the fossil fuels. Scientists are trying to link human pollution to the extreme weather changes that have been going on in recent years. An article found on www.edf.com Climate Changes Effect Plunder the Planet brings up some of the ideas that are caused by climate change. With the large amounts of carbon and other greenhouse gasses that are released they are effecting our ozone layer by trapping heat from leaving the planet, causing an increase in the global temperature around the world. www.study.com Fossil Fuels, Greenhouse Gases, and Global Warming states that over the last 800

In this paper I will discuss Human Activity and Climate Change. I will discuss different human activities that might affect climate change, things such as the burning of fossil fuels and how they might contribute to climate change. To begin I will discuss what the definition of climate change. Climate change is the change in the atmosphere by the amounts of carbon dioxide levels that come from using fossil fuels. Climate change can occur when the Earth’s atmosphere become warmer than what it naturally should be. Affects that can happen from climate change is extreme weather change which can cause flooding in areas that it has not flooded before as well as drought and glaciers to melt as well as cause the environment to change. A lot of climate change is directly due to human activity; one of the activities that humans have done is released large amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which is a greenhouse gas that comes from burning fossil fuels. Greenhouse gases have wrapped around the earth’s surface like an extra blanket causing the Earth to heat up much more and affecting the balance of nature. Greenhouse gases are not only limited to large factories but also the amount of vehicles on the road; cars produce carbon dioxide as well. History has shown that the choices that we make can affect us on a large scale to include changing our environment as well as our climate.

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.

Something which has never before been seen is happening now. The Earth 's atmosphere is warming more rapidly in the past 100 years than ever before. According to physicist Jennifer Burney (2013:54), the current warming trend being seen today has everything to do with the social and economic advances from the 19th century Industrial Revolution. During this time, fossil fuel use accelerated the changes we see today in agriculture, manufacturing, and power. For example, fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas supply most of the energy needed to fuel the cars we drive, and generate electricity for industries and households. Unfortunately, the burning of these fossil fuels puts too much carbon dioxide into the air. This in turn, increases the number of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere causing our climate to become hotter. With that being said, there is a scientific consensus that climate change is occurring, and that human activities are the primary driver. Warming of the climate system is undisputable, and according to Dr. Michael Mann (2009:14), who holds joint positions in the Departments of Meteorology and Geosciences at Penn State, states that scientists are more than 90% positive that global warming is primarily caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. After rapid industrialization, the two primary causes of man-made global warming are the burning of fossil fuels and

fossil fuel combustion– has increased carbon dioxide concentrations from °280 to 355 mL/L since 1800; the increase is unique, at least in the past 160 000 yr, and several lines of evidence demonstrate unequivocally that it is human—causedRead More: http://www.esajournals.org/doi/abs/10.2307/1941591

According to a recent study, humans having been causing global warming for about 180 years. The study reconstructed 500 years of climate to determine when the warming shift started. They found that the earliest stages of human-caused greenhouse warming began in the Industrial Revolution, mainly around the 1830s in the Arctic and tropical oceans, followed by change in North America, Europe, and Asia. At this time in human history, we has started burning fossil fuels like coal. This was used to power factory machines, and steam engines used in trains and steamboats. Fossil fuels originate from the remains of ancient plants and animals, and when burned, release

Straightaway, I knew that the topic that I felt was most interesting to me was geoengineering. I felt it was important enough to research since it could affect everyone on the globe. I wanted to know the reasons behind it, so I began the research process questioning if we know enough about climate change to put geoengineering techniques into play. The research process has not only given me time to learn more about a subject I find so important, but I have gained much more knowledge about climate change in general, and the experience has taught me how to critically look at opposing sides to a topic just as intently as I would my own view.

Climate change has taken its toll on our planet. Record heat, fires, drought and snowstorms have all become the norm in our worldwide weather patterns. The city of Charlotte has also suffered from the consequences of climate change with extreme temperatures, record snowstorms and ice storms. It is apparent that action must be taken immediately to stop climate change (Sargent). How can a small city attempt to solve a global issue such as climate change? Can climate change be solved on an individual level? The answer is yes; a small city can greatly reduce carbon emissions by each individual’s choice of clean energy.

With climate change being upon us, the time to act is now. Evidence of drastic climate changes include the following: record low polar ice caps during the summer of 2012, record drought in California, excessive flooding in the eastern half of Texas and record heat in India. This is all evidence of what our “normal” climate will be like in the future. If we don’t act right now, we will live in a world where cities along the coast like Miami, New York and New Orleans will be partially underwater. Record breaking heatwaves like the Chicago Heatwave of 1995 and the European Heatwave during the summer of 2003 will become a normal occurrence. Furthermore, polar bears will become extinct, since there will be little to no ice in the arctic during the next few years and decades. Therefore, we must be cautious of the actions that we take right now, since the future of our planet is heavily dependent on it. Increased burning of fossil fuels and rising greenhouse gases have both boosted the rate of climate change to unprecedented lengths that we have never seen before. If we don’t reduce greenhouse gases, we will live in a world that is “anywhere from 1.8C (3.24F) warmer (low emissions scenario) to 4C (7.2F) warmer (high emissions scenario) by 2050.” (Freeman & Guzman 1545) Either way, coastal regions will have to cope with rising sea levels, receding coastlines and flooding that could endanger the lives of many. Considering this, the big question is “how has the U.S. engaged with the

The amount of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions that are produced and released in the atmosphere from Canada, the United States (U.S), and many other countries, is a big issue for the planet’s health since it causes climate change. Climate change has various damaging effects on the earth. It can cause severe weather such as floods, droughts, etc. Some political parties agree that a carbon pricing policy should be implemented, like the Green party, New Democratic Party (NDP), and the Liberals, while other parties think that it isn’t worth implementing, like the Conservatives. Implementing a carbon policy will take a lot of time, effort, and money, and might unfairly target those who are at a disadvantage, like low income people or those living in remote areas, making them pay more taxes. But to avoid the harmful effects of climate change, Canada needs to implement a carbon pricing policy—a method that has made a significant change in many countries that decided to tax or cap carbon emissions.

The studies of Earth have showed that in the last hundred years, the temperature has gone up one degree Fahrenheit. Even just one degree can make a big difference to the Earth’s natural form. The warming of the Earth has caused the snow and ice to melt much faster and the ocean levels to rise. In the next hundred years the effects will be more severe.

According to a recent study, humans having been causing global warming for about 180 years. The study reconstructed 500 years of climate to determine when the warming shift started. They found that the earliest stages of human-caused greenhouse warming began in the Industrial Revolution, mainly around the 1830s in the Arctic and tropical oceans, followed by change in North America, Europe, and Asia. At this time in human history, we has started burning fossil fuels like coal. This was used to power factory machines, and steam engines used in trains and steamboats. Fossil fuels originate from the remains of ancient plants and animals, and when burned, release carbon-dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the

Throughout Earth’s 4.6 billion year history, Earth’s climate has been constantly changing. Prior to the humans and the industrial revolution, climate change been driven naturally by variations of solar energy, volcanic eruptions, and Earth’s orbit. We are currently in a period where these changes are occurring naturally, and saying the cause of climate change is from human activity is ridiculous! Greenhouse gases, which include water vapor, Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), and Nitrous Oxide (N2O), have always been in the atmosphere. Without these gases, the Earth would not be habitable to most life because of the fluctuations of the amount of heat given off from sun (-18°C)! We need these greenhouse gases to capture the sun’s rays in periods of low radiation and heat the planet to sustain life on Earth. Greenhouse gases reflects infrared light back to the Earth’s surface where more heat absorption takes place, making the planet habitable. Since solar radiation varies, periods of the earth’s global temperatures will increase and decrease, due to this natural cause. When the sun’s radiation increases, which is in a historically high period according to astrophysicist, Judith Lean, the natural greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will trap the sun’s heat and therefore increase the earth’s temperature.

Previously, many scientists believed that any changes to the climate were simply just a natural part of planet Earth’s climate cycle, but over time it has become more and more clear that it isn’t quite the case. Most experts on climate now believe that humans and their activity are the main cause of climate change. Scientists agree on the fact that