December 6, 2018

Aspects Leading into Climate Change 

Climate change is caused by multiple aspectsof the burning of fossil fuels, coal, volcanic eruptions and greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the major cause of climate change is human activity. Many scientists across the world agree the main cause is plainly humans. Humans burn fossil fuel, coal, operate power plants, and manufacture plants that release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, trapping massive heat. Ever since the industrial era began in around 1750, humans have influenced the change in climate. Climate change is due to human activity from the burning of fossil fuels releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and affects the world we live in for example our environment, health and other organisms.

Climate change is due to human activity mainly from the burning of fossil fuel and deforestation. Other aspects such as synthetic compounds like chlorofluorocarbons and hydro chlorofluorocarbons alter the way sunlight is selected into the atmosphere causing the ozone layer to thin. In the atmosphere  the heat is trapped and causes the climate to start changing. Deforestation-the clearing of a wide area of trees have affected climate as well. For example, in the article “Climate and Weather” it states, “When forests are cut down, not only does carbon absorption cease, but also the carbon stored in the trees is released into the atmosphere as CO2 if the wood is burned or even if it is left to rot after the deforestation process” (Penman, Ali). After the process of deforestation, the carbon dioxide from the wood releases to the atmosphere. If people continue to cut down trees, the next few decades the climate of the Earth will change drastically. In the article “How does Human Activities have an Effect on Climate Change?” it states, “a group of 1,300 independent scientific experts from countries all over the world under the auspices of the United Nations, concluded there’s a more than 90 percent probability that human activities over the past 250 years have warmed our planet.” Humans are the main reason for climate change therefore if we want to stop climate change it starts with the people. The more time passes by, the more modern civilization improves. Modern civilization means technology-the minds of people’s limitations improve. As humans we tend to use more gas as years go on, causing even more damage to our planet. Industrial activities humans do will affect the change in climate even more. An outcome of climate change is species migration. “For instance, increased land allocation to agriculture or urbanization can create barriers for free migration. So, what scientists really want to know is how these two factors (climate change and land use change) will collectively affect the patterns of animal and plant movement.” (Abraham, John). Climate change has influenced natural biological systems. Changes in precipitation, the season and resources change as climate change occurs. The animals that aren’t able to adapt are forced to migrate.

The actions of humans leading to climate change have also affected our environment and the lives of other organisms. As people we need to adapt to the changes that occur from climate change. Temperature increases, modifications in precipitation, ocean acidification and rising sea level. These are consequences and obstacles people now have to face due to climate change. The article “How Climate Change Plunders the Planet” it says, “Meanwhile, nearly a third of carbon dioxide emissions end up in the oceans, triggering a chemistry change that makes the water more acidic, dissolving the shells of sea creatures.” Absorbing the extra heat causes the ocean to be more acidic destroying the environments of marine animals. Climate change is also a mammoth threat to agriculture for it ruins the growth of crops. Constant shifts in the weather keeps it hard for farmers to rely on the weather to nourish their crops. “The ocean is absorbing about 30% of the carbon dioxide that is being released into the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels.”, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. From all the activities human do, it is affecting the oceans majorly. The change in acidity in the oceans is another aspect that influences the lives and our environment. Marine animals lives are in danger and the sea level can also rise. There will be greater risks of erosion and storm surges. Another consequence people go through are breathing into polluted warm air affecting the health of many. In the same article it states, “In 2008, the polar bear became the first animal to make the Endangered Species Act list of threatened species because of global warming.” Homes of animals such as polar bears and walruses are struggling to survive since climate change causes the ice to melt.

Although humans are mainly held responsible for climate change, scientists also identify other components. Some of these factors are the complications in atmospheric physics, the relationship between air/land and air/water, the depletion or change in ice, desert and forest, and natural processes.The atmospheric physics shows changes in stratospheric chemistry relating to the ozone. This can affect the patterns of future climate change. According to United States Environmental Protection Agency, “Ozone in the atmosphere warms the climate, while different components of particulate matter (PM) can have either warming or cooling effects on the climate.” PM is also a major part of affecting the climate depending on it being cool or warm. The relationship between air/land is significant because land cover affects the global concentration of many greenhouse gases. Alteration in climate can have changes in land use and land cover. The relationship between air/water is significant because of the quality in water. Scientists use models as an experiment to predict their hypotheses. They look at thermodynamic principles, orbital dynamics and relationships of infrared radiation and carbon dioxide. In the article “How Much Does Human Activity Affect Climate Change?” it reads, “These models, which are carefully vetted by other experts, agree that human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels and resulting release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, are now substantially altering the planet’s climate” The models let scientists test experiments to conditions from a century to a million years ago, something that they cannot do in real life. By this they can understand how climate has changed in the past. It can also remove human activities to see how much the climate has changed. Overall, the climate still changes if they test it without human activity, but with human activity of burning fossil fuels and such, humans are the main reason of climate change. They can rely on this model since it has been accurate. It also states, “One recent analysis, reported in Scientific American, estimated that at least three quarters of climate change since 1950 is due to human activities.” At least 75% of climate change is from human activities although there are other aspects to the change in climate.

In conclusion, ever since the industrial era began around 1750, the burning of fossil fuels mainly from human activity have caused climate change. The release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere warms it up causing a dramatic change in climate. Due to the actions of humans burning fossil fuel, the cutting down of forest trees, etc. These alterations in the atmosphere creates changes in the amount of greenhouse gases, small particles and cloudiness. Human activities have affected our surroundings, including marine animals as well. Climate change also ruins the growth of crops for farmers and affects the environment and health of humans.

Works Cited:

• Penman, Ali. “CLIMATE & WEATHER.” Climate Change – Effects on Animals, www.climateandweather.net/global-warming/deforestation.html.
• “How Climate Change Plunders the Planet.” Environmental Defense Fund, www.edf.org/climate/how-climate-change-plunders-planet.
• “How Much Does Human Activity Affect Climate Change?”NCSE, 18 May 2016, ncse.com/library-resource/how-much-does-human-activity-affect-climate-change.
• “Effects of Climate Change.”WWF, World Wildlife Fund, worldwildlife.org/threats/effects-of-climate-change.
• “Air Quality and Climate Change Research.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 5 Oct. 2018, www.epa.gov/air-research/air-quality-and-climate-change-research.
• “Climate Change Impacts.” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, www.noaa.gov/resource-collections/climate-change-impacts.
• Abraham, John. “Climate Change and Other Human Activities Are Affecting Species Migration | John Abraham.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 8 Sept. 2016, www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2016/sep/08/climate-change-and-other-human-activities-are-affecting-species-migration.

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