...CLIMATE CHANGING AND THE EFFECT IT HAS ON YOU Dijonne King PSC 140 December 1, 2013 Climate change is the climate patterns attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels. Climate change has recently become a huge issue here on Earth. The use of fossil fuels has largely affected the world as we see it today. Temperatures are rising, snow and rainfall patterns are shifting and extreme climate events such as heavy rainstorms and record high temperatures are highly affecting our environment. Through evidence of this climate change, scientists have come to realize the causes and effects of climate change. Through learning about what creates climate change, learning how climate change impacts you, and taking action, I believe climate change can definitely have a positive impact on everyone. Through scientific evident it is clear that climate change has affected the planet Earth as we know it. 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 average temperature at the surface of the Earth has been increasing over the past century, mostly due to human activities. Warmer surface temperatures lead to increasing evaporation from the ocean and land, leading to an increase in global precipitation. Scientific studies have shown that extreme weather is more likely to become more intense with time. Human activities are...
Words: 544 - Pages: 3
...RAPID CLIMATE CHANGE: OCEAN RESPONSES TO EARTH SYSTEM INSTABILITY IN THE LATE QUATERNARY James P Kennett Department of Geological Sciences and Marine Science Institute University of California Santa Barbara and Larry C Peterson Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science University of Miami A RAPID CLIMATE OSCILLATOR IN THE LATE QUATERNARY Until recently most Earth scientists believed that past climate change occurred on relatively long time scales of tens of thousands of years or more Most also thought that climate change was controlled largely by changes in the distribution of solar radiation with Earth's orbital oscillations providing an external forcing to the climate system and pacing the so called Milankovitch cycles However dramatic discoveries during the early s changed this paradigm Climatic records produced from the Greenland ice sheet and in nearby marine sediments of the North Atlantic altered the way Earth scientists thought about the operation of Earth's climate system and the relative sensitivity of this system to major climatic shifts Age (Years before present) 0 cold 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 Paleoclimate studies of Greenland ice cores (Dansgaard et al ) were the first to reveal a remarkable sequence of major rapid millennial scale oscillations in the climate system during the last ice age (Fig ) superimposed on the more gradual orbitally driven insolation cycles Because of high accumulation rates of snow over Greenland ice cores from this...
Words: 3441 - Pages: 14
...Most of the scientists agree that this climate change is threatening our earth; human beings can be extinct probably in the near future. The cause and effects of this phenomenon has been studied which is greenhouse effect. The whole world is getting involved in this issue and looking for solutions. Greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that increases temperature of the earth’s surface (Australian government). However, according to the investigations, human activities enhanced the greenhouse activities, making it worse. So our climate change is due to the increasing human activities, global industrialization which ejects huge amount of carbon emissions. Human activities enhance greenhouse effect that causes widespread heave rainfalls in the northern Hemisphere during the last 50 years (Minetal, as cited in Allan, 2011).The rising temperature is disrupting every aspect in our life and the whole ecosystem. This climate change affects atmospheric and ocean circulations and brings many hazards to the earth, such as widespread drought, flood and tsunami. As we considered climate change, we need consider the common good for all the humans on the earth. The common good refers to the total living conditions which can enable individuals to get the achievement which enables people to achieve humanity (google), whereas climate change is a serious issue that is eliminating human living resouces in many aspects. As we mentioned above, climate change can cause many negative effects, such...
Words: 1160 - Pages: 5
...The Earth’s climate is changing. Temperatures are rising, snow and rainfall patterns are shifting, and more extreme climate events—like heavy rainstorms and record high temperatures—are already taking place. Scientists are highly confident that many of these observed changes can be linked to the climbing levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, which are caused by human activities. There are a number of different forces which can influence the Earth's climate. When the sun gets brighter, the planet receives more energy and warms. When volcanoes erupt, they emit particles into the atmosphere which reflect sunlight, and the planet cools. When there are more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the planet warms. These effects are referred to as external forcings because by changing the planet's energy balance, they force climate to change. It is obviously true that past climate change was caused by natural forcings. However, to argue that this means we can't cause climate change is like arguing that humans can't start bushfires because in the past they've happened naturally. Greenhouse gas increases have caused climate change many times in Earth's history, and we are now adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere at a increasingly rapid rate. Looking at the past gives us insight into how our climate responds to external forcings. Using ice cores, for instance, we can work out the degree of past temperature change, the level of solar activity, and...
Words: 408 - Pages: 2
...CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PROJECT Climate change is the change in stable weather conditions of a given place which have been noted in such a place for a period extending over thirty years. It is notable and lasting change in the distribution of weather patterns in over thirty years. Climate affects agricultural production directly. The International Fund for Agricultural Development accepts climate change to be among the factors influencing rural poverty. Climate change affects the globe as a whole but its effects is felt much more by poor people in third world countries because they rely much on natural resources as a source of their livelihoods. Poor rural communities rely much on livestock keeping and agriculture which are climate-sensitive sectors of the economy. We have to adapt and employ mitigation strategies to respond to climate change. Adapting involves reducing the vulnerabilities of ecosystem to climate change whereas mitigation involves reducing the long term impact of climate change. Mitigating also involves reducing the emission of green house gases while adapting will also involves supporting local communities to deal with the impacts of climate. Agriculture of a given place depends on the climate of such a place; with climate change agriculture is affected negatively. Climate change accelerates the challenges facing the agricultural production and specifically in Sub-Saharan Africa. Innovations are the way to mitigating the effects of climate change on agricultural...
Words: 2526 - Pages: 11
...Every place, country, city, region has its own climate. Climate plays one of the important roles in people’s life. Climate is defined as the average weather, which means variety of weather conditions as rain, snow, hail, sun, and wind over period of time about 30 years that can be measured in any particular place.( IPCC Third Assessment Report - Climate Change 2001; editor:A.P.Baede) Climate change is a variation of average weather. There are 2 causes of climate change. The first is human activity which includes deforestation, burning fossil fuels, agriculture, transportation and infrastructure. The second is natural causes which include volcanic eruptions and variations in solar outputs. These causes have negative effect on the natural environment which leads to increasing of temperature, increasing in sea level, changing of precipitations, extremely weather, killing species of animals, birds, fish and plants. This essay will show that the causes of climate change have different effects on the environment. Atmospheric carbon dioxide variations, volcanic eruptions and solar outputs, have negative impacts on animals, plants, and environment. Climate is always changeable. One winter can be early, another late; one summer wet, another dry (Carter 2000,34). For the last century climate has dramatically changed. Consequences of climate change may manifest itself as rapid and through the long period of time. Climate change could lead to number of catastrophic disasters as droughts...
Words: 2383 - Pages: 10
...Impacts Of Climate Change IN Bangladesh | Group 2 | Members-Sakib Shahriar-1510119630 | Israt Jahan-1510581630 | Joyeeta Fabliha Zahir-Faisal Ahmed Shajal-Ashrafun Zamam Lima-Kazi Pushpita- | | Faculty-MRL ENV-107 | [Pick the date] | | Abstract Climate change is one of the most important issues to tackle this generation and possibly any generation in history. Bangladesh is likely to be one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. This paper discusses the possible impacts of climate change in Bangladesh through tropical cyclones, storm surges, coastal erosion and back water effect. Both qualitative and quantitative discussions are made on cyclone intensity increase for a sea surface temperature rise of 2 and 4°C. Different scenarios of storm surges under different climate change conditions are developed by using a numerical model of storm surges for the Bay of Bengal. Possible loss of land through beach erosion due to sea level rise on the eastern coast of Bangladesh is examined. Finally a few remarks are made on the adaptation options for Bangladesh in the event of climate change. Introduction Climate change is the biggest global health threat of the 21st century and is increasingly recognized as a public health priority. Bangladesh is recognized as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change impacts in the world. It has a history of extreme climatic events claiming millions of lives...
Words: 570 - Pages: 3
...CLIMATE CHANGE IN DECEMBER 2009, as the Copenhagen climate conference fell apart, the chairman of Greenpeace UK, John Sauven, said “the city of Copenhagen is a crime scene tonight, with the guilty men and women fleeing to the airport.” His remark captured some of the salient characteristics of climate policy: the importance of treaties and regulation; the central role of politicians, advocacy groups and non-governmental organisations such as Greenpeace; the pervasive moral certainty; and, though this was only in the background, the commitment to renewable energy, especially wind and solar power, as the primary means of cutting carbon emissions. For many people, the great problem of climate change has been a failure of regulation and political will. If only, they say, the obligations of the Kyoto accord had been more comprehensive, the regulations stricter, or if more money had gone into renewables. Then the world might have reined in the temperature rise and the public would not have become so sceptical about climate change. Not so, says Dieter Helm of Oxford University. It is not the failure of the regulations that is the problem but their basic design. They have caused people to focus on the most expensive ways of mitigating climate change, rather than the cheapest, imposing high costs for little gain. Moreover, by concentrating on their own carbon production, and how to reduce it, Europeans have ignored the impact of their continued demand for goods made using carbon- intensive...
Words: 842 - Pages: 4
...Two-Thirds of Americans Want US to Join Climate Change Pact Summary of News Item The New York times on November 30 2015 published an article authored by Giovanni Russonelo that two thirds of Americans want US to join the climate Change Pact. A solid majority of Americans say the United States should join international treaty to limit impact of global warming but on this and other climate related questions opinion divides sharply along partisan lines, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll.This represents a shift in public opinion, advocates for climate change are hopeful that the paris talks could be a turning point. Poll Results • 63% of Americans including a bare majority of republicans support domestic policy limiting carbon emmisions from plants • 75% of Americans polled said global warming was already having a serious environmental impact • Nine to Ten democrats agreed , compared 58% of Republicans • One third of republicans said it will never have an impact • 50%of all Americans said the government should take steps to restrict drilling ,logging and mining on public lands, compared to 45% who approved restrictions. • Among democrats support for limiting mineral extraction on public lands rose to 58% • One out 5 Americans favored increasing taxes on electricity as a way to fight global warming • Six in ten opposed, including 49% for Democrats • 36% support increasing taxes to curb global warming • 51% of respondents worried about global...
Words: 917 - Pages: 4
...Climate Change SCI/362 February 1, 2012 Chara Webster Climate Change Both here in the states and abroad, communities are already feeling the effects of climate change. Evidence of this change may be seen in increased water pollution, more severe droughts, and larger and more frequent flooding. Because we have so poorly managed land and water in the past, mankind is inadequately prepared to handle the tasks that the ongoing climate change is presenting. Not only are there a number of opinions on this very hot topic, but there are also government-imposed regulations on the matter. Some will argue that global warming is good for us, while others fear that the injection of greenhouse gases will trigger a new ice age. Still, there are others who maintain that self-regulating planetary mechanisms exist which may uphold climate stability even in the face of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. While I’ll take a closer look at each of these theories, I’ll also consider the stance of the EPA and the UN, and some of the measures that the government is taking in an effort to monitor the impacts that climate change has on human health. About 25,000 years ago, during the last ice age, half of North America was completely covered by ice. A significantly cooler environment would be devastating for humans, as well as plants and animals. “For this reason, Soviet climatologist Mikhail Budyko and others like him argue that we should welcome global warming, and even encourage...
Words: 948 - Pages: 4
...1. Introduction Over the last century, climate change has become one of the greatest threats facing the world. There is overwhelming scientific consensus that the increasing global temperature and the variable weather condition are closely related to the increase of greenhouse gases. In order to tackle the issue of climate change effectively, the Kyoto Protocol has been established. However, the rate of climate change is beyond prediction and the adverse impacts of climate change are increasingly serious. Besides, the debate about the main cause of climate change is significant. As the main driver of climate change is difficult to identify, countries face the challenge to formulate practical strategies to reduce greenhouse gases. This report will define climate change and explore what is the main driver of climate change as well as focus on climate change response strategies in Kenya. 2. Definition of Climate Change Climate change is characterized as observed increase in global average temperature of the earth. Climate is totally different from weather. Weather is the state of atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, cloudiness, wind and rain (CCIR-NYC 2005, p. 1). However, climate is a region’s weather patterns in a relatively long period (CCIR-NYC 2005, p. 1). The CCIR-NYC (2005, p. 1) claims that the variations of the state of climate on space and time are the dominant features of climate change. It is reported that global average temperature has...
Words: 1330 - Pages: 6
...Climate Change Climate change is a long-term alteration in the statistical distribution of weather pattern over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. The world is currently experiencing drastic change in temperature. This change can be felt in the tropical climate areas where the weather is getting hotter and hotter every day. The change in global temperatures and precipitation over time is due to natural variability or to human activity. It is also caused by accumulation of greenhouse effects (Arrhenius, 1896). Should we as humans let this problem worsen? Climate change will affect everything including humans, flora and fauna, and the environment. One of the effects of climate change is how it will affect the people. Climate change will have a huge impact on the people’s health. The health of the people will be affected mostly by air pollution and respiratory problems will have the greatest risk of health effects. Increases in moulds and pollens due to warmer temperatures could also cause respiratory problems such as asthma for some people. Should the effects of climate change get any worse than what it is now, people around the world will have to face some serious problems. Food security will be affected and thus diseases can easily get transmitted. Food or waterborne diseases are acquired through eating or drinking. For example, Hepatitis A is a viral disease that interferes with the functioning of the liver. It can be spread through consumption of food or water...
Words: 1424 - Pages: 6
...Peoples Attitudes towards Climate Change A group paper is presented to the faculty of Mindanao University of Science and Technology – Jasaan Campus presented by Steven Castino, Geneth Caturan, Marjohn Deleon, John Henry Mercado, Julan Aricayos, Kimbert Pacana, Joseph Sumayang, June Rey Tarpin, Richard Nacua, Joel Cabelto, and Rey Carlou Cailing. I. Introduction Climate Change or Global warming is the increase of the average temperature of earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and landmasses. Scientists believe earth is currently facing a period of rapid warming brought on by rising levels of heat-trapping gases, known as greenhouse gases, in the atmosphere (Harvey, 2012). Ironically, “It is not climate change that is our problem, but the attitude of people that should be addressing the problem” (Fernandez, 2012). Most previous studies evaluating the cause of awareness to the people towards the climate change is the effects of people’s attitude towards climate change (Gallup, 2008; Barret & Dannenberg, 2012). Most of the studies confirm the explicit and implicit attitudes towards climate change suggest targeting hidden thoughts a better way to change people’s behavior (Corner, 2010; Kormos & McIntyre, 2011). There are also findings that proved the countries to firm one another to build human activities towards climate change. This paper is intended to transport cognizance on the necessary ideas on what are the people’s perception towards climate change that have been affected...
Words: 3065 - Pages: 13
... I pretend for a living. But you do not." – Leonardo Dicaprio at the U.N Climate Summit The climate crisis is one of the greatest challenges we have ever faced. Its consequences are already visible all around the world. We now face stronger storms, bigger floods and droughts, the temperatures is worsening with hotter summers and colder winters, the spreading of tropical diseases, melting of ice and the rising seas. And this is not where it stops; these events are all projected to get worse in coming years unless we stop using the atmosphere as an open sewer for the 98 million tons of global-warming pollution that we pour into it every single day. Pakistan is no stranger to the consequences of Climate Change. In the past few decades, Pakistan has been severely affected by Climate Change and the impacts on human lives have become more significant since the 1990’s. Floods are the new normal in Pakistan, occurring every year with no action from the government. Several hundred people have died in floods every year. The flash floods of September 2014 has killed nearly 280 people and injured more than 500 in Pakistan affecting more than 2 million people. The flood surge was so big that authorities had to blow up dikes to divert swollen rivers and save cities from raging. But this thereby flooded nearby farming areas, displacing tens of thousands of people. With all the loss and destruction by climate change, still no action is being taken by the government of Pakistan. But there...
Words: 781 - Pages: 4
...The way that humanity reacts to climate change may do more damage to many areas of the planet than climate change itself, says a new study published in Conservation Letters by Conservation International's Will Turner and a group of other leading scientists. The paper "Climate change: helping nature survive the human response," looks at efforts to both reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and potential action that could be taken by people to adapt to a changed climate and assesses the potential impact that these could have on global ecosystems. In particular it notes that one fifth of the world's remaining tropical forests lie within 50 kilometers of human populations that could be inundated if sea levels rise by 1 meter. These forests would make attractive sources of fuel-wood, building materials, food and other key resources and would be likely to attract a population forced to migrate by rising sea levels. About half of all Alliance for Zero Extinction sites -- which contain the last surviving members of certain species -- are also in these zones. "There are numerous studies looking at the impacts of climate change on biodiversity, but very little time has been taken to consider what our responses to climate change might do to the planet, " Turner said. The paper notes that efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by constructing dams for hydropower generation can cause substantial damage to key freshwater ecosystems as well as to the flora and fauna in the...
Words: 619 - Pages: 3