Having been born and raised on the East Coast of the US for most of my life, I’ve noticed many changes in the weather. Seasons are no longer the same as they used to be in terms of how hot or cold it is, and how long they last. There’s an explanation for these subtle changes over time which can be summed up in one word: global warming. This change is primarily due in part to the involvement of the human species. The scientific definition of global warming is the gradual increase in the overall temperature of Earth’s atmosphere which is generally attributed to the greenhouse effect.
The greenhouse effect is caused by increasing the levels of gases, primarily carbon dioxide, that exist in the atmosphere. These gases (in excess) didn’t naturally enter the atmosphere, because this was due to the advancement of the human race as a whole. This effect can be broken down into a few actions. As energy enters the Earth from the Sun, it bounces off clouds in the atmosphere and returns to space. Some of this energy makes its way to the surface and is still reflected back into space due to the cryosphere. A small amount of this energy makes it to the surface and proceeds to warm it. After warming, energy from the surface makes its way into space again, but some of this energy is reheated in the atmosphere and sent back to the surface. In short, the energy is reflected and emitted multiple times from Earth’s atmosphere and surface to space, and so-forth.
The energy reheated is what primarily comprises the greenhouse effect. As civilization advanced and got bigger, so did the means of making structures that required more power to function. This growth did not account for the negative impacts their actions would have on the planet we live on. During the period in history when industrialization was at an all-time high, national leaders authorized the pumping of more harmful gases into the air. Since those times we are still harming our planet with these greenhouse gases. Earth is becoming warmer and warmer every year, and the gradual temperature increase isn’t the only thing that we have to be worried about.
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One of the many disastrous effects that comes with global warming is the increase in droughts and heatwaves that we’ve recently experienced. Since the temperature would get hotter all over the world, the ice caps are melting, and areas with low water access would find it even harder to procure water. According to an article posted by NASA regarding heatwaves and droughts, “…As the years go by, summer temperatures are projected to continue rising, and a reduction of soil moisture, which exacerbates heat waves, is projected for much of the western and central U.S. in summer…” If we don’t do something to effectively curb the rate at which we are emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, eventually the earth will suffer unrepairable damage. However, just because we are on track for this to happen, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t at least try to avoid it. I can definitely say that I’ve noticed a distinct difference in the seasons, in both length and severity, over a 10-year period. Living in New York throughout this time has brought me to conclude that the winters aren’t as cold as they used to be, and it rarely snows. All in all, as time passes, I’m starting to see less of the normal winter seasons attributes and more of what looks like an extended fall. The summers are that much more brutal and scorching. These changes will only become more and more apparent and widespread as time passes. I fear that the people with the ability to make the most change to this endless cycle won’t start to care until it affects them financially. If this is what we must wait for in order to see a change, then we’re in trouble.
References
“The Effects of Climate Change.” NASA, NASA, 30 Sept. 2019, www.climate.nasa.gov/effects/
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When we talk about Global warming, we are referring to international averages, with the amount of warming varying by areas. Since the pre-industrial length, worldwide average land temperatures have scientifically increased nearly two times as fast as global common temperatures. This is because of the increase of warmness capacity of oceans and due to the fact oceans get warmer due to evaporation of water. Patterns of warming are independent of the locations of greenhouse fuel emissions because the gases persist for long periods of time and they spread throughout the planet. The Northern Hemisphere and North Pole have warmed a great deal faster than the South Pole and Southern Hemisphere. The Northern Hemisphere has much more land, however, also more snow vicinity and sea ice, due to how the land is arranged around the Arctic Ocean. As those surfaces flip from being reflective to dark after the ice has melted, they begin soaking up more warmth. The Southern Hemisphere already had little sea ice in the summer season and it was earlier before it started warming. Arctic temperatures have increased and its anticipated to retain growth throughout this century at over twice the charge of the relaxation of the arena. As the temperature distinction between the Arctic and the equator decreases, ocean currents which might be driven via that temperature distinction, like the Gulf Stream, weaken.
Although record-breaking years called media attention, individual years have less importance than the overall worldwide ground temperature, which is subject to short-term fluctuations that overlie long-term trends. An instance of such an episode is the slower rate of ground temperature increase from 1998 to 2012, which become described as the worldwide warming hiatus. Throughout this period, ocean heat storage persisted upwards, and in subsequent years, ground temperatures have spiked upwards. The slower pace of warming may be attributed to an aggregate of natural fluctuations, reduced sun activity, and extended reflection sunlight of by using particles from volcanic eruptions.
Hey Donavon,
Great blog! Thanks so much for sharing with us. I must agree with your research and explanation here. The increase of greenhouse gasses, climate change, and the relationship between humans and global warming is very real. Global warming is causing true harm all around the world and not just here in the United States.
You mentioned global warming’s dangerous effects and how it brings an increase of droughts and heatwaves. This negatively impacts many developing countries and specifically poor populations. Developing countries also have limited social safety nets, extreme poverty, fragile health care systems, and weak or corrupt governmental institutions, which makes it harder for them to adapt or respond to climate change. Without government support systems many must fend for themselves and their families. Climate change and global warming are also becoming the culprits of adding to the world’s hunger. As global warming rapidly keeps growing, many areas of the world are being affected by droughts while others are being affected by wetter lands from flooding, making farming nearly impossible. Agriculture is one of the industries most exposed and vulnerable to climate change. Crops and livestock are very sensitive to temperature and precipitation. Producing enough food for everyone in the world depends heavily on climate. The negative impacts on farming are decreasing food security, causing many to lose their lives due to famine and starvation. This is becoming the new “norm” for poor populations all around the world.
People dying due to the effects of climate change and global warming should be more than enough reason to start taking responsibility and start making conscientious decisions to help reduce greenhouse gasses that are being released back into the atmosphere, but unfortunately, it is not. Having an effective response to climate change is crucial in making progress on food security and overall effects.
It’s truly sad that many individuals don’t have the slightest idea of the true harm us humans are causing to this wonderful planet we call home. I, like you Donavon, fear that it will be too late for society to start making significant changes that could reverse the damage done to our planet.
References
Eise , Jessica, and Kenneth Foster. “World Hunger Is on the Rise Again, and Climate Change Is a Culprit.” The World from PRX, The World , Oct. 2018, http://www.pri.org/stories/2018-10-22/world-hunger-rise-again-and-climate-change-culprit.