Climate change is basically change in weather pattern, this is a quite new science yet burning issue around the world. Shifting weather pattern, rise on sea levels, flooding, wildfires, droughts, heat waves, alteration in ecosystem and even extinction of species are the key consequences of climate change. Worldwide, there have been movements to slow down or to prevent the negative impacts of this extreme events. Some exercises such as change in lifestyle or going renewables are rapidly growing, yet many fear these are not enough. Poverty, unequal distribution of resources and war maybe the preventing factors to mitigate climate change effects.
A change in global or regional climate patterns is commonly known as climate change. Climate change is the long term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a place. climate change could refer to a particular location or the planet as a whole. it causes weather pattern to be less predictable. these unexpected weather pattern can make it difficult to maintain and grow crops in regions that rely on farming because expected temperature and rainfalls can no longer be relied on. Climate change has also been connected with other changing weather events such as more frequent and more intense hurricanes, floods, downpours etc.
Climate change is a significant time variation in weather patterns occurring over periods ranging from
decades to millions of years. Climate change may refer to a change in average weather conditions, or in the time variation of weather around longer-term average conditions (i.e., more or fewer extreme
weather events). Climate change is caused by factors such as biotic processes, variations in solar
radiation received by Earth, plate tectonics, and volcanic eruptions. Certain human activities have also been identified as significant causes of recent climate change, often referred to as global warming.
Scientists actively work to understand past and future climate by using observations and theoretical
models. A climate record — extending deep into the Earth; past — has been assembled, and continues to be built up, based on geological evidence from borehole temperature profiles, cores removed from deep accumulations of ice, floral and faunal records, glacial and periglacial processes, stable-isotope and other analyses of sediment layers, and records of past sea levels. More recent data are provided by the instrumental record. General circulation models, based on the physical sciences, are often used in theoretical approaches to match past climate data, make future projections, and link causes and effects in climate change.
Excessive greenhouse gases lead to warming of the planet. Greenhouse gases surround the earth like a blanket. As we burn more coal, natural gas and oil, the blanket becomes excessively thick, dense and less likely to allow heat to escape and gets trapped inside the blanket of greenhouse gases and earth becomes too warm!
Climate change has numerous definitions with various base theories, here we’ll have a look on those as to see the conclusion as one, because it may have several meanings or understanding but the severe effects we are facing on global scales are undeniable.
Definitions:
- NASA’s definition of climate change says it is “a broad range of global phenomena created predominantly by burning fossil fuels, which add heat-trapping gases to Earth’s atmosphere. These phenomena include the increased temperature trends described by global warming, but also encompass changes such as sea-level rise; ice mass loss in Greenland, Antarctica, the Arctic and mountain glaciers worldwide; shifts in flower/plant blooming; and extreme weather events.”
- Here also, according to US Geological survey, global warming is just an aspect of climate change. In fact, they say that global warming refers to the rise in global temperature due mainly to the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. on the other hand, climate changes in the measure of climate over a long period of time- including precipitation, temperature and wind patterns.
- According to UNEP ( United Nations Environmental Program) We are facing an existential threat and rapid prioritization of attention and action is necessary. If we continue along our current path, scientists say that the consequences will be devastating, having implications on where we live, how we grow food and other services vital to our well-being. A 2°C increase could mean more heat waves, a ten-fold increase in Arctic ice-free summers and a complete wipe-out of the world’s coral reefs, home to millions of species.
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.
Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures.
Examples of greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change include carbon dioxide and methane. These come from using gasoline for driving a car or coal for heating a building, for example. Clearing land and forests can also release carbon dioxide. Landfills for garbage are a major source of methane emissions. Energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture and land use are among the main emitters.
The climate started changing a long time ago due to human activities but we came to know about it in the last century. During the last century, we started noticing the climatic change and its effect on human life. We started researching on climate change and came to know that the earth temperature is rising due to a phenomenon called the greenhouse effect. The warming up of earth surface causes many ozone depletion, affect our agriculture, water supply, transportation, and several other problems.
Climate change refers to the change in the environmental conditions of the earth. This happens due to many internal and external factors. The climatic change has become a global concern over the last few decades. Besides, these climatic changes affect life on the earth in various ways. These climatic changes are having various impacts on the ecosystem and ecology. Due to these changes, a number of species of plants and animals have gone extinct.
Different perspective: Earth’s geological reasons of climate change
There are few theories that support the climate change can also be the natural phenomena such as Earth’s geological cycle that is based on ice ages and other climate events in the past. another theory that suggests the temperature increase globally is somewhat related to large volcanic eruptions around the earth it elaborates that volcanic gases like sulphur dioxide can cause global cooling , while volcanic carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, has the potential to increase global temperature . Though these theories are not backed up by many scientists there may be an argument on these natural causes of climate change!
Conclusion:
Regardless, the cause of climate change, we are witnessing unusual changes in weather which are very unpredictable. Human races have exploited the natural resources use and we are doing so in unsustainable manners.
The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report concluded, with increased confidence over the Third Assessment, that some weather events, such as heat waves, storms and droughts, that can have large impacts, are likely to become more frequent and widespread in the future and, in some cases, more intense.
Though, the outcomes of climate change are scary, scientists suggest that it isn’t something that isn’t preventable. Saving energy at home, biking or taking public transit and using more eco friendly means in our everyday life can enormously reduce the carbon footprint. Reduce, reuse and recycle are three mantras that always work on saving planet! This is our home, we have nowhere to go; lets act now!
References:
1. Google dictionary
2. source: marketbusinessnews.com)
3. Nasa.gov
4. unep.org
5. un.org
6. toppr.com
7. ipcc.ch
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