Science Discussion Questions What types of measurements indicate the climate change is occurring? Several different scientific measurements have illustrated the fact that the climate of the Earth is indeed changing. Firstly, measuring the temperature of both the air and the sea through thermometers indicates the changes from the average (IFM-SEI 2011). In addition, soil has been analyzed to examine the forms of isotopes and levels of oxygen and carbon. Radiocarbon dating has also been utilized as have recordings of number, intensity, and the location of extreme weather events and natural disasters within the last century. How were these measurements collected? The measurements were collected using traditional, geothermic, and other types of thermometers. From there, the temperatures were compared using both contemporary measurements and historical measurements in order to determine the overall change which has occurred. This has been the process by which most measurements have been made regarding climate change; taking current measurements of temperature, geographical alterations, and other natural occurrences and comparing them to the traditional measurements which should have been expected if there were no change in the climate (Petit 1999, page 429). What are some of the challenges associated with collecting data over large periods of time (i.e., 100s of years)? Some of the myriad of challenges associated with collecting data over large periods of time include:
There are both direct and indirect ways of measuring atmospheric composition. Direct scientific measures are used to gain quantitative data which primarily use scientific tools and equipment to measure the actual climatic changes, be it a change in greenhouse gas concentrations or an increase in climatic temperature. Indirect scientific measurements of climate change often measure a separate factor which may provide some evidence of climate change in the past. This can include changes in the study of dendrochronology overtime or the CO2 concentrations and radioactive isotopes trapped within ice cores. Both of these forms of scientific measurements have provided strong evidence to inform the climate change debate. One way in which the combination of direct and indirect measurements have informed the climate change debate is that although changes to the climate are naturally occurring and can be found in periodic cycles throughout history, an example of this being the glacial-interglacial cycles, anthropogenic activities in recent years are having a huge impact on climate change and the rate at which it is taking place.
Grey and Citron present their argument by examining the use of technology to collect and analyze large quantities of data gathered from
However, longitudinal studies require a huge amount of time and can be seen as disadvantage, as it typically takes a substantial amount of time to collect all the data that is required. Also, it can take equally long periods to gather results before the patterns are even begin to start being to be
1. Why is it so difficult for the IRS to analyze the taxpayer data it had collected?
The first argument examined on the man-made global warning side is that increasing greenhouse gases caused by human activities is causing directly observed climate changes. The first resulting climate change discussed is warming global surface temperature. There has been an increase in global surface temperature of 0.74 degrees C since the late 19th century. In the last 50 years alone the temperature has increased by 0.13 degrees C per decade. North America and Eurasia have seen the largest increase in warmth. However, some areas of the earth have actually cooled some this past century (Easterling & Karl, 2011, para6). After the mid 20th century 70% of the global land mass saw reduced diurnal temperatures. From 1979 to 2005 the maximum and minimum temperatures have shown no change; both indicate warming (Easterling & Karl, 2011, para10). Furthermore, borehole temperatures, snow cover, and glacier recession data all seem to agree with recent warming (Easterling & Karl, 2011, para11).
Extreme climate change is crucial to understand and prominently discovering resolutions is essential to better our environment. This is calculated by the reading of satellites and several other forms of measurements. The two different remarks made from the 19th century and the 1950s era, concluded the various prolonged transformations on the ocean, air and terrestrial surface. It has been proven over the years the warming of the surface has occurred, nonetheless the whole earth had experienced this warming. The last thirty years has been the warmest time era in comparison to the last fourteen hundred years. It has been noticed not only the warming of the surface of the land but also the decline of snow, upsurge of sea altitudes and gas concentration.
There are a few way that scientist study the earth’s past atmospheric conditions but there’s only one I’m going to cover, the Ice core measurement. This method involves analyzation of the glacial. It provides scientist with a pretty precise estimate of past conditions that can compared against Earths present. The ice core measurement was introduced in or around 1960 and has been pretty valid. Data is collected by drill deep within the glaciers and collecting large blocks of Ice. Scientist analyze and preserve Ice from glaciers across the world for analyzation and comparison of earth’s current and past conditions.
To be able to carry out this investigation successfully, I used the Internet as my main source of information. I searched for information’s such as: what was our average temperatures a 100 years ago, what is our average temperature now? I searched these questions so that I could find out if climate change was actually happening. I also searched CO2 to temperature graph, as I know that there is a strong correlation between Carbon Dioxide levels and temperatures. I also searched the
A second study states “Although some records are available from the 1600s and 1700s , systematic measurements of climate began in the mid-1800s. The data include measurements of surface temperature over land and the oceans, precipitation amounts, sea-ice extents, and global sea levels. Since the 1970s, satellite studies have provided additional data on temperature trends at Earth’s surface and through the layers of the atmosphere” (“Global Warming- Britannica”). The second source backs up the first source with exact quantitative data about changes in the first. (See pictures on page 6-7 ). The first topic of the United Nation’s Climate Change 2014 Synthesis Report is “Observed Changes and their Cause” which states “Each of the last three decades has been successively warmer at the Earth’s surface than any preceding decade since 1850” (“United Nations” pg 7). These three sources prove, through scientific observational facts, that the climate of the Earth’s surface is changing very rapidly, therefore, proving that through conclusive science the topic of climate changer is accurate.
4. Data issues. Sampling methodologies, merging of data, analysis and interpretation require elaborate and distinct handling (Padgett, 2011)
It has been observed through various researches that in the last century, average temperatures across the globe increased by over 1.3°F with an increase of more than two times in the Arctic. (Bates, Kundzewicz, Wu, & Palutikof, June 2008). The results of climate change can also be seen in changing precipitation patterns, increases in ocean temperatures, changes in the sea level, and acidity and melting of glaciers and sea ice (USEPA, 2014).
Over the years there has been a lot of controversy on if climate change is an issue that needs to be discussed and solved. There is a constant debate among scientist on if human actions are contributing the changing of earth’s climates. Climate change is defined as the change in average weather patterns for a specific region or Earth as a whole. This could include the change in an average temperature for a city or the amount a rainfall it receives (Dunbar, 2015). The main difference between weather and climate is the period of time specific patterns are recorded. Weather patterns are looked at over a much shorter period of time, meaning that these patterns are going to be more sporadic and change more frequently. Climate on the other had is recorded over a much longer period of time and usually show less drastic changes in patterns when compared to weather. Some people may argue that climate change is not an issue because Earth’s temperature is always changing do to natural effects. What people don’t realize is that human activity has effected the rate that earth’s temperature is changing, and just the smallest changes can lead to drastic consequences (Dunbar, 2015).
‘Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia. The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have
The following research will explain how climate change affects us, what it has done in our past and what effects it will have on our future. Climate change is something that is happening as we speak, however, many people in our society are completely unaware of what is causing it and how it can affect the earth. Charts from NASA and The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will give a visual of how the temperatures have changed in recent years and how they will be changing in the future.