Our planet is experiencing a level of climate changes previously unreached. Through the analysis of ice cores, tree rings, glacier lengths, pollen remains and ocean sediments (EPA, 2016), scientists have been able to piece together the Earth’s climate for roughly the last million years (some claim several millions of years). Through this research and the study of historic environmental events, it has been determined that the Earth’s climate changes from warmer to cooler over thousands of years due to natural reasons such as changes in solar energy, volcanic eruptions, and natural changes in the emission of greenhouse gases (EPA, 2016). However, in the last ~150 years or so, this trend has deviated severely due to human causes. This graph obtained from the EPA (EPA, 2016), shows the change in global temperatures from the last century. The green curve of the graph depicts the natural factors that influence climate on Earth. The blue curve of the graph depicts the natural factors plus the human factors that 's influence climate on Earth. Through the inclusion of human factors, there is a drastic increase in temperature change. Many greenhouse gases are fund pollutants (Tietenberg & Lewis, 2015), which can be reintegrated back into the environment over a period of time. However, during the time it takes for them to be recycled back, these gases sit in the Earth’s atmosphere. The increased emission of greenhouse gases has caused a greenhouse effect (EPA, 2016). Heat from the
The first settlement that was made in what is now America, was Jamestown. It was found by European explorers. They thought they were the only ones on this new land. They later found out that the Powhatan Indians also lived there. They built a wall around their village to keep the Indians and the spaniards out. They were all afraid to go outside the wall because they might get killed. It made it very hard for them to get food and water. After a couple months of living in Jamestown many people started dying. Most of them were dying from diseases and starvation. They would eat anything they could find like; cats, dogs, horses, and even people. The only way they stayed alive was because Europe kept sending recruits to keep the village going. No
The global warming is a phenomenon happening all over the earth, there are several causes, but most are a result of human activity. The graph in image 1 shows that a significant increase in the climate temperature in the mid-20th century, somewhere between 1900 and 1950. The industrial revolution happened between the years 1820 and 1840, although great improvements in technology were achieved in the 1900 's. The increasing temperatures since the industrial revolution work as a proof that global warming is a direct effect of human activity. As image 1 shows before the 20th century the variations in the earth 's climate were minimal, except for that of the ice age. Although the industrial revolution detonated the rising temperature due to the use of new chemicals, this change is not evident until it surpasses the previously registered temperatures in the mid-1900 's. Science and technology have improved in the last 200 years, most devices used to measure changes in temperatures were just developed about 150 years ago, so there is not much information of the temperatures before that (Vallis). Nevertheless, scientists have been able to estimate the earth 's temperature from millions of years ago by studding trees, fossils, sediments and water temperatures. Recent studies have proved how many man-made chemicals and activities have contributed to the climate change, affecting the natural processes in the earth like the
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.
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).
Earth’s climate, or the particular weather patterns over an extended period of time, has many contributing factors and has varied over the course of the planet. The planets’ global climate can also be broken down into regional climates based on the weather patterns of a specific area of land. These differing regional climates are averaged together and all contribute to the overall global climate of the planet. The Earth’s global climate effects factors such as temperature, amount of rainfall, glacial melting, and rising and downfall of sea level, along with many more aspects of planet Earth. Affected by both natural and man-made elements, Earth’s climate is constantly changing. These climatic changes have been taking place for 4.6 billion years and are now studied by using satellite-derived and thermometer-based temperature records and trends. However, these methods only allow scientists to study the global climate as far back as the 17th and 18th century, just a small fraction of Earth’s lifespan. In order to extend our understanding of Earth’s climate beyond this instrumental record of just a few centuries, scientists use proxy data, or natural clues that are buried in sediments, coral reefs, tree rings, fossil pollen, and glaciers. Methods such as paleomagnetism, tephrochronolgy, and radiocarbon dating assist in the extended understanding of Earth’s changing climate over the course of time.
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.
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).
For over a hundred years, scientists have been carefully gathering and verifying data on the earth's temperature. The latest data reveals some striking trends:All 10 of the warmest years on record have occurred in the last 15 years The 1990's have already been warmer than the 1980's- the warmest decade on record The global average surface temperature has risen 0.5 degrees (site source)For the first time ever, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the authoritative international body charged with studying this issue, concluded that the observed increase in global average temperature over the last century "is
In the last 100 years, Earth’s average temperature has risen by 1.4°F. The rising global temperatures have caused changes in weather and climate. Global warming refers to the ongoing rise in the average temperature near Earth’s surface. This is causing a climate change, which refers to any significant change (major change in temperature, precipitation, or wind patterns) in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time (several decades or longer). Due to this, it is projected that the temperature will rise from 2 to 11.5°F in the next hundred years (US EPA, 2014). The “drivers,” which are the principal causes making this occur, are very controversial. It is debated whether a change in temperature is due to the work of
The Earth has not always been as it is today. Periods of climate alterations have occurred over time to land us where we stand today. Around 8200 years ago or 6200 BCE, a surprising event occurred on Earth. The Earth underwent an abrupt climate temperature change. This change is known as the 8.2 ka year event or 8200 year event which refers to the last major climate alteration, a Northern Hemisphere cooling event that occurred approximately 8,200 years before the present. This event was less severe than the Younger Dryas, a cooling event preceding the 8.2, but more severe than the Little Ice Age that occurred after. The event occurred in the Greenland Ice cores during the Holocene, a period in which the Earth had a relatively stable climate.
Evidence indicates, Earth’s natural climate has a history of dramatic changes from warmer and cooler periods that can last for a few centuries. Mankind geologically speaking lives in a time period of intense climate change, and over the past million years we have experienced a dozen or so major glaciations, with the greatest occurring around 650,000 years ago, long before the Industrial Revolution, The Ice Age. This cooling period in Earth’s climate lasted for somewhere around 50,000 years and included the extreme buildup of ice that covered major regions, such as the Midwest, Canada, Germany, and several smaller regions. During this time the sea level had dropped by approximately 400 feet and the overall global temperature dropped nearly 9
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).
The human race all around the world wonders if the climate is changing due to human activity or if it is just a natural occurrence. At certain parts of the Earth's surface, the climate can be observed much differently than other locations. As the years go by the average temperature of the Earth increases by little intervals. There are several different reasons why people believe the climate is changing every year. However, the increase of worldwide population and production of heat to the atmosphere is due to the increase of human activities that take place on a daily basis. Human activity is the main cause of the global climate change. The human impact on climate exceeds any known changes due to natural processes. The impact of this human activity is often misunderstood when looking at climate change.
The issue of global warming should be on the list of our top priorities. Studies show that the average of global temperatures have risen since the Industrial Revolution began. Since the Industrial Revolution, human emissions has quadrupled the frequency of certain heat extremes and many scientists have warned that a failure to bring greenhouse gases under control could eventually lead to a 62-fold increase in extreme heat blasts (Gillis Justin A17). Most of the increase is due to human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. These activities contribute to a build-up in carbon dioxide and other gases in Earth’s atmosphere. The Earth’s atmosphere is made of gases like nitrogen, carbon dioxide and oxygen. These gases act as a blanket that covers and gives us warmth, but once these gases such as carbon dioxide absorbs heat, but does not release it back into space in which causes the increase in global temperature. This is called the greenhouse effect because it only traps heat but does not release it.
Every journalist, public intellectual and mouthbreathing tv personality has an opinion on what western strategy should be in Syria in light of the Russian involvement. It makes for a chaos in perpetual regeneration. However, the vacuum we 've created in Syria by our inaction and the lack of leadership from president Obama and Mr Cameron having now been filled by the vile dictator Putin might make western strategy more simple. That is if we operate under the assumption we take advantage of the opportunity.