Climate Change Breakdown
Climate change has become a term frequently discussed in today’s society. Whether it’s in politics, science class, or on social media, climate change is a crucial topic gaining traction with average citizens, celebrities, and political officials!
Yet, whenever climate change is brought up, everyone brings something new about the topic to the table.
“I heard that climate change is a result of the ozone holes over the poles!”
“Oh, well, I heard that climate change is going to cause the entire state of California to be underwater by 2042!”
While these claims can be traced back to certain verifiable aspects of climate change data, they are, for the most part, incorrect.
However, the topic of climate change is still emerging and, already, is a complex topic that requires a proper guide in order to navigate. So, today, we will be reviewing a basic outline of climate change!
Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gases have been a focal point of the climate change debate with some even claiming the need to completely eradicate them from our atmosphere. This is NOT the way to solve climate change because, believe it or not, some greenhouse gases are natural and required for life on Earth!
CO2 is the most crucial greenhouse gas due to the role it plays in the carbon cycle as well as helping to control temperature on Earth. CO2 is essential as plants rely on CO2 for photosynthesis, and the rest of life on Earth relies on plants.
CO2 emissions have started to get out of control due to anthropogenic (human) activity, especially after the Industrial Revolution. This is the result of increased automobile ownership and usage, especially in the U.S., electricity production, and industrial activity.
However, greenhouse gases we want to prevent from increasing in concentration include methane, hydrofluorocarbons, and sulfur compounds, such as sulfur hexafluoride and sulfur dioxide. Many of these are a result of industrial activity, electricity generation, or transportation, and can be harmful to our environment.
Temperature Change
Increased CO2, as seen on the Keeling Curve, has also affected global temperature. However, you cannot blame a single hot day on climate change.
Temperature change due to climate change is a gradual one in the sense that it has only increased by about 1-1.5 degrees in the past 100 years. While this doesn’t seem like a lot, this increase is rapid when compared to the typical timeline for a one-degree temperature change.
The effects of a changing global temperature is not restricted to warmer and colder seasons, but also affects sea-levels! Sea-levels are currently rising at a worry-some rate, and temperature is part of the key.
Increased global temperatures have been melting glaciers which, as they melt, increase the volume of water in the ocean. Water, when heated, also expands thus current ocean water will take up more volume than if the global temperature was a degree cooler.
This causes sea-levels to rise thus threatening countries and cities along coastlines around the world. For example, extensive research is being done on increasing sea-levels’ effects on Florida, especially in Miami (for about this, check out The Water Will Come by Jeff Goodell).
Various Effects
There are many other aspects to consider when discussing climate change and possible prevention strategies. Changing land use, diseases, and crops as well as many other aspects of life can be connected to climate change.
Due to growing populations and industrialization, the way we use land has changed with a heavier lean towards developing land for housing and industrial expansion. As a result of changing land use, important areas known as carbon sinks, areas where there is a large number of plants/trees that absorb CO2, have been cut down thus reintroducing this stored CO2 back into the atmosphere (which disrupts the Carbon cycle’s equilibrium).
As temperatures increase and water levels rise, previously unaffected areas are facing exposure to nasty diseases such as Dengue fever. Climate change can also cause higher levels of mosquito infestations and possibly even water contamination.
Finally, crops will be affected as a result of climate change due to newly unfavorable conditions for specific crops. For example, wheat crops will have to move from the U.S. Midwest to Canada because wheat crops can only grow in certain environments. This will prove to be a major problem as many farmers will have to change crops, for fearing of going out of business, and trade negotiations between countries will have to be reevaluated.
What You Can Do
The key thing when looking at climate change is to inform yourself by using reputable sources. Make sure to read about the basics, in order to gain a strong understanding to build upon later, and expand your horizons by looking at new aspects!
Also, look into ways you can personally contribute to fighting against climate change. Conservation and efficiency are two key methods for decreasing, and hopefully someday reversing, the effects of climate change. Be conscious of your energy consumption, transportation methods, and other personal choices and consider how they affect climate change.
Finally, associate yourself with public and international policy regarding climate change. A few key events and policies to read would be the Kyoto Protocol, the Clean Air Act, and the Paris Agreement.
There is always more to learn, so let’s learn as much as we can about climate change in order to make a difference in the future.