It’s getting hot in here — literally. According to The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the global temperature has risen by 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit since 1880, with most of the warming taking place during the last 35 years. These increases, known as global warming, have led to major changes to the earth’s climate. Unfortunately, these changes are not in the planet’s best interest, as with warmer temperatures come a variety of negative environmental consequences, including more frequent and stronger storms, loss of natural habitats, and increased instances of drought and flooding. Unfortunately, one of climate change’s main causes — the burning of fossil fuels — is tied to many nations’ economic structure, including that of the United States. In other words, what helps to make climate change such a uniquely menacing threat is how the issue is often politicized to the point of generating confusion where there should only be the general understanding associated with scientific facts.
Since U.S. President Donald Trump has denied climate change, moved to deregulate coal, and tapped climate change denier Myron Ebell to lead the Environmental Protection Agency transition team, it is up to every individual in the country to educate themselves on the reality that is climate change: it’s been affected greatly by human activity and has the capacity to negatively impact future generations. 카지노사이트
The climate can’t afford any more denial. Here, we unpack the basics of climate change, along with some of the most commonly heard phrases about the process, so you can arm yourself with the facts.
What is climate change?
The process known as climate change begins with the sun. The sun emits solar energy, which is in turn partly absorbed by the earth’s surface and atmosphere and partly reflected back into space. Climate change refers to the environmental phenomenon through which this solar energy, which is responsible for heating the planet, is prevented from being reflected back into space because of the presence of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The planet, therefore, grows hotter and hotter, which leads to a whole host of other environmental changes.
What evidence do we have that shows climate change occurring?
The evidence that shows the climate to be changing is abundant. From global temperature increases to warmer ocean waters to shrinking ice sheets to more frequent severe weather events, the signs are everywhere: The earth’s climate is becoming increasingly destabilized. In fact, scientists have been measuring levels of carbon gas in the atmosphere — a key indicator of global warming, and, therefore, climate change — since at least the late 1950s. 안전한카지노사이트
What causes climate change?
Climate change is a result of a process known as the greenhouse effect. Since the late 19th century, we’ve known that greenhouse gases warm the earth by trapping heat in the atmosphere. Imagine the atmosphere as a greenhouse encircling the planet: The same way greenhouses are used to grow plants in the winter or in colder regions, the greenhouse effect allows us to live our lives on Earth in comfort. The sun radiates solar energy, which travels into Earth’s atmosphere, heating us up. The earth, in turn, emits some of the energy back into space, but some of it is blocked from getting that far by the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases, namely carbon dioxide and methane, trap that heat that’s trying to escape back into space. Without these gases, Earth would be freezing and uninhabitable for us. Too much of anything is a bad thing and an overabundance of greenhouse gases leads to an atmosphere that traps too much heat.
The major player consistently talked about is carbon dioxide, CO2. When we burn fossil fuels, we’re emitting carbon dioxide up into the atmosphere where it will stay and trap heat for decades. We use oil to fuel our transportation needs and coal and natural gas to supply our electricity. The more fossil fuels we use, the more carbon dioxide goes into the atmosphere, making the greenhouse effect stronger, warming up the planet more and more.
What are the effects of climate change?
Since 1880, we’ve experienced an increase of about 1.8 °F in the global temperature. This change has resulted in melting sea ice, rising sea levels, and more extreme weather events. The hotter it gets, the worse it will be.
What’s the difference between global warming and climate change?
Global warming and climate change are often used interchangeably as synonymous terms. However, there are specific differences in their definitions. According to NASA, global warming refers to an increase in average surface temperature. Climate change is defined by NASA as “a long-term change in the earth’s climate, or of a region on Earth” and refers to all the climate-related changes that occur due to greenhouse gas emissions. This not only includes increasing temperature, but also extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and melting glaciers, for example.
What if we stopped using fossil fuels right now?
If humans were to stop using fossil fuels, climate change would still continue, and the earth’s temperature would keep rising. It all has to do with the thermal inertia manifested by the retaining of heat in Earth’s oceans. According to NASA, “Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist a change in its current state.” Keeping that definition in mind, imagine you’re trying to boil a pot of water on a stove: You put the pot on the burner, turn on the stove, and wait. The water takes a bit of time to heat up and eventually start boiling, but once it’s hot, it stays hot for a while — even if you take it off the heat. In that same way, our oceans take time to heat up, but once they’re hot, they stay hot. At this point, we are committed to a level of climate change that is largely irreversible. Despite the disheartening effect of that last sentence, the more carbon dioxide we continue to emit, the worse those effects will become. 카지노사이트 추천
What does President Trump think about climate change?
Trump has famously called climate change a “hoax” invented by China. (Liu Zhenmin, China’s vice foreign minister, denied this.) Since taking office, Trump has translated his climate change denial into American policy — most notably, pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement and moving to dismantle the Clean Power Plan.
For all of Trump’s verbal and realized antagonism toward the reality of climate change, here’s the truth: There is no scientific debate about climate change. A 2016 analysis supported the often-cited statistic that 97% of scientists, experts in their fields, agree that climate change is being sped up by human actions. In politics and big business, the reality of climate change means new regulations, policies that restrict actions, and adaptation. The fossil fuel industry seemingly has a vested interest in making sure none of that comes to pass.
Are there any potential solutions for climate change?
Though it may seem hopeless, we still have options. In your everyday life, try to minimize your own carbon footprint. The Nature Conservancy offers a free online calculator to show you how much carbon dioxide your everyday activities emit. Quick changes? Ride your bike or walk when you can. Carpool if a car is the only option or use public transportation. Consider limiting consumption of red meat, or at least commit to meatless Mondays: About half of the greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture come from livestock and the worst offender is beef production.
Most importantly, keep educating yourself on the subject, and get loud about it. NASA has a great website that compiles the evidence, causes, and effects with scientific evidence. If you want the government to know you’re serious about the climate, go and make your voice heard. If taking on the government seems like a lot to handle, start with your local or state representatives. Write to or call your congressperson, letting them know your opinion on the issue.