The Urban Scene - Research Paper Example

The Urban Scene Climate change is one of the most vital problems nowadays. Climate on the Planet changes with time, and this change negatively influences life of countries, cities, countryside, and world populations. The scientists state, that a man and his activity are some of the reasons of this change. Thus, to stop or at least to lessen the rates of climate change, it is necessary to remove or to smooth influence of human activity on environment and climate in particular. Climate change is a shift in some weather indicators, which may include atmosphere and water temperature, fallouts, wind strengths, sea and ocean level, size of glaciers etc. (Climate Change Indicators in the United States, 2014; Defining Climate Change, 2011; Gruza et al., 1999). Climate change is usually associated with global warming. However, the change in climate does not mean just a simple increase or decrease of average temperature in the worlds, but partial or complete rearrangement of all geosystems on the Earth. Increase of temperature is just one of the aspects, along with rise of level of ocean, glaciers melting, intensification of wind strength etc. The reasons of climate change deal with nature variations and human activity. Changes in nature, which cause shift of weather indicators, include changes in the Earth crust's structure, Earth's orbit variations, sun activity, biological processes, volcanic explosions etc. Human activity contributes to climate change through greenhouse effect as a result of fuel burning, gas emission, deforestation, intensive usage of land and other agricultural factors, manufacturing certain goods etc. Before humans became industriously active, natural reasons mostly influenced the change in temperature. However, according to the latest researches, the main factors, which cause global warming today, are anthropogenic (Causes of Climate Change, n.d.; Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report, Defining Climate Change, 2014; What causes climate change?, n.d.). Climate change is a vital issue, as it significantly affects ecosystems. Purity of atmosphere, access to clean water and food products, burst of infectious diseases, agricultural productivity, floods, droughts, and people's health depend on weather conditions and their variations (Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report, 2014). The results of climate change are significant for ecological systems and cities. The influence of climate change on ecological systems can reveal itself through different ways. First of all, all the changes, which happen in a certain area, affect the species, which live there. Some species will not be able to live in the changed environment, as they require different conditions for reproduction and survival. Extinction of certain species may lead to disappearance of other animals and/or plants, as the latter might use the first for food or pollination. Change in weather conditions may bring to appearance of other invasive or predatory insects or plants in the area, which will influence the life of native plants and animals (Climate Impacts on Ecosystems, 2014; Extreme Weather, n.d.). New weather conditions may change the blooming time for plants, increase or decrease animal birth and death rates, and thus change the ecosystem. The shifts in life cycles of species may lead to misfit in food availability and breeding. Seasonal migration of birds and animals can be broken, as they might arrive to the new place, when food or water is not available there, or conditions are not suitable for their comfort life there (Climate Impacts on Ecosystems, 2014; Extreme Weather, n.d.). The threshold for many species can be passed unexpectedly, which means that the ecosystem change becomes irreversible. Coral bleaching is an example of irreversible ecosystem change: under stress coral reefs produce certain microorganisms, which influence coral reefs. The appearance of the microorganisms leads to increase of water temperature, which make coral reefs produce even more microorganisms. This makes the ability of coral reefs to recover almost impossible (Climate Impacts on Ecosystems, 2014). Shifts in weather conditions can be favorable for origination of microbes, bacteria and parasites. They can be potentially dangerous for animals, fish, plants, and even humans (Climate Impacts on Ecosystems, 2014). Climate change affects economy of cities and countries as well. Changes in weather influence water supply for agricultural fields and other factors, which may reduce annual crops. Reduction of natural water supply means increase of costs for providing availability of water for agricultural, industrial and personal usage. Floods and storms may damage not only individual buildings, but the whole areas. Recover of the damaged areas will cause significant costs to local and government authorities. Land slipping and rock slide require additional measures for strengthening roads, houses basements etc. (Climate Change: Basic Information, n.d.). All the cities are exposed to climate change. Los Angeles is among them. The main consequences of climate change for Los Angeles are increase of temperature, change in ocean level, and fires. The approximate change in Los Angeles temperature is about 4°F for the past 50 years, which contributed to increase of heat days in the city during a year. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, the annual number of extreme heat days in the city will be 14 times more than its historical average number. The heat days influence people's health, making them dehydrated, exhausted and more vulnerable to heart and high pressure strokes, diabetes progressing, increase of respiratory and kidney problems (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2012). Fires take place more often in Los Angeles area, as the average temperature and number of extremely heat days increase. This affects electricity supply in the region, and increases costs of its maintenance, as it happened so, that fires usually damage electricity lines (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2012). The ocean level in Los Angeles is expected to rise up to 24 inches till 2050. Change in ocean level will lead to increased frequency of floods and storms in the area, which will influence the stability of life in the city, activity of enterprises, infrastructure and tourism (Climate Change in Los Angeles, n.d.). The snowfall in the mountain area of Los Angeles is expected to decrease by 40% by 2050. This decrease will cause dehydration of the region and influence the ecosystem on the whole with possible reduction of water supply to certain species of plants and animals (Climate Change in Los Angeles, n.d.). Climate change affects human health, as the differences in temperature, humidity and other weather conditions are significant for the way people feel. This is especially essential for those, who suffer of heart diseases, abnormal blood pressure, diabetes. Besides, shifts in weather conditions may create favorable conditions for infectious diseases (malaria, cholera etc.) and malnutrition. According to World Health Organization up to 250 000 people will die between 2030 and 2050 because of climate change (including heat related deaths) (Neira, 2014). Local and governmental authorities, different NGOs and agencies organize different conferences and events, where they try to draw people's attention to climate change and make them aware of the problems, caused by it. For example, United States Environmental Protection Agency collects information and data, related to climate change; analyze it to suggest certain measures to businesses and individuals; contribute to increase of people's environmental and climate change awareness; teach people how to adapt to climate changes (What EPA is Doing about Climate Change, n.d.). Californian communities suggested "Adaptation Planning Guide" for the local government and communities. This Plan reveals measures, which should be taken to adapt population to climate change (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2012). World Health Organization suggests officials, who are responsible for health sector, to take part in creating measures, which will help people to adapt to and survive climate change (including establishing hospitals, developing and making vaccination) (Neira, 2014). United Nations Development Program assists different countries, their local authorities, NGOs and communities in organizing conferences, trainings and meetings, which deal with climate change issues (Cities and Climate Change, n.d.). Climate change is unavoidable to a certain grade. The industries will continue to operate, emit gases and pollute environment; the pollutants and gases will stay in atmosphere (it may take centuries for them to be gone); and the climate will continue to change. Besides, natural shifts in climate (especially irreversible changes) will always take place and influence the climate change too. However, people can reduce their influence on environment and climate, make their change not so rapid or significant, and make the process of adaptation to the new climate easier. Every person can make a difference and help to reduce the total influence of humanity on climate change. As climate change, caused by people, is directly connected with pollution of environment, every person can reduce wastes, he or she produces, by performing very simple actions. A person can reduce the time, he uses a car, walk more often or use a bicycle, as cars remain a significant source of gas emission into atmosphere. The owners of enterprises can promote the installation of waste treatment and disposal facilities to reduce the waste emission into environment. Every person can become more active and take part in local or even state measures, which help to reduce human influence on climate change and environment on the whole. References Causes of Climate Change. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/causes.html Cities and Climate Change. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.unep.org/resourceefficiency/Policy/ResourceEfficientCities/FocusAreas/CitiesandClimateChange/tabid/101665/Default.aspx Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/syr/ Climate Change in Los Angeles. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://c-change.la/ Climate Change Indicators in the United States. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/indicators/ Climate Change: Basic Information. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/basics/ Climate Impacts on Ecosystems. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/ecosystems.html Defining Climate Change. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.ensaa.eu/index.php/climate-change/97-defining-climate-change.html Extreme Weather. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/extremeweather_more.htm Gruza, G., Rankova, E., Razuvaev, V., Bulygina O. (1999). Indicators of Climate Change for the Russian Federation. Climatic Change, 42(1), 219-242. Neira, Maria. (2014). Climate change: An opportunity for public health. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/commentaries/climate-change/en/ Union of Concerned Scientists. (2012). Preparing for Climate Change Impacts in Los Angeles. Strategies and Solutions for Protecting Local Communities. Retrieved from http://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/legacy/assets/documents/global_warming/preparing-for-climate-change-impacts-in-los-angeles.pdf What causes climate change? (n.d.). Retrieved from http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/aboutcc/cause/ What EPA is Doing about Climate Change. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/EPAactivities.html Read More