The Impact of Climate Change and Global Warming - Research Paper Example

Climate Change al Affiliation) The Impact of Climate Change and Global Warming Climate change refers to the general shift in the weather and temperature patterns of the earth. It is the increase in the earth’s surface temperature. This change occurs when the previous weather patterns are altered by new patterns (Gillard, 2011) . On the other hand, global warming measures the change in climate, as it is the rise in the average general temperature of the globe. The warmth produced by the sun makes it possible to live on earth. The solar radiation that hits the earth bounces back into space. Gases that compose the atmosphere trap a portion of the bouncing solar radiations. This way, the temperature of the earth is maintained by this layer, which has Carbon dioxide as its major component (Pearson, 2011). The earth has various sources where carbon is stored. Plants, humans, oceans and the soil all store carbon. Humans release this carbon into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide. Human activities, such as deforestation and fossil fuel burning, aide the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. These activities have increased the amount of carbon dioxide by a whopping 42% more than it was during the era of industrialization. The release of green house gases coupled with carbon dioxide makes the earth’s atmospheric outlook to resemble a blanket that traps heat due to its thick nature. The atmospheric blanket is responsible for keeping the climate cool and stable(Pearson, 2011). The human activities cause disruption to this blanket, hence the adverse atmospheric and climatic changes in the planet. These changes destroy the layer that insulates the planet from the excess sun radiations, therefore increasing the warmth of the planet. In addition, the planet is prone to extreme weather conditions, which are attributed to human activity(Nemeth, 2012). The reality of climate change is a subject of discussion in many world environmental forums. Amongst the organizations that acknowledge the effects of the climate change are The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and The United States Environmental protection Agency. These agencies concur with the argument that the world is facing the effects of the climate change (Simon, 2010). The average earth temperature is 14 ͦ C, but this has risen rapidly since the ice age period. The average global temperature has increased, from 1901 to 2014, by 0.89 ͦ C. the largest part of the increase is attributed to the Industrial Revolution, that increased the number of establishments releasing poisonous emissions into the atmosphere (Gillard, 2011). The rainfall patterns are changing as the climate changes. The changes in the precipitation have affected a large number of areas. The amount of rainfall witnessed in the mid latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere has increased. This is from the beginning of the 20th century(Simon, 2010). The rainy seasons of different regions have changed as well. The summer rainfall of the UK is decreasing while that of the winter is increasing on average. In North America, people experience heavy rainfall, contrary to the previous patterns. Another proof that the climate change notion is a reality is the changes experienced in nature and annual seasons. Birds are shifting their migration patterns as butterflies appear earlier in the year. The UK spring for instance, starts earlier as the autumn begins later. These changes explain the ecological effects that the changes in the climate cause. Besides, the sea levels have risen by approximately 19 cm globally. On average, these statistics show that over the decades, the sea levels will rise further (Nemeth, 2012). There has been an increase in the number of seas that have dried up due to the effects of global warming. Each year, the Arctic sea has reduced by 0.6 million square meters since the year 1970. On the other hand the Antarctic sea ice has gone up at a slower rate of approximately 1.5% every ten years, the changes have affected the world’s largest ice sheets which store the world’s fresh water catchment. These sources, The Antarctic Sea and the Greenland are shrinking at a high rate, and this adds to the proof that the climatic change is bona fide. The climate change is responsible for global warming. The general increase on the average global heat causes deaths and illnesses related to heat. This also increases the sea levels further, hence increasing the intensities of storms (Haugen, Musser & Lovelace, 2010). The estimates show that the increased human activities could amplify the temperatures by 3 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit in the next 100 years. This means that as other areas experience increasing temperature, other areas will experience much colder conditions. The changes in climate are posing great challenges to the conservation of the environment. The rises in temperatures force the plants and trees in the planet to move up mountain slopes and further towards the Polar Regions. This activity is referred to as vegetation shift (Gillard, 2011). This shift is threatening to undermine the impact of conservancy and will permanently change the trends that the community applies to accomplish its goals. The changes in climate pose a great risk to the wildlife as these changes cause alteration in the vegetation patterns, which compel the wildlife species to migrate for their survival. One fourth of the planet’s wildlife species will be extinct by 2050 if the global warming trend persists. This is great danger to the ecosystem, as the wildlife form a great part of the globe. The polar bears, for instance, will be extinct in the next century if the ice of the Arctic Sea continues to melt (Pearson, 2011). Plant species are also affected as the coral reefs in the tropical regions are bleaching, because the persistent heat kills the algae that are the food for the reefs. The rise in the sea levels poses a serious threat to the shelter of the human beings. With an increase in the heat levels, thermal expansion causes the melting glaciers to dump fresh water in the oceans. This causes the low sea level areas to be under threat of inundation. The coastal populations are under threat of erosion, as the rise in sea levels cause damage to the property. This rise in the sea level also destroys ecosystems, which protect the coastal regions against storms (Haugen, Musser & Lovelace, 2010). An approximate 36-inch sea level increase is enough to engulf each city situated in the East Coast of the U.S. including Miami and Boston. The rise in the sea levels threaten to displace approximately 100 million people who live in low lying areas of within three feet above the sea level. This situation if experienced in developing countries would increase the number of refugees in the world by tremendous figures. The global warming effects is making fires, droughts and floods more sever and frequent in the planet(Simon, 2010). This condition intensifies the circulation of water above and below the earth’s surface, hence causing floods and drought. High temperatures increase the drought by evaporation of moisture from land and water storages. Rises in temperatures will translate to further increase in drought. Drought has adverse effects on the human health, the water supply and agriculture (Haugen, Musser & Lovelace, 2010). In Asia and Africa, the phenomenon of droughts is a reality as other areas experience extreme and intense dry conditions. The climate change effects cause intense tropical storms and hurricanes. This causes damage to the communities and the ecosystem. These harsh conditions are attributed to high ocean surface temperatures. This also leads to a decrease in the wetlands. The economic stress that accompanies global warming is avoidable, but has reached high levels. The heat increment has caused the statistics of the lobster catches in the south of England to reduce. In the Swiss Alps, the declining snow amounts cause the ski resorts impossible to maximize their potential. The beauty of the ice is reduced because of the ice melts are attributed to climate change. These resorts find it harder to access loans from banks, as they do not have enough financial capability to acquire funding. The lowering of sea levels alters the shoreline habitats. This has adverse effects on the infrastructural base of the coastline and may lead to relocation of ports. Coral reefs generate an approximate amount of $ 375 billion each year. The damage caused by the intensity of hurricanes and storms cause damages to over a million properties. This risks the increase in unemployment in the affected areas. Climate change has adverse effects on the economies around the world. The climate change could cost the annual GDP a loss of between 5 and 20 percent (Nemeth, 2012). If the carbon emissions are lessened, the loss associated with the climate change could be 1%. The number of heat related illnesses has increased because of global warming. In the year 2003 alone, the effects of external heat waves caused the deaths of over twenty thousand people in Europe. These heat waves have been attributed to global warming. The increase in global warming also increases the rate at which infectious diseases spread. Warm temperatures lead to increase in the activity of insects carrying insects. It is harder for these organisms to survive in cold weather. The changes in the climatic conditions also limit the existence of specific species of animals and insects in certain areas. The mosquitoes, which carry malaria, are limited to the tropics, but due to climate change, they have found it possible to survive in areas that were too cold for them. The effects of global warming are intensive and affect the entire ecosystem. The world should discuss on compulsory means to reduce the emissions of carbon into the atmosphere. These measures will act as a benchmark in keeping the ecosystem alive (Pearson, 2011). References Gillard, A. (2011). Climate change. Detroit: Greenhaven Press. Haugen, D., Musser, S., & Lovelace, K. (2010). Global warming. Detroit: Greenhaven Press. Nemeth, J. (2012). Climate change. New York: PowerKids Press. Pearson, R. (2011). Driven to extinction. New York: Sterling. Simon, S. (2010). Global warming. New York: Collins. Read More