Climate Change

Often used interchangeably with Global Warming, Climate Change is a preferred term by scientists, because it represents a more detailed explanation of the impact that humanity is having on the planet, beyond a rise in temperature. Anthropogenic (human impacted) climate change is principally caused by warming, because warming triggers change in the measures of climate alluding to the greater concerns presented by today’s Climate Crisis. Some common examples of measures in climate are the level and distribution of: 1) the sun’s heat, 2) temperature, 3) precipitation, 4) ocean circulation, 5) wind, 6) vegetation and 7) storms as well as others. The expression, “climate is what you expect; weather is what you get” emerged because there are a number of variables enabling scientists to forecast long term climate trends.

The Greenhouse Effect - Human Activity Changing Climate

One of the major variables of climate is the composition of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Because of the vulnerability of earth’s relatively thin atmosphere, a change in the quantity of greenhouse gasses can cause significant climate change. Today, although earth’s climate has been changing for millions of years, human activities are now fueling the Greenhouse Effect, further manipulating the natural cycles of climate.

The Greenhouse Effect is a 181-year-old scientific theory describing the role of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. It can be understood by thinking of earth’s atmosphere as functioning like a greenhouse. The theory concludes that the atmosphere permits sunlight to enter in and beam onto earth. As the sun’s heat energy hits earth, roughly 70% is absorbed, and the remaining 30% is reflected back into space. The Greenhouse Effect states that as greenhouse gasses accumulate, they form a blockade that traps reflected heat in the atmosphere, resulting in a warming effect similar to a greenhouse.

The concern that scientists have warned us about for decades is that excessive burning of fossil fuels results in emitting high levels of Carbon Dioxide (Co2), a major greenhouse gas (GHG). This condition threatens the naturally balanced climate that sustains the current forms of life on earth.

What’s Happening?

As we’ve continuously burned increasing amounts of fossil fuel, the atmospheric concentration of Co2 has sharply risen, as evidenced by carbon testing of ice core samples.

Figure 1: Rise of Atmospheric Co2 Levels in Correlation with Anthropogenic

Emissions Skyrocketing Since the Dawn of Industrial Revolution

The chart above shows the rise of Co2 levels since the industrial revolution. Today, the atmospheric concentration of Co2 is 385ppm, rising at an accelerating rate of 2ppm annually. Scientists have warned that a concentration of 450ppm is a level that we should respect.

As further testament further to the Greenhouse Effect, we have simultaneously experienced warming that has caused unusual climate changes. A recent study conducted by NASA stated that the world's temperature is reaching levels unseen in thousands of years. The study found that the earth’s temperature is currently surpassing the warmest levels in the current interglacial period, which has lasted nearly 12,000 years. Additionally, the United Nations International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released an assessment in 2007 stating, “Eleven of the past twelve years (1995-2006) rank among the twelve warmest years in the instrumental record of global surface temperature (since 1850).

Environmental Impacts on Humanity