Climate Change
Introduction
Climate change is a phenomenon that takes place in line with changes in the weather pattern in a given region for an extended period. The length taken for climate change to occur can be either long or short. For climate change to take place, there has to be an interaction of various parts such as atmosphere, cry sphere, lithosphere, and the biosphere. The entire climate system depends on the sun for energy. Climate energy is also structured in such a way that it gives out energy to outer space. An imbalance in the incoming and outgoing energy is linked to an event of climate change. Climate change is characterized by adverse impacts that need appropriate mitigation processes. In that case, this paper seeks to discuss the causes of climate change, its effects, importance, and solutions of the same.
Causes of Climate Change
The world-leading causes of climate change are human activities. Human activities can be understood from different perspectives depending on the impact that they have on the environment. Humans engage in the use of fossil fuels as sources of energy, not knowing this is an act that contributes to climate change (Nerem, 2022). Fossil fuels are sources of climate change, and they engage the burning of coal as well any other objects that produce carbon dioxide.
Deforestation, uncontrolled waste disposal, mining, and intensive farming are some of the other well-known cause of climate change. All these are human actions that lead to growth and development but still impact the environment negatively. For instance, incineration leads to the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide that traps warmth in the atmosphere. Also, it affects the ozone layer leading to exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays.
Effects of Climate Change
A global climate change is an aspect that already has observable effects when looked profoundly. For instance, glaciers have been shrunk, while rivers have been filled with ice. Trees are also flowering to show that there has been a change in climate, and any adverse impact needs to be controlled or handled appropriately. Scientists have been conducting research, and currently, they have brought out the fact that it can lead to a loss in the sea ice (Hart and Lauren, 415). A loss in the sea ice leads to a rise in sea levels, which is detrimental to the surrounding environment. All these adverse impact make climate change an important aspect that needs to be studied and well understood.
Rise in Sea Levels - Climate change leads to a rise in sea levels. The average sea level in the past 100 years has been standing at 20 cm, but this is likely to rise rapidly in the next coming years (Bindo et al., 385). This is an aspect that is already being experienced at the coast, with a number of flooding events taking place. For instance, New York has had many flooding cases, and by the year 2050, there will be a need to construct sea walls to control the situation.
Melting Ice - According to research, if climate change continues to take place rapidly with an increase in global warming, then the earth's glaciers will disappear. The Place ice cap will fade out with the Greenland taking up its original form. Snow will become a rear aspect in the future as they will have melted as a result of global warming (Bindo et al., 385). Global warming occurs after too much heat is trapped within the earth's atmosphere leading to the rapid melting of earth's ice.
Droughts and Heat Waves - More droughts and heatwaves are normally experienced as a result of climate change. The heatwaves are likely to increase and become intense if climate change is not well controlled (Hart and Lauren, 415). Summer temperatures will be higher than normal, and they will also lead to a reduction in soil moisture. An increase in temperatures leads to an intense heatwave that causes forest fires. Forest fires intron lead to the death of natural habitats that are essential to the environment.
Changes in Precipitation Patterns - A change in climate leads to changes in precipitation patterns. This is where there is a torrential downpour that comes with hailstorms. For instance, the average precipitation in the whole of the United States has had an increase from the 1900s (Nerem, 2022). Some areas have had an increase, while others have had a reduction in rain levels. An increase in downpours causes flooding, which has taken the lives of many and led to the destruction of property.
Solutions to Climate Change
One of the most effective ways of managing or mitigating climate change is reducing the cutting down of trees. Each year, people cut down forests with the timber used in different capacities (Change IPCC Climate, 3). Trees help in the regulation of precipitation trends and still holds the soil keeping it intact. There is a need to balance the amount of wood taken out of the forests. This controls the chunk of emission scoring from industries.
The other way to reduce climate change is to advocate for the use of public transport instead of private means. This is a strategy that will reduce the amount of carbon emissions into the atmosphere (Change IPCC Climate, 2). The lesser the number of cars on the road, the lesser the amount of carbon emissions. This intern helps in ensuring the atmospheric temperatures are well balanced with fewer cases of global warming.
The use of clean sources of energy is also effective in mitigating climate change. For instance, fossil fuels contain carbon, which, when emitted to the atmosphere, leads to climate change. In as much as this is true, some individuals have politicized the measure claiming it will lead to a deterioration in economic growth. Regardless, it is therefore advisable to use alternative sources of energy such as biogas, solar energy, wind energy, or hydropower.
Conclusion
In conclusion, climate change is an issue that human activities lead to, but it can be mitigated if action is taken in time. Climate change affects the environment adversely, as this has been seen in the form of increased temperature. Climate change leads to loss of lives, especially to those living in the areas affected by heatwaves and floods. At the same time, climate change leads to drought as well as health issues that impact many adversely. Therefore, choosing the most appropriate mitigation strategy to end it is necessary.
Works Cited
Bindo, N. L., et al. "Observations: Oceanic Climate Change and Sea Level, Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group 1 to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change." (2018): 385-432.
Change, IPCC Climate. "Mitigation of climate change." Contribution of Working Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 1454 (2014).
Hart, P. Sol, and Lauren Feldman. "The impact of climate change–related imagery and text on public opinion and behavior change." Science Communication 38.4 (2016): 415-441.
Nerem, Robert S., et al. "Climate-change–driven accelerated sea-level rise detected in the altimeter era." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 115.9 (2018): 2022-2025.