Climate has changed dramatically over geological timescales, it could be argued that the most noticeable change is the global temperature over the last 10,000 years. The changes in global temperature have led to the debate on climate change and discussion of factors that have led to climate change. When it comes to climate change, it is natural to think global temperature is increasing due to human causes such as deforestation. However, in some parts of the world, the temperature has decreased due to natural phenomenon. For example, Mount Pinatubo eruption in 2001 had led to a drop of 0.6 degree Celsius in average global temperature. Furthermore, variation in the Earth’s orbit around the Sun and cosmic collisions have an impact on the variation …show more content…
The peak of on the electromagnetic spectrum shows the type of the atmospheric composition present in the atmosphere. However, infrared absorption spectroscopy does not show precisely the percentage of the compound present in the atmosphere. Another limitation of using this instrument is scientists are unable to trace the climate in the past as infrared absorption method was discovered in the 1800s. Therefore, this measurement limit scientist to analyse the climate change from 1800 to recent. For example, there will be a higher peak for methane in the data shown recently compared to the measurement done in the past. This suggests that there is a change in the amount of methane gas present in the atmosphere which has led to a discussion of climate …show more content…
Variations in the greenhouse gas concentrations present in the atmosphere are known by comparing the modelled change over the astronomical cycles with observed paleoclimatic changes. The comparisons enabled scientists and researchers to observe the changes in climate and followed by an independent estimate of the changes in greenhouse gas concentration. The most notable changes by using this measurement are the concentration of carbon dioxide and methane as these gases are stored in peat, tundra, and ocean sediments during colder climates, and are released into the atmosphere in a warmer climate. Carbon dioxide and methane are being released have resulted in a warming effect. Computer modelling able to offer strong evidence to prove that the role of greenhouse gases in changing the past climate and will further affect the future
For years to come there will always be a speculation on whether the climate change has really taken place or not. Many believe that large companies launched this topic in order to benefit from it in profit, as there are also those who are convinced that this are consequences that have emerged from human mistakes in understanding the environment. As humans are struggling to trust one another whether it is just a big conspiracy or not or environment changing itself, we are slowly starting to feel the effects of climate change. Because of the gasses (CO2) that are in the air, atmosphere is getting warmer, thereby triggering the Greenhouse effect. Almost 70% of emitted gasses in air are CO2, which leads us to believe that this is the main cause of Global Warming. Since it is billions and billions of metric tons per year that are being released in air, many scientists conclude that temperature will most likely be more higher in twenty years from now, than it was in near past.
Climate change and Global Warming are out of control. This means that, no matter what policies, processes or actions are implemented, the Earth as we know it will never be the same again. There is significant evidence to support this hypothesis. The dilemma becomes whether we can limit the damage and adapt to a new status quo or not. Rising sea levels and the damage caused by this phenomenon has irreversible impacts on coastlines worldwide. Damage to sensitive reef systems cannot be fixed. This also has permanent impacts of the ecology not just of those immediate areas but also the ocean as a whole.
Since measurements began in 1958 -- and it can be assumed to have been the case since the industrial revolution -- emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere has risen steadily as a result of the burning of fossil fuels (Quay, pp 2344). Although there is much argument over the implications of increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, there are several points that almost all scientists would agree on: firstly, carbon dioxide acts to absorb radiated heat; if present in our atmosphere will do just that to some extent. Second, the concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is rising. Third, the temperature of the planet is rising - although the amount of this increase and the causes of this rise are subject to disagreement (Philander, pp 193).
Climate change is difficult to express directly, for knowledge of climate change generally falls under the classification of “weather.” However geologists have known since the mid-nineteenth century that local, and global climate undergoes change throug...
For the past few million years, the Earth’s climate has been changing in a periodic fashion between warming trends and deep freezes. The levels of C02 in the atmosphere tend to show a close correlation with these temperature changes. Evidence for this on a timescale of millions of years can be seen using the Geocarb III model, about 800 million years ago, the C02 saturation was nearly 7000 parts per million (Berner, "Geocarb III: A Revised Model of Atmospheric CO2 over Phanerozoic Time"). Today the C02 concentration seems to be increasing but is still below 500 parts per million ("Scripps CO2 Data - Mauna Loa Observatory", 2014). The entire process of these changes in temperature and C02 occurred without any human intervention. The human species has only been in existence on a timescale of thousands of years and cannot remain on Earth for an i...
Most climate scientists agree that the main cause of global climate change is the human expansion of the greenhouse effect. This is the global warming that results when the atmosphere traps heat radiating from Earth toward space (climate.nasa.gov). The main gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons (climate.nasa.gov). Human activities are changing the natural greenhouse effect. The burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil has increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (climate.nasa.gov). Carbon dioxide levels have increased from 280 parts per million to 379 parts per million in the last 150 years due to human act...
Many scientist believe that the current warming trend is significant because, much of it has been caused by human activities. Satellites orbiting the earth and other technological equipment enables scientists to see and collect various information about our planets climate. Scientists have studied this collected information and has revealed the many changes of our planet and how these changes are effecting our climate, a few of them are:
First is a description of the greenhouse effect. The earth’s atmosphere has four layers, or zones, with each having distinct differences in temperature. The troposphere is the first layer surrounding the earth. Within this layer air is continually circulating and moving heat and moisture around the earth. The troposphere is denser than the other layers due to the fact that gravity keeps the majority of air molecules near the earth. This is about 75 percent of all the atmospheric mass. It is also the warmest layer (Cunningham & Cunningham, ...
The BLAG hypothesis suggests that global climate changes in the past 100 million years are driven by the long-term carbon dioxide concentration changes in the atmosphere
Earth’s climate is determined by the physics and chemistry of its atmosphere. Earth’s atmosphere consists of four layers; troposphere which is closest to earth, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere. Hardy says, “During the past 100 years we humans, as a result of burning coal, oil, and gas and clearing forests, have greatly changed the chemical composition of the thin atmospheric layer.” There is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to burning fossil fuels. The atmosphere is made up of many gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, and argon. It also consists of trace gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, chlorofluorocarbons and, ozone. The trace gases have the greatest effect on our climate (Hardy 5). Up to a certain level, these gases help to keep the planet warm by absorbing certain infrared wavelengths, so that there can be life on the planet. Thus, they trap heat in the troposphere and stop it from escaping to space (Hardy 7). Therefore, the greater amount of greenhouse gases, the more heat trapped in the atmosphere. Earth’s temperature is increasing due to increased levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide released into the air from burning fossil fuels. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2001 report projects “global average surface temperature increases ranging from 1.4 to 5.8 degrees
Schmidt, G. A., R. A. Ruedy, R. L. Miller, & A. A. Lacis (2010), Attribution of the present‐day total greenhouse effect, Journal of Geophysical Research, 115, D20106, doi:10.1029/2010JD014287.
The most destructive human contribution to climate change is fossil fuels combustion, which results in the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Increased carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and halocarbons levels in the atmosphere cause an imbalance in the earth’s energy. This is because the gases alter solar radiation and thermal radiation which regulate the earth’s energy. Research indicates that anthropogenic climate change is the cause of the increased global warming over the last fifty years. 57 % of the carbon dioxide emitted is absorbed into the atmosphere while the rest is absorbed into the oceans. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the most central greenhouse gas that is associated with global warming (Eby, Zickfield, Montenegro, Archer, Meissner, & Weaver,
This is based upon the sunlight and volcano eruptions which plays an extreme factor. "Most often, global climate has changed because of variations from sunlight. Tiny wobbles in Earth’s orbit altered when and where sunlight falls on Earth’s surface. Variations in the Sun itself have alternately increased and decreased the amount of solar energy reaching Earth. Volcanic eruptions have generated particles that reflect sunlight, brightening the planet and cooling the climate. Volcanic activity has also, in the deep past, increased greenhouse gases over millions of years, contributing to episodes of global warming." (Global Warming, web.) However, I firmly believe that climate change is not only the result of natural causes alone. I think it is man-made and the major factors are from CO2, factories, and power plants burning coal/ oil, natural gas.
The earth is a complex system, which continues to evolve and change. Climate change and global warming are currently popular in the political agenda. But what does “climate” really mean? The difference between weather and climate can be conveyed in a single sentence: “Climate is what you expect; weather is what you get.” Based on research of the geologic record, we know that climate change has happened throughout Earth's history and at present, ever-increasing evidence points to the roles that humans play in altering Earth systems. The Earth and its atmosphere receive heat energy from the sun; the atmospheric heat budget of the Earth depends on the balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing radiation from the planet; which has been constant over the last few thousand years. However present evidence seems to suggest that the recent increase in temperature has been brought about by pollution of the atmosphere, in particular the release of huge amounts of carbon dioxide, mostly through Anthropogenic Forcing (human activity) and other various internal and external factors. I...
Climate changes occur in our earth's atmosphere due to a buildup of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases can occur naturally as well as a result of human activities. The greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. “Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere when solid waste, fossil fuels, and wood are burned.” (2) The gases help to warm the surface of the Earth. Each greenhouse gas absorbs heat differently. If natural gases did not occur, the temperature of the earth would be considerably cooler. “Problems can occur when higher concentrations of greenhouse gases are present in our atmosphere because they have enhanced our earth's heat trapping capability.” (3)