The Climate Killer: Climate Change: The Global Killer
analytical Essay
1950 words
Climate Change: The Global Killer “For nearly 30 years, India and Bangladesh have argued over control of a tiny rock island in the Bay of Bengal. Now rising sea levels have resolved the dispute for them: the island's gone”, writes the Toronto Star (Nirmala). Rising sea levels are just one symptom of Climate Change. Climate Change can also be held responsible for the decline in coral reefs and the increase of super storms, such as Sandy, Katrina, and Haiyan. Climate Change is occurring in our lifetime and with increasing severity. The consequences will be devastating if no action is taken to mitigate its’ effects. The words “weather” and “climate” are not interchangeable. Weather is defined as the day-to-day atmospheric conditions, whereas climate is defined as the cumulative sum of the weather over time. For example, in 2012, “More than 650 people died during Europe’s worst cold snap in 25 years”; however, “each of the last three decades has been successively warmer than any decade since 1850”, according to the IPCC (Intercontinental Panel for Climate Change) (Lyons). The Greenhouse Effect is a naturally occurring phenomenon, and is essential to developing a suitable environment for sustaining life. Carbon dioxide (CO2) gasses are naturally found in the Earth’s atmosphere, and the presence of these gasses help keep the planet warm. Carbon Dioxide traps infrared radiation from the sun and acts as natural insulation for the planet. However, when excess levels of CO2 and methane are released from fossil fuels, the resulting effect is intensified, which leads to an unstable climate. Once greenhouse gases are released, these gasses will remain in the atmosphere until they are either absorbed by plants, animals or dissolved into th... ... middle of paper ... ... Nesbit, Jeff. "Haiyan, Sandy and Climate Change." At the Edge. Usnews.com, 18 Nov. 2013. Web. 14 July 2014. New England Aquarium. "Endangered Species and Habitats." The Basics: A Brief Introduction to Climate Change. New England Aquarium, 2014. Web. 14 July 2014. Nirmala George ASSOCIATED, PRESS. "Tiny island disappears under rising ocean levels." Toronto Star (Canada) n.d.: Newspaper Source. Web. 14 July 2014. University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. "How Much Has the Global Temperature Risen in the Last 100 Years? | UCAR - University Corporation for Atmospheric Research." How Much Has the Global Temperature Risen in the Last 100 Years? | UCAR - University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, 2014. Web. 14 July 2014. Westport: Earth Action Network, Inc, 2009. ProQuest. Web. 14 July 2014.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that rising sea levels are just one symptom of climate change and can be held responsible for the decline in coral reefs and the increase of super storms.
- Explains that weather is defined as the day-to-day atmospheric conditions, while climate is the cumulative sum of the weather over time. the greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring phenomenon.
- Explains that the 21st century climate crisis has been caused by ninety companies, which produced nearly two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions since the dawn of the industrial age. since 1963, the rate at which carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are released has increased every decade.
- Explains that the 1.53 degree rise in temperature is a severe ecological, social, and economic disaster. coral reefs are another casualty.
- Explains how mark lynas, author of 6 degrees: our future on a hotter planet, has outlined what the earth's future could look like in one degree increments based on scientific reports.
- Explains that a two-degree escalation will increase ocean acidity due to the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
- Predicts that the average global surface temperatures will increase by an additional 2 to 8.6 degrees by 2100.
- Analyzes how neil tyson degrasse, of cosmos, describes venus as having lost its oceans and sustaining temperatures high enough to melt lead.
- Explains that the effects of carbon release from fossil fuels will continue to fuel the severity of climate change. solar roadways claims to produce an energy surplus triple the current energy need of the us.
- Analyzes how asphault covers 31,251 square miles of the contiguous 48 states, which is equivalent to an area nearly the size of ohio.
- Explains that if no action is taken to reduce fossil fuel emissions, earth and the life it supports, will continue towards an extinction level cataclysm. solar roadways presents a practical solution to this problem.
- Analyzes brusaw, scott, and julie's "solar roadways : a real solution."
- Analyzes cooney, daniel, "one-quarter of world's coral reefs destroyed." abc news.
- Explains that cosmos: a spacetime odyssey. dir. carl sagan. perf. neil degrasse tyson.
- States goldenberg, suzanne, "just 90 companies caused two-thirds of man-made global warming emissions." the guardian.
- Explains lynas, mark, six degrees: our future on a hotter planet, washington, d.c.
- Explains lyons, christina l., "climate change." cq researcher, 27 june 2014.
- Explains that nesbit, jeff, "haiyan, sandy and climate change." at the edge, usnews.com, 18 nov. 2013.
- Explains new england aquarium's "endangered species and habitats." the basics: a brief introduction to climate change.
- Analyzes how tiny island disappears under rising ocean levels.
- Explains how the global temperature risen in the last 100 years. university corporation for atmospheric research.
Related
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- analytical
- explanatory
- Climate Change and Global Warmingopinionated essayCO2 and greenhouse gas emissions are at an all-time high. In May 2013, the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere exceeded 400 parts per million. This is “approaching the halfway mark between preindustrial amounts and a doubling of those levels” (Washington Post J). This is a very large increase in the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere over a short period of time. One might ask what consequence could come of having such a large volume of CO2 floating around our atmosphere. The Union of Concerned Scientists says that CO2 is considered a greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gasses are gasses that trap radiant energy in the lower atmosphere. Energy travels from the sun to Earth, which is then either absorbed by the atmosphere and ground. The energy that does not get absorbed into the ground is reflected back into the atmosphere and then either goes into space or gets trapped by greenhouse gasses. More heat energy will be trapped if there are more greenhouse gasses floating around in Earth’s atmosphere (UCS). Due to the nature of greenhouse gasses, doubling the CO2 levels in our atmosphere is projected to result in warming of four to seven degrees during this century. (Washington Post J). The current CO2 levels are troubling because if there is more heat being trapped in the atmosphere, then the Earth’s climate would also be expected to increase.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that co2 and greenhouse gas emissions are at an all-time high.
- Explains that average global temperatures have been increasing at an accelerating rate over the past few decades. nasa scientists say that 2013 tied with 2009 and 2006 as the 7th warmest year.
- Explains that the average global temperature was 58.3 degrees fahrenheit in 2013, which is 1.1 f warmer than the mid-20th century. the increase in temperature represents all temperature variations averaged together.
- Explains that ocean temperatures have been increasing, causing the polar ice caps to melt, thus raising the seas level. sea ice is frozen ocean water that melts each summer and freezes in the winter.
- Explains that rising sea levels will force major cities near sea level to migrate farther inland. the hot weather has increased the length and impact of droughts and the risk of wildfires.
- Opines that there is public disregard of the dangers of climate change. public uncertainty over the existence of global warming leads to lack of support for cleaner energy.
- Opines that weak science education has led to public denial of climate science. politicians pushing for carbon tax and other political agendas, causes people to mistrust climate scientists. new technology is the only way to curb global co2 emissions.
- Explains solar geo-engineering is a process of shooting sulfate aerosols into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight away from earth in order to whiten clouds.
- Explains carbon capture is a potentially viable solution, but commercial use of this technique is not being implemented due to its high costs.
- Explains that the u.s. department of energy is funding research on how to capture industrial emissions. artificial photosynthesis is the process of taking water and sunlight and turning it into hydrogen and oxygen.
- Opines that nuclear energy has the potential to solve our energy crisis and virtually eliminate our need to burn greenhouse gas emitting fuels.
- Explains that natural cycles trigger extremes. sirs issues researcher. web. 07 feb. 2014.
- Opines that 'climate consensus' data need a more careful look.
- Analyzes how lehmer-chang, aaron g., and muszynski, chad, find a long-term climate warming trend.
- Explains that climate deniers have no scientific credibility - in one pie chart. desmogblog, 15 nov. 2012.
- Opines that the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of adam sobel. "record cold doesn't disprove global warming." cnn.
1008 wordsRead More - Climate Change and Global Warminganalytical essayClimate 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.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that global sea-level rise is due to thermal expansion, melting of glaciers, and ice loss from greenland.
- Opines that rising sea levels are irrevocable and that the us gulf coast will be affected by it.
- Explains that the current state of australia's great barrier reef is further evidence that climate change and global warming are out of control.
- Argues that even if current co2 emissions are completely eliminated, the ocean will still not reach a state of stability for several years.
- Argues that localised negative impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels and destruction of coral reefs, have irreversible consequences.
- Argues that climate change and global warming are out of control. rising sea levels and the damage caused by this phenomenon have irreversible impacts on coastlines worldwide.
- Cites alms, hygen, and bouttes, n, gregory, j, lowe, m, & cooper, h, fletcher, c, chen, q,
- Opines that long-term sea level rise will be much higher, but barely studied.
1082 wordsRead More - Why there is Global Warming in Our Worldexplanatory essayAtmosphere can contribute to changes in global climate patterns. Global warming can be considered part of climate change along with changes in precipitation, sea level, etc.” (3) Greenhouse effect is a natural occurrence that helps regulate the temperature of the earth. It was said that “When the Sun heats the earth, some of this heat escapes back to space. The rest of the heat, also known as infrared radiation, is trapped in the atmosphere by clouds and greenhouse gases, such as water vapor and carbon dioxide (CO2)” as reported by the EPA. The statistics and data for the research show that an increased amount of CO2 is actually happening, and other environmental organizations agree with that based on data of their own.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that atmosphere can contribute to changes in global climate patterns. greenhouse effect is a natural occurrence that helps regulate the temperature of the earth.
- Explains the main causes of global warming: greenhouse gas emissions, the greenhouse effect, and deforestation.
- Explains that global warming is causing polar ice caps and other glaciers to melt at alarming rates. climate change leads to more extreme weather patterns, such as hurricanes and super-storms.
- Opines that global warming is an important social issue in a political as well as an economic sense.
729 wordsRead More - Global Warming: Humans Are Destroying the Planetanalytical essayGlobal warming is the gradual increase of temperature in the world’s atmosphere. It is often caused by high levels of carbon dioxide and other pollutants. It may also be increased by fossil fuels and agriculture causing many severe consequences, such as: species extinction, reduced forest and coral reefs, drought increases in Africa, severe flooding in Asia, threats to small islands because of ocean levels rising, and severe weather in hurricane zones. Our society today is destroying the climate. Every time we drive our vehicles just to get out of the house for fun or because we forget and have to make a double run, when we run our electric too long, wasting water, burning our trash, especially plastics, and just not taking proper care of our environment. These are all very common ways that we are contributing to global warming. Global Warming is occurring without any ideas of a full on frontal stop by Americans and because we, the people of Earth, are practical unconscious to the destruction we are inflicting on our environment and if we keep progressing at the rate which we are today, soon we will no longer have the necessary atmosphere needed to survive because it will be overloaded with heat entrapped carbon dioxide; thereby threatening the climate with many grievous consequences.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that global warming is the gradual increase of temperature in the world’s atmosphere. it is often caused by high levels of carbon dioxide and other pollutants.
- Explains that global warming is caused by the emissions of greenhouse gases that have been released over millions of years causing the earth's climate to fluctuate.
- Opines that it is every american’s responsibility as a u.s. citizen, and all other residents of our planet, to take care of themselves.
- Analyzes how caldeira's article, "carbon capture and storage: an effective way to mitigate global warming," suggests a process to decrease the buildup of greenhouse gases.
- Explains that the article, "the climate footprint: a practical tool to address climate change," talks about greenhouse gases and how they are posing threats to the earth's climate change.
- Opines that global warming creates a rough and destructed environment for future generations to live in, to resolve, and to cope with.
- Analyzes the vision of the lead american delegate at the kyoto conference on global warming.
- Explains that the above poem is from an article called "a vision of the lead american delegate at the kyoto conference on global warming (poem).
- Explains burney, jennifer a., kennel, and victor, "getting serious about the new realities of global climate change." bulletin of the atomic scientists.
- Cites caldeira, ken, "the great climate experiment." scientific american 307.3 (2012): 78-83. academic search complete.
- States carey, john. “global warming: faster than expected?” scientific american 307.5 (2012): 50-55.
- Explains fowler, thomas b., "the global warming conundrum." modern age 54.1-4 (2012): 40-62.
- Explains janse, t., and p. wiers' "the climate footprint: a practical tool to address climate change." water science & technology 56.4 (2007): 157-163.
- Cites krebs, martha, “lessons of climate change, stories of solutions.” bulletin of the atomic scientists 67.1 (2011): 60-63.
- Explains prothero, donald r., “how we know global warming is real and human caused.” skeptic 17.2 (2012): 14-22.
- States that carbon and storage: an effective way to mitigate global warming. current science 105.7 (2013): 914-922.
- Narrates trillin's "a vision of the lead american delegate at the kyoto conference on global warming (poem).
1437 wordsRead More - Global Warming: Humans Are Destroying the Worldexplanatory essayIn a century, various parts of the world will be underwater and there will be no life. Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, transportation emissions, and deforestation have caused global climate changes that can lead to catastrophic results if people do not take action. The main event that is contributing to Earth’s destruction is global warming. Global warming is a long term used to reference “a large increase in the Earth’s average surface tem temperature that results in large changes in climate.” Differences in “solar radiation, atmospheric chemistry, and oceanic and atmospheric circulation resulted in global climate changes.” Many human activities contribute to the much of the solar radiation that is entering earth’s atmosphere. The solar radiation entering our atmosphere is converted into thermal energy. Some of the energy coming from the sun is retained by Earth’s atmosphere, living, and nonliving things and some of the energy bounces back into space by objects like ice. This effect is called the greenhouse effect. “Scientists believe without the greenhouse effect the surface temperature would be around -0.4 degrees Fahrenheit which is below freezing point of water.” This is one of the positive things that come out of the greenhouse effect and global warming. It makes our planet warmer and livable to all the beings and creatures on it and maintains the planet’s temperature at a more livable 56 degrees. Even though global warming makes Earth a more livable climate, scientists predict if global warming continues it will have disastrous effects on the world ecologically and politically.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that global warming is a long term term used to refer to the increase in the earth's average surface temperature that results in large changes in climate.
- Explains carey, john. "global warming: faster than expected?" health source - consumer edition.
- Explains wayman, erin, "taking antarctica's temperature: frozen continent may not be immune to global warming."
- Explains carey, john. "global warming: faster than expected?" health source - consumer edition.
- Explains wayman, erin, "taking antarctica's temperature: frozen continent may not be immune to global warming."
- Explains that global warming is caused by the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere starting from the industrial revolution. warmer weather can make smog pollution worse and increase the number of days when it’s hard to breathe.
- Explains that freedman, bill and ed. lerner, k. l., and brenda w.
- Explains that freedman, bill and ed. lerner, k. l., and brenda w.
1061 wordsRead More - Climateexplanatory essayEarth’s climate is constantly changing. The change can be due to natural causes, such as changes in Earth’s orbit, changes in solar activity, or volcanic eruptions; or anthropogenic, resulting from a change in the composition of Earth’s atmosphere. Since the beginning of the Industrial Era, human activities have led to an increase in the concentration of heat-trapping greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, which has led to an increase in atmospheric temperature. In fact, the most likely reason for the recent observed warming, since the mid-20th century, is anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that earth's climate is constantly changing due to natural causes, such as changes in earth’s orbit, solar activity, or volcanic eruptions. since the industrial era, human activities have led to an increase in the concentration of heat-trapping greenhouse gasses
- Explains that according to the recent fifth assessment report (ar5) from the international panel on climate change (ipcc), the global mean surface temperature has been increasing, and each of the past three decades have been successively warmer.
- Explains that the earth's temperature depends on the balance between energy entering and leaving the atmosphere.
- Explains the observable annual and decadal global mean surface temperature anomalies from 1850 to 2012 and the map of the observed temperature change from 1901 to 2012.
- Explains that an intensification of the hydrological cycle due to climate change implies that the frequency, intensity, spatial extent, duration, and timing of extreme precipitation events, evapotranspiration, tropospheric water content and runoff may change.
- Explains that as the climate changes, the amount of energy on earth’s surface is expected to increase, leading to an intensification of the hydrologic cycle.
873 wordsRead More - Most Don't Like It Hotexplanatory essayEven though global warming is affecting our way of life, many still do not understand exactly what it is or what causes it. “Simply defined, global warming is the increase in the average global temperature that has been caused by the presence of certain gasses, called the greenhouse gasses, in earth’s atmosphere.” (Flannery, 2009) While a lot of greenhouse gasses occur naturally, there are many that are man made. Natural greenhouse gasses like: water vapor, carbon dioxide, or methane are important to our planet’s ecosystem. And for many years they have balanced out with our atmosphere but, with the amount of man made gasses added to the natural gasses, the atmosphere is getting clogged. Man made gasses like: carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion make up 82 percent of the greenhouse gasses that are in our atmosphere. Driving your car, using a hot tub, watching your plasma TV, all of these activities are a part of people’s lifestyles; what they do not realize is it all is affecting our planet.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that global warming should be a serious issue for everyone in the world, but many people have shrugged their shoulders and continued their lives not fully understanding what it is.
- Defines global warming as the increase in the average global temperature caused by the presence of certain gases, called the greenhouse gasses, in earth's atmosphere.
- Explains that the amount of ice that has melted in the arctic is astronomical, since it acts like a mirror to the sun's energy, reflecting much of it back into space.
- Explains that the polar bear population in the arctic is declining, and the rise in temperature is disrupting the lifestyles of many other animals. salmon is a main source of food for the local people, but most of the salmon is uneatable
- Explains that the rapid rate of sea ice melting is causing a drastic change in the ocean's sea levels. millions of homes and lives will be lost unless something radical is done.
- Opines that global warming cannot be stopped, but it can be slowed down. people can help by changing the thermostats, replacing light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs, using less hot water, and working together to save our planet.
- Opines that it might take hundreds of years for effects of global warming to truly start affecting people, but it will happen.
- Explains tim flannery's book "we are the weather makers" as a reference in their paper to define global warming.
- Explains that arctic melting was written by chad kister, who has written, studied, and spoken about climate change for over 20 years.
- Explains that sea levels rising at nearly double previous estimates due to global warming. linson, maya.
- Explains that they used this information in their paper to show how fast sea levels are rising and how it will affect people around the world.
- Explains that the committee on energy independence and global warming used the information they found in the arctic and addressed our nation's energy, economic and national security challenges during the 110th and 111th congresses.
1095 wordsRead More - Maryland's Ecology and Environmentexplanatory essayendangered species. This is true of many creatures that live in fresh water dwellings. Forty –
In this essay, the author
- Explains that since 1927, the commission has acquired over 13,300 acres of stream valley and river parks.
- Explains that pigs, cattle, horses, and fowl were fenced out of house yards and ranged free.
- Explains that 80 percent of the land was cleared of trees, resulting in a summary.
- Explains that coastal woods and beaches support a variety of plant and animal life.
- Opines that oceans and the chesapeake bay have been damaged by pollution.
- Explains how the district of columbia and the federal government have worked to improve and save our coastal areas.
- Explains the geography and geology of the chesapeake bay region.
- Explains that crab, oyster, and fish populations in our waterways are declining due to overfishing.
- Opines that we must realize we and our environment are interdependent. if we continue to abuse and destroy, the environment will be destroyed.
- Explains that maryland is the 42nd largest state, making it one of the smaller states in america. it is located in the south atlantic region on the united states eastern seaboard.
- Explains that their paper will focus on prince george's county and the state of maryland.
- Explains that maryland has many fresh water ecosystems, including prince george's county, and several streams and rivers that feed into the county.
- Explains that the chesapeake bay and its tributaries grew and formed as the ice age ended, and are home to several species of fish.
- Opines that maryland and prince george's counties are trying to save and restore these fresh water fish.
- Explains that european settlers cut down native forests at a high rate and the timber was sold in europe. environmental activists have been fighting for decades to preserve these endangered habitats for the animals.
- Predicts sea level will rise at least twice as fast as it did during the 20th century, resulting in a 1-foot rise by 2050 and between 2-3 feet by 2100.
- Believes maryland will fare better than parts of the world that lack the money and resources that are in this area when it comes to climate change.
1051 wordsRead More - Global Warmingexplanatory essay“All across the world, in every kind of environment and region known to man, increasingly dangerous weather patterns and devastating storms are abruptly putting an end to the long-running debate over whether or not climate change is real. Not only is it real, it's here, and its effects are giving rise to a frighteningly new global phenomenon: the man-made natural disaster.” - Barack Obama. Global warming is a major problem in the world today and something needs to be done about it before it is to late. We have more than enough evidence from temperature change and sea level change to prove that climate change is happening. The causes and impact have also been discovered recently and are widely known.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that global warming is a major problem in the world today and something needs to be done about it before it is to late.
- Explains that there is evidence from temperature change and the change in sea level to assure anyone that global warming is occurring.
- Explains that carbon dioxide is one of the main causes of global warming because of its heat trapping abilities.
- Describes the impacts of global warming, such as melting ice, rising sea levels, and increasing precipitation.
- Opines that we have to do something to help the world we live in while we still can before climate change gets out of our control.
- Cites national geographic's "global warming." national aeronautics and space administration. climate impacts in the southeast.
796 wordsRead More - Climatology And Climate Changeexplanatory essayClimatology is described as the study of the origins and impacts of climate. To understand climatology, one must know the true definition of climate. Climate, simply, is the typical weather of a specific geographical region on earth. Climate can be affected by many factors. Some of these factors consist of: pollution, outgassing of volcanoes, seasonal changes, natural disasters, and carbon dioxide emissions, and greenhouse gasses. Ultimately, these factors lead to a phenomenon called climate change. Pollution, carbon dioxide emissions and the trapping of greenhouse gasses are most known for drastically changing earth's climate over the years. Carbon dioxide alone plays a key role in heating up the atmosphere. It alone combined with other greenhouse
In this essay, the author
- Explains that climatology is the study of the origins and impacts of climate.
- Explains that the earth's tilt affects the climate by affecting the equator, which is always pointing towards the sun.
- Explains that the equator gets no seasonal changes because sunlight hits it at a constant angle. high elevations cause temperatures to drop drastically compared to sea level.
- Explains the difference between weather and climate. weather is the atmospheric conditions in a particular location in the atmosphere, while climate affects what type of region might receive rain, snow, sleet, hail, etc.
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