Chapter 3: Literature Review on Climate Change
Climate change can be defined as a significant change in the “average weather” of any given region sustained in the long-term and can be caused by Earth 's dynamic processes, external forces including variations in sunlight intensity, and also by human activities (USEPA, 2014).
The burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil, and deforestation over the last 200 years has caused the concentrations of heat-trapping "greenhouse gases" to increase significantly in our atmosphere. These gases prevent heat from escaping to space. Greenhouse gases are necessary in our lives as they help in keeping the planet 's surface warmer than it would otherwise be. But, as the concentrations of these gases continue to increase in the atmosphere, the Earth 's temperature is climbing above past levels (USEPA, 2014).
It has been observed through various researches that in the last century, average temperatures across the globe increased by over 1.3°F with an increase of more than two times in the Arctic. (Bates, Kundzewicz, Wu, & Palutikof, June 2008). The results of climate change can also be seen in changing precipitation patterns, increases in ocean temperatures, changes in the sea level, and acidity and melting of glaciers and sea ice (USEPA, 2014).
3.1 Climate Change and Water
In the water sector, which is a special concern for this research, it is predicted that the water supply conditions in all regions and sectors in the world are likely
Climate change is a change in the average global or regional weather patterns. Climate changes includes factors such as; temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind and seasons, influenced by oceans, land surfaces and ice sheets. This plays a
Greenhouse gases keep heat close to the earth’s surface making it liveable for humans and animals. However, global warming is happening largely due to an over-emittance of these gases and fossil fuels (natural oil, gasoline, coal)
The major contributors to global warming are four types of greenhouse gases. (Fig. 2). These gases ultimately lead to the greenhouse effect. (Fig. 3). Carbon dioxide is essential to living because when a plant goes through photosynthesis, it is converting Carbon dioxide and water into oxygen that humans need to breathe. (UCSB, 2015) Although CO2 is essential for life, it can have harmful effects. Fossil fuels are any natural fuels that were formed on the Earth’s surface before humans existed. These natural fuels include: Coal, oil and natural gases. Humans have to burn these fuels in order to create vital essentials to life such as energy and electricity. Unlike plants, when we burn these fuels for electricity and energy, Carbon dioxide is released into the Earth’s atmosphere. These gases eventually trap the heat that is supposed to escape the Earth, thus creating higher temperatures on
The UNFCC also defines climate change as “a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over time periods.”
Climate Change is the significant change in the climate and distribution of weather patterns on Earth ranging from the last decade to millennia earlier.
Climate change can be defined as a long-term change in weather environments that include wind, precipitation, and temperature. The direct result of climate change can lead to a change in weather patterns that can last for extended periods of time (Climate Change Summary). Climate change may also be referred to as a change in average weather conditions, which could lead to an increase or decrease in extreme weather events. Recently climate change has been recognized as a problem around the world, while other groups believe climate change is made up of fictional data. Climate change is an ongoing problem in the scientific community, but society has not fully accepted the principles of climate change.
Climate change is defined by Dictionary.com as “A long-term change in the earth’s climate, especially a change due to an increase in the average atmospheric temperature” (“The Definition of Climate Change”). Climate change can be separated into four categories which are: evidences, causes, effects, and solutions. These categories help to find out what climate change is and how we can stop it.
Climate change refers to a change in the composition of the global atmosphere over time. It is a change in climate patterns, which includes temperature, precipitation and winds. It can occur either due to a natural process or as a result of human intervention. Just a few added degrees to the Earth’s climate can jeopardize the environment if it does not have enough time to adapt. This can result in
Climate change is one of the world’s biggest threats. Climate change has been and currently still is affecting the planet. It affects the environment, animals, plants, the ecosystem and it affects humans as well. However, even though climate change affects humans, we also play a big part in contributing to climate change. For example, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has gone up due to the burning of fossil fuels (from human activity) as well as deforestation (clearing or removal of trees) which requires human participation (Reece). The rise of CO2 affects the global temperature and human activities only add to the climate change. As stated before, climate change not only effects humans, it also effects plants and animals. For instance, with climate change happening, plants and animals are experiencing drastic changes in their habitat. Therefore, plants and animals have to migrate to an environment better suited for them. (Reece). Climate change has also had an effect on the arctic as well as plants, animals, humans, etc. It is said that climate change is known to be the greatest threat to the arctic as we know it. For example, the arctic sea has already experienced the largest amount of warming in 2012 and it is suggested that within a few decades or so there may not be any more ice. Henceforth, the habitat for seals, polar bears and other mammals will be decreasing and their species will be at risk (Reece 2011). There have definitely been some significant changes that
Climate change is when there is an identifiable change in weather over time. Unlike weather, scientists can predict the climate for the next fifty years; they can predict the changes in the atmospheric composition and the long-term weather in a certain area. Climate change is the predicted average weather and the change in an average weather, also known as the different temperatures, seasons, and precipitation. Climate can be viewed within the entire Earth itself, rather than just one place. This means that the Earth can have changes in the atmosphere, land, oceans, precipitation, and land. The Earth’s climate is always changing. An example of climate change within the entire Earth, between summer and winer. The seasons change because of geographical patterns of energy absorbed and radiated away by the Earth. Climate changes are formed by the changes in heat energy in the Earth’s system. Human activities are also a major factor to climate changes. Humans have made various changes in the amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, as well as changes made in the land.
The image above presents the overall global temperature of the world from 132 years ago, the year 1884-2016 to the current period. It is stated that the dark blue coloured sections illustrate cooler temperature than average and the darker red section depicts the hotter temperature than the average. Therefore, the global temperature has increased throughout the years of 1884 to 2016 (Tenenbaum et al, 2015). This supports the claim that the climate has been altering in which the global temperature has risen to above 5 Fahrenheit in 2016 whereas, in 1884 the temperature was below -4 Fahrenheit. The regions such the Antarctic and Canada has experienced as significant change in temperature. For instance, in Canada the temperature is presented as -4 Fahrenheit during the 1884 suggesting this region was extremely cold than other areas of the world as expected (Nasa Climate Change, 2015). However, the 2016 image of global temperature illustrates that the world climate has become warmer specifically in Canada and the Antarctic as the red section implies that the temperature has increased above 4 Fahrenheit. Thus, both image conveys that the global temperature has evidently increased this supports that there is a changing climate. Therefore, this evidence can be used to suggest that humans and animals are adapting to the altering conditions as the evidence above exemplifies there is an increase in global temperature.
Over the last 50 years, Human activities –particularly the burning fossil fuels have released sufficient quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to trap additional heat in the lower atmosphere and affect the global climate.
Over the last 50 years, Human activities –particularly the burning fossil fuels have released sufficient quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to trap additional heat in the lower atmosphere and affect the global climate.
Gases in the earth’s atmosphere help control Earth’s temperature. It all starts off with sunlight that is absorbed by land and water. The earth’s surface warms up and gives out energy called infrared radiation. The energy is eventually released back into space, and then trapped by greenhouse gases. It is important to remember that some greenhouse gases are needed, or else Earth would be too cold for plants and animals to live. The problem is extra carbon dioxide and other gases. As extra greenhouse gases trap more heat, the whole planet becomes warmer. As the greenhouse effect is stronger, Earth’s natural balance is upset. The problem is huge and happening only because greenhouse gases are overloading the atmosphere (epa.gov).
Climate change is defined as a change in the usual weather found in a place. This could be a change in temperature or weather pattern. Climate change studies have been conducted since the late eighteen hundreds, all of which have concluded that the earth has been warming significantly fast. There is several factors effecting climate change such as slight changes in earths tilt, but ninety-seven percent of climate change scientist agree that the main cause of climate change is human activities. The planet has saw a significant change in not only temperature, but also a change in average rainfall, increase in sea level, and a reduction in the polar ice caps. These changes are significantly impacting the wildlife in not only colder climate but in warmer climates as well. Although some scientist argue that climate change is simply a natural process the earth goes through.This trend is going to continue to grow until it becomes completely irreversible, but there is still time to reverse the damage we’ve done if we act now.