Outline

I alredady have the paper typed up. I just need someone to write a oultline for me on it.

Running Head:

CLIMATE CHANGE

1

CLIMATE CHANGE 1
CLIMATE CHANGE

Student’s Name

University Affiliation

Climate Change

So there has been an temperature increase on the Earth b 1 degree Farenheit with the past two centuries. Many oblivious persosn would wonder what the big deal is. The one degree being mentioned may appear negligible, but it is actually an extraordinary event in the planet’s history. The preserved and studied Earth’s climate records indicate that the average global temperature has been stable for long periods of time. Furthermore, slight changes in the temperature result in major alterations in the environment.

According to scientific estimations, the environment as we now know it will not be the same in the next 10 years. We should also not forget that the environment is what we depend on fully, not the other way round. As it is, the initiatives to mitigate climate change should first begin with the actions of each and every one at a personal level. Climate change is no longer considered an emerging concern but a lurking catastrophe. This paper seeks to enlighten the reader on climate change, a Geoscience issue that has been the cause of massive research in its various aspects. The paper gains insight on the topic in the most holistic manner possible.

According to other professionals in the field of geology, climate change has been termed as a significant, progressive and lasting alteration in weather’s statistical patterns, noted for periods that range from a decade to millions of ages. Basically, climate change has the potential of being the change in the weather’s average condition or its distribution. The main means that have been used by scientists in understanding the condition’s plight are theoretical and observational. More recently however, there have been improved methods of scrutinizing the situation, through the use of instrumental recordings. Nonetheless, the universally accepted definition of climate change is; the change in climate system’s statistical properties after being considered for a long period of time, where the causes are not regarded.

As a constituent issue, many are unable to distinguish climate and global warming (Giddens, 2009). However, the fault cannot be entirely placed on them as the two are indeed deeply intertwined. I would therefore use this relationship between the two issues to approach both at once. It is common knowledge that climate change is one of the realest threats that our prosperity faces; this being in accordance to a tenfold of research conducted by numerous scientists. Carbon dioxide is among the pollutant gases that contribute to the deterioration of the ozone layer as well as bringing about the greenhouse effect (McKrecher, 2010). Various anthropogenic activities such as deforestation have also been noted as major causes of the progressively increasing climate change. Having stated that, it becomes clear that climate change comes about due to global warming; a change essentially initiated by anthropogenic activities.

The amount of research conducted and eventual results brought forth is undoubtedly of immense quantity. But the reported issues have not been able to be fully addressed as they are related to aspects of environmental pollution amidst man’s search for the basic livelihood. However, recently conducted studies have been able to take a more narrowed path; indicating the intensity of environmental pollution that is induced within the household alone. The term carbon footprint is used to refer to the amount of carbon emitted by the activities of a person or an organization; usually measured in tons (McKrecher, 2009). The U.S alone has turned out to have a carbon footprint of 27 tons, while the average of each individual is usually an approximate of 5 tons. The world’s average carbon footprint is slightly higher than that of an individual’s average, settling at 5.5 tons. The carbon footprint is arrived at by simply conducting a survey of how energy is used in the household, the pressure on food sources and amount of land used in doing various things. This is a problem that can be simply addressed by having each individual of sound mind partake in measures to reduce all the above stated issues.

Generally, climate change is an extensive and long-term adjustment in the conditions of weather s identified in regards to temperature, winds, precipiration and other vital factors. Looking at the condition from a broader scale, the equilibrium temperature and Earth’s climate are determined by the Earth’s rate of receiving energy from the sun and its eventual rate of being lost into space (Morris, 2012).Climatic factors such as ocean currents and winds are then responsible for distributing the received energy, hence impacting the climate of different regions. Factors with the ability of changing climate are known as climate forcings, or better yet, forcing mechanisms. Such factors include processes like the variation of solar radiation, deviation in Earth’s orbit, mountain-building and continental drift alongside changes isn the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. Additionally, the rate of response to the various climatic alterations differ in relation to the geopgraphical location, with areas such as oceans and ice caps having slower response rates.

These forcing factors are either internal or external. Internal climate forcings are usually of natural occurrence as geological processes with the climatic system, an example being the thermohaline circulation. In the case of external forcing mechanisms, they can be natural or anthropogenic. Examples are solar output changes and increased greenhouse gas emmisions respectively. However, the climate system’s response might still be fast regardless of the fact type of forcing factor that is triggering the process. This is to mean that there might be an abrupt response of the climate system to the forces, but the complete response and effects are developed and realized over a longer period of time.

Human influence on the environment at large has been noted as the most dominant factor that affects climate change. Scientific consensus in relation to their studies have established that most of the impacts on climate systems are irreversible and to a significant extent, caused by activities of humans (Johansen, 2008).

Global warming refers to the process of progressive and gradual increment in the atmospheric Temperature (Elsbach, 2007). This in turn brings about climate change and change in precipitation patterns. The process is believed to have begun in the 19th century mainly due to anthropogenic activities such as deforestation and other natural factors. Climate change has mainly been induced by human activities such as burning of fossil fuels which emit greenhouse gases that bring about an increase in carbon dioxide levels in the lower atmosphere. Deforestation is another contributing factor to climate change. Its result is a change in the normal air circulation. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere increase due to the imbalance in circulation.

Climate chnage as a result has a number of effects both on man and the environment at large. Rise in global temperature is the most significant of its effects, though it varies in regions. The arctic regions exhibit the highest evidence of this with the continued glacier retreats and permafrost (Johansen, 2008). The melted ice later leads to flooding of the areas around, thus displacement of residents. The high temperatures also lead to expansion of deserts due to increase in desertification. Global warming which is an aftermath of climate change also brings about increase in ocean acidity. This disrupts the aquatic plants’ and animals’ ability to form shells and skeletons of calcium carbonate.

A major concern in regards to human activities and their impact to the climate system is the increased levels of emiting Carbon dioxide to the environment. Most of the evidence on climate change is derived from various sources that can be used in the reconstruction of past climatic conditions. This is made possible through the availability of complete records on surface temperature, commencing from the 19th century. Carbon dioxide is a major gas that initiates climate change due to its current high concentrations in the atmosphere, a non-living factor than contributes to the problem. The gas is produced and absorbed through terrestrial biosphere and the ocean.

However, the carbon dioxide cycle has been immensely altered by anthropogenic activities such as burning coal, oil, natural gas and wood since the 18th century at the start of the industrial revolution (Morris, 2012). It was the first greenhouse gas noted to be accumulating according to the initial measurements taken in the 20th century. There has been an increase in the atmosphere level by over 30% in the recent years, prior to the industrial revolution period when its concentration was fairly stable, ranging at around 280ppm (Meehl, 2012).

Sustainability is of crucial importance and ought to be taken seriously. There are various ideas and opinions on how best to reach sustainability.Accoriding to Al Gore- a firm promoter of global warming solutions, search for further insight on the issue individually gives one the incentive, drive and will to make the globe a better place, therefore qualifying as a possible solution to averting the problem. Using the carbon calculator in the respective sites is instrumental in this case, as it shows one just how much carbon emission he or she is responsible for and what can be done about it. We are also advised to invest in climate solutions through any means possible. Referrering to the topic at hand as a crisis rather than just a change magnifies the state of what we are dealing with, therefore prompting further zeal and need for a solution.

It is also advisable to buy hybrids as they tend to have lower rates of carbon emission, hence lesser effect on the environment. Using light rails has been cornfirmed as one of the possible solution to reversing the climate change problem to a limit that can be easily controlled and done away with completely. Being arguably the most effective solution, we are advised to live ‘green lives,’ in that we adopt carbon neutral ways and reduce general carbon emissions by being green consumers (Harmon, 2008).

Reference

Elsbach, K. D., & Pratt, M. G. (2007). 4 The Physical Environment in Organizations. The academy of management ANNALS, 1(1), 181-224.

Giddens, A (2009). The Politics of Climate Change.Cambridge, UK .

Harmon, D. E. (2008). Al Gore and Global Warming: The Rosen Publishing Group.

Johansen, B. E. (2008). The global warming combat manual: solutions for a sustainable world: Praeger Publishers.

Matthews, H. S., Hendrickson, C. T., & Weber, C. L. (2008). The importance of carbon footprint estimation boundaries. Environmental science & technology, 42(16), 5839-5842.

McKercher. et al. (2010). Achieving Voluntary Reductions in the Carbon Footprint of Tourism and Climate Change.Journal of sustainable tourism 18.3: 297-317.

Meehl, G. A., Stocker, T. F., Collins, W. D., Friedlingstein, P., Gaye, A. T., Gregory, J. M., . . . Noda, A. (2007). Global climate projections. Climate change, 747-845.

Morris, A. C., Nivola, P. S., & Schultze, C. L. (2012). Clean energy: Revisiting the challenges of industrial policy.Energy Economics