Global Warming - the Climate Change

Christina Burns

Dr. Brian M. McCann

Physical Science

December 10, 2017

        Monitoring the variations in the Earth’s climate is a task that is made more difficult due to the fact that the climate itself is a variable that also changes.  These natural changes occur due to normal interactions of different areas of the atmosphere with the planet, as well as interactions with the big bodies of water on Earth.  The climate change debate has to do with whether or not the current global warming situation has been caused my nature or by human factors.  There really isn’t enough evidence to suggest that the current global warming of the climate is caused by natural forces.  Nature is designed to work together and maintain a balance, and without interference from human activity, the Sun and other natural forces cannot be exclusively blamed for the current climate change.  All living beings transform their surroundings and environment to meet their needs, but none have better suited their environments as well and as thoroughly as man. This skill of adapting land to meet our needs is vital and essential for progress, survival, and civilization. At the same time, these adaptations may gradually strip the Earth of what it needs to sustain itself.  If we really think about all that man contributes to the factors that deplete the ozone layer and cause global warming, we see that there are plenty examples. From car pollution and factories producing smog to “smaller” contributors, like cigarette smoke and hairspray, it is clear to see that humans contribute to global warming.

        Some question whether or not global warming is even taking place.   According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, it is very evident that the temperature of our planet is rising.  This evidence is backed by the fact that every set of the past 40 years have been warmer than the 20th century average (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2017).  That fact alone shows solid proof that our planet is warmer than prior times.  During the time span of the past 130 years, the Earth has increased in temperature by 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit, and more than half of that increase has happened within the past 35 years.  What was surprising to me is that 2016 was the hottest year on record so far (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2017).  Increased carbon dioxide is the main cause of global warming (Marland, G., T.A. Boden, and R. J. Andres., 2007).  Carbon dioxide is what absorbs the heat that is absorbed from the surface of our planet. When that element is more potent than what is a balanced amount for the planet, it reflects too much heat – since it is reflecting heat that would normally just be absorbed back into the Earth.  We also have to keep in mind that carbon dioxide does not just “die out”.  Once infiltrated with carbon dioxide, it takes a tree 100 years to rid itself of just half of its carbon dioxide content.