Introduction
While reading and understanding the information below, it is important to realize that this page shows the majority of scientists' point of view in regards to climate change. Here, scientists realize that climate change is due to human action, but there is debate in regards to the amount of warming on the Earth, the effects of global warming, and the future status of the Earth. In the pie chart on the left, Lawerence Powell, a geologist at Oberlin College, read close to 14,000 articles about climate change and only 24 articles explained the "myth" of global warming (read here and here). So, the majority consensus in the scientific community is that climate change is related to human action; but before explaining any scientific issue, it is important to (first) realize that science does not proove anything. On the contrary, science can only observe and then explain those observations. Therefore, science only points out correlations, explains possible reasons as to why things happen, and helps organize/ make sense of the world around us. Just like everything else in the world, science is based on opinions, which differ often. Other professionals, such as politicians, economists and businessmen also argue about the effects of climate change in their professions. Even the majority of American public takes a candidate's stance on cliamte change into account before voting (see chart on right). (Yale) Overall, it is easy to see the consensus, but realize that there are some outliers to the scientific study of climate change. The below information explains the phonomenon of this change and the possible effects that come along with it.
While reading and understanding the information below, it is important to realize that this page shows the majority of scientists' point of view in regards to climate change. Here, scientists realize that climate change is due to human action, but there is debate in regards to the amount of warming on the Earth, the effects of global warming, and the future status of the Earth. In the pie chart on the left, Lawerence Powell, a geologist at Oberlin College, read close to 14,000 articles about climate change and only 24 articles explained the "myth" of global warming (read here and here). So, the majority consensus in the scientific community is that climate change is related to human action; but before explaining any scientific issue, it is important to (first) realize that science does not proove anything. On the contrary, science can only observe and then explain those observations. Therefore, science only points out correlations, explains possible reasons as to why things happen, and helps organize/ make sense of the world around us. Just like everything else in the world, science is based on opinions, which differ often. Other professionals, such as politicians, economists and businessmen also argue about the effects of climate change in their professions. Even the majority of American public takes a candidate's stance on cliamte change into account before voting (see chart on right). (Yale) Overall, it is easy to see the consensus, but realize that there are some outliers to the scientific study of climate change. The below information explains the phonomenon of this change and the possible effects that come along with it.
(Environmental Defense Fund)
Environmental Concerns
There is a colossal amount of questions and information regarding the current and future status of our beloved earth. One of these topics is global warming/ climate change. While most people in the world have heard the terms ‘global
warming’ and ‘climate change’, few know and understand ‘what’ the process is,
other than attributing it to something that hurts the planet. Some questions addressed below are: ‘what is global warming’, ‘is it as bad as certain people say it is’,‘if global warming does exist, is it attributed to human activity or is it the natural path of the earth’, and ‘what can I do to help’.
The Ozone protects the planet Earth from the sun’s ultra-violet rays, while letting just enough in to preserve the Earth’s environment; without this layer, the earth would be inhabitable (Filippelli). The Ozone, however, works against humanity, sometimes, and does not allow certain gases to permeate through it and exit the earth. Gases like carbon dioxide (i.e. car emissions and coal burning emissions) become trapped in earth’s atmosphere and fence in the UV rays that pass through the Ozone and enter earth. When the rays are unable to escape, the phenomenon called the ‘Greenhouse Effect’ occurs. The Greenhouse Effect warms the earth and as more continue to collect and stay, temperatures on earth increase. While this is a naturally occurring process, the amount of captured ultra-violet rays is now too much. In fact, there is more carbon dioxide, collecting UV rays, in the current atmosphere than there has been in the last 800,000 years. (Environmental Defense Fund) As temperatures continue to increase, the environment will become more inhabitable and destruction will ensue. This is global warming/ climate change.
Use the following URL and realize how severe global warming/ climate change is by watching these six videos (entitled degree one, degree two, degree three, degree four, degree five, and degree six) presented by National Geographic about the concerns and “what to expect” as temperatures increase. Please remember that scientists argue as to how much the earth's temperature has increased, ranging from less than one degree celcius to mare than two. http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/videos/degree-one/
Deductively, humanity has induced this specific rate of the current global warming/ climate change. (Environmental Defense Fund) Regardless if it is or is not as serious as scientists say, global warming/ cliamte change is still an extremely important issue that will affect the current generation as well as the generations to come. Some things that humans can do to help slow the rate of warming are live as sustainable as possible, recycle, be educated about the topics, and (most importantly) care about the situation.
Works Cited:
Environmental Defense Fund. “Basics of Global Warming.” Environmental Defense Fund, 2012. Web 14 February 2013 <http://www.edf.org/climate/basics-global-warming>.
Filippelli, Gabriel. “Climate 101.” PowerPoint presentation. University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN. November 2012.
Powell, James Lawerence. "The Thin Red Wedge." Graphic Design. 4 March 2013. http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2012/12/11/climate_change_denial_why_don_t_they_publish_scientific_papers.html
Yale University's Project on Climate Change Communication. "The Political Benefits to taking a Pro-Climate Stand in 2013." Yale Univerisity, 15 January 2013. Web 4 March 2013 http://environment.yale.edu/climate/item/Political-benefits-to-taking-a-pro-climate-stand-in-2013.
There is a colossal amount of questions and information regarding the current and future status of our beloved earth. One of these topics is global warming/ climate change. While most people in the world have heard the terms ‘global
warming’ and ‘climate change’, few know and understand ‘what’ the process is,
other than attributing it to something that hurts the planet. Some questions addressed below are: ‘what is global warming’, ‘is it as bad as certain people say it is’,‘if global warming does exist, is it attributed to human activity or is it the natural path of the earth’, and ‘what can I do to help’.
The Ozone protects the planet Earth from the sun’s ultra-violet rays, while letting just enough in to preserve the Earth’s environment; without this layer, the earth would be inhabitable (Filippelli). The Ozone, however, works against humanity, sometimes, and does not allow certain gases to permeate through it and exit the earth. Gases like carbon dioxide (i.e. car emissions and coal burning emissions) become trapped in earth’s atmosphere and fence in the UV rays that pass through the Ozone and enter earth. When the rays are unable to escape, the phenomenon called the ‘Greenhouse Effect’ occurs. The Greenhouse Effect warms the earth and as more continue to collect and stay, temperatures on earth increase. While this is a naturally occurring process, the amount of captured ultra-violet rays is now too much. In fact, there is more carbon dioxide, collecting UV rays, in the current atmosphere than there has been in the last 800,000 years. (Environmental Defense Fund) As temperatures continue to increase, the environment will become more inhabitable and destruction will ensue. This is global warming/ climate change.
Use the following URL and realize how severe global warming/ climate change is by watching these six videos (entitled degree one, degree two, degree three, degree four, degree five, and degree six) presented by National Geographic about the concerns and “what to expect” as temperatures increase. Please remember that scientists argue as to how much the earth's temperature has increased, ranging from less than one degree celcius to mare than two. http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/videos/degree-one/
Deductively, humanity has induced this specific rate of the current global warming/ climate change. (Environmental Defense Fund) Regardless if it is or is not as serious as scientists say, global warming/ cliamte change is still an extremely important issue that will affect the current generation as well as the generations to come. Some things that humans can do to help slow the rate of warming are live as sustainable as possible, recycle, be educated about the topics, and (most importantly) care about the situation.
Works Cited:
Environmental Defense Fund. “Basics of Global Warming.” Environmental Defense Fund, 2012. Web 14 February 2013 <http://www.edf.org/climate/basics-global-warming>.
Filippelli, Gabriel. “Climate 101.” PowerPoint presentation. University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN. November 2012.
Powell, James Lawerence. "The Thin Red Wedge." Graphic Design. 4 March 2013. http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2012/12/11/climate_change_denial_why_don_t_they_publish_scientific_papers.html
Yale University's Project on Climate Change Communication. "The Political Benefits to taking a Pro-Climate Stand in 2013." Yale Univerisity, 15 January 2013. Web 4 March 2013 http://environment.yale.edu/climate/item/Political-benefits-to-taking-a-pro-climate-stand-in-2013.