The word climate change has been in existence for ages, with endless discussions in boardrooms taking place, with experts and states working day and night trying to find a solution to end the menace, which is climate change. With the many discussions taking place, one might be tempted to ask the question, “What is climate change?” This refers to the change in the patterns of weather in a given vast region, which could also be accompanied by changes in areas of large water masses such as oceans, ice cover and on the land. The effects of these changes are devastating and for ages now, the human race can feel the effects ("Climate change: evidence and causes | Royal Society").
With a clear definition on climate change, it is important to mention on some of the causes of this phenomenon. The causes of climate change range from man-made causes to natural causes of climate change. For one, there are gases in the atmosphere that with enough research, have been found to cause climate change. One of these gases is carbon dioxide. They contribute to what is called greenhouse gases, and with their emission to the atmosphere, they cause climate change.
So why is the concern on carbon dioxide and other gases? These gases are mainly from human activities, and therefore, human beings are the main causers of climate change. With the burning of the earth and deforestation, carbon dioxide levels go up, leading to the formation of a blanket like layer, which eventually leads to global warming ("Climate change: evidence and causes | Royal Society").
There could be other causes of climate change, but human activities and the existence of greenhouse gases are the main causes of climate change. These are the main causes, and according to research and experts, greenhouse gases, which in most cases are emitted from human activities, affect the balance of the energy balance of the earth. When the energy balance of the earth is affected, the climate is affected. This leads to extreme high or low temperatures. Participates and particles are added to the atmosphere on daily basis, meaning that climate change is here with us for longer than we expected.
When did the causes of Climate Change set in?
Having mentioned the causes of climate change, it is important to mention when the phenomenon of climate change came into being. Experts associate the industrial revolution to climate change. Since then, gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide continue to increase in the atmosphere. Therefore, with the increase in the gases, the earth continues to warm, so does global warming continue to hit on the earth. The greatest contribution to climate change, despite the other causes associated to it, is carbon dioxide, which since the industrial revolution, continues to be a major pollutant in our environment ("Effects | Facts – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet").
The effects of Climate Change
The effects of climate change are many, and continue to be observed, even into the future. Some of the observable effects include the disappearance of glaciers as well as ice covers. The rivers and lakes are drying up even when they are not supposed to. Plant and animal patterns on the other hand, are also changing, and this calls for us to worry and do something about climate change. The question that remains now is on the future effects of climate change ("Effects | Facts – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet").
Well, with climate change here with us, the future does not look pleasant in any way. There are anticipation of worse days for us as humans. For the current high temperatures being experienced in the world over, the future expects even higher and increased temperatures. The predictions are that these increases in temperature will vary and not be uniform across regions ("Effects | Facts – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet"). The changes will vary and affect the world at different magnitudes.
In addition, seasons are likely to change. Some of the seasons likely to change include the frost-free seasons. Also, there is the expectation that these seasons will increase. The same effects have been experienced since 1980s, and it is expected that the same will even get worse in the future. It is not just the frost seasons, as it is also likely that the growing seasons will lengthen, all because of climate change. The changes in precipitation pattern is also an expected effect of climate change. The same changes have already been witnessed in the United States and other parts of the world, and the effect is expected to even get worse. The rain averages will increase in some regions, while other regions will remain dry.
Heard of heat waves? Well, this is another effect of climate change, with the effects even expected to get worse in the future, as the emissions of greenhouse gasses increase. The summer heat is getting higher and higher, while the colds, on the other hand, are increasing. It is a trend across the globe, meaning that climate change is on the rise, according to research and experts. Other effects of climate change include the melting of ice cover even in the Artic, including increase in sea levels as well as the increased cases of hurricanes, which the world is already experiencing.
Climate change is here with us, and as human beings, ought to come up with preventive measures, if we are to get rid or contain the effects of climate change, which are devastating, as discussed in the above paragraphs. There is the need for us to control human emissions as thy are the leading causes of climate change.
Works Cited
"Climate change: evidence and causes | Royal Society." Nap. Web. .
"Effects | Facts – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet." Nap. Web. .
