Impact of Climate Change and Global Warming on the Environment Research Paper 2022

THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL WARMING ON THE
ENVIRONMENT
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................... 2
CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL WARMING..............................................2
Natural Causes........................................................................................................ 2
El Nino.................................................................................................................. 2
Continental Drift................................................................................................... 3
Volcanic Activity................................................................................................... 3
Orbital Shifts........................................................................................................ 3
Solar Output......................................................................................................... 3
Manmade Causes.................................................................................................... 4
Greenhouse Effects.............................................................................................. 4
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL WARMING............................................5
Sea Levels............................................................................................................... 5
Cryosphere.............................................................................................................. 6
Tropical Cyclones.................................................................................................... 6
Heat Waves............................................................................................................. 6
Temperature........................................................................................................... 6
Precipitation............................................................................................................ 7
Health Effects.......................................................................................................... 7
SOLUTIONS................................................................................................................. 7
CO2 Mitigation......................................................................................................... 7
Alternative Sources of Energy.................................................................................8
CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................. 8
REFERENCES.............................................................................................................. 9

INTRODUCTION
This research paper assesses the impacts of global warming and climate change on the
environment, the man-made and natural causes of climate change, and ways of minimizing
environmental threats. Climate change destabilizes the temperature equilibrium of the earth and
has an extensive effect on the environment and human beings (Matawal and Maton, 2013).
During global warming, the temperature and the energy balance of the earth change because of
the increased greenhouse gas concentration, which has a substantial effect on the environment
and humans.
CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL WARMING
The causes of global warming and climate change can be categorized as either natural or
manmade causes. The natural causes of climate change and global warming include continental
drift, volcanic activity, orbital shifts, arctic oscillation, and solar output. The man-made causes of
climate change and global warming include aerosols, urbanization, deforestation, agricultural
activities, industrial production, fossil fuel usage, and greenhouse gas emission (Matawal and
Maton, 2013).
Natural Causes
El Nino
El Nino generally starts over the Pacific Ocean when the trade winds blowing over the ocean to
West from East weaken. The warm water surface that is generally pushed towards the western
side slows down. The surface of the water of the East Pacific experiences heating while the
surface of the water to the West Pacific experiences cooling. El Nino is generally followed by
reverse conditions referred to as La Nina which involves the water surface of the East Pacific
experience cooling instead (Zhong, 2016). All these conditions affect the atmospheric
circulation pattern and eventually the climate.

Continental Drift
All the continents are still drifting presently despite having drifted apart over 250 million years
ago. The drifting of large masses of land changed the flow of winds and current and also the
atmosphere. The impacts of continental drift are considered to be insignificant to be an actual
contributor to climate change and global warming experienced currently (Jian-Bin, et al.,
2012).
Volcanic Activity
During the volcanic eruptions, aerosol particles are expelled into the atmosphere and a large
quantity of heat enters the earth. These eruptions episodically occur but have short-term impacts
on the climatic condition of the earth. However, while carbon dioxide is channeled into the
atmosphere, the quantities are lower and the aerosols elements released into the atmosphere and
responsible for cooling the earth and blocking the sunlight (Lane, 2014).
Orbital Shifts
During the orbiting of the Earth around the sun, there is a slight variation in it's the orbit. These
variations change the quantity of energy form the run reaching the Earth. These changes the
quantity of energy from the sun reaching the Earth. These changes are believed to be long-term
but still affect the energy input on the Earth (Stern and Kaufmann, 2013).
Solar Output
As the intensity of the sun weakens or strengthens, the quantity of energy radiated to the
atmosphere varies. The variations in the intensity of the sun have affected the energy shifts for
many years, however, solar irradiance has not changed substantially to account for global
warming that is currently being experienced. Estimations have proved that a slight reduction in
solar intensity in recent decades (Pasgaard and Strange, 2013).