Environmental Science Essay: Analyzing Climate Change and Its Causes

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of climate change, defining it as long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns. It explores the primary causes, including global warming driven by the burning of fossil fuels, which releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. The essay examines the Earth's climate system, the influence of factors such as latitude, ocean currents, and elevation. It also delves into the impact of human activities, such as deforestation and industrial processes, on the environment. The essay concludes by emphasizing the multifaceted nature of climate change and the need for individual and collective action to mitigate its effects and promote environmental sustainability. The annotated bibliography and references provide additional support for the arguments made within the essay.

Climate Change

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY..................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Climate change can be referred to as the long term changes taking place within
temperature and other weather patterns at any location. This can be related to a specific place or
the planet altogether. Across the global periphery, climate change is taking place as an outcome
of global warming. Certain essential and imperative actions are leading towards enhanced
degradation of the environmental condition prevailing within the world. This is a phenomenon
which implies increment in the overall temperature owing to the particles such as coal, natural
gas and oil. The burning of such fossil fuels generate some gases into atmosphere of Earth. Such
gases captivate the heat from rays of Sun within the atmosphere, resulting into increase in
average temperature of Earth.
Subject of Research: The reasons behind occurrence of climate change
Scope of Research: The present study covers the reason due to which climate change
occurs from multiple point of view.
Thesis Statement: Various authors and researchers have diverse point of views regarding
the reasons due to which a climate change occurs.
MAIN BODY
Climate change can be referred to as the changes that take place within the climate
system of Earth as a result of which new weather patterns lasting for decades or million years
occur. At a global level, there are several factors as well as activities which contribute in
changing conditions of the environment. The climate system of Earth consists of 5 interacting
elements such as atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere as well as lithosphere, all of
which are very much interrelated with each other and amalgamate in order to form the climate
system as known to human kind. Almost all the energy within the climate system is received
from the sun, whereas, a tiny amount of the same is received from interior of the Earth.
Moreover, outer space receives energy from climate system as well. Earth's energy budget is
determined through balance of outgoing as well as incoming energy, along with its passage
through the climate system. When incoming energy is higher than outgoing one, energy budget
of the Earth is positive and there is a warmth in the climate system. However, in case more
energy is dispersed, the energy budget becomes negative and the planet experiences coolness.
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As per the point of view of some scientists, climate change mainly occurs owing to global
warming. This trend that has been observed by people from the mid- 20th century and is
examined to human elaboration of greenhouse effect. This is the phenomenon which takes place
whereby atmosphere traps the heat that is found to be radiated from the Earth towards the space.
In this regard, it has been found that there are certain gases which are present within the scope of
atmosphere which does block heat to prevent it from escaping the Earth's environment. Long
living gases which stay semi-permanently within the scope of atmosphere, not reacting to any
chemical effects or physically to any of the reaction taking place in temperature or degree are
referred to as “forcing factors of climate change.” In this relation, gases like water vapours which
belong to the before mentioned category are seen as feedbacks.
The gases which have their contribution in greenhouse effect leading to climate change
are inclusive of the following:-
Water vapour: It is one of the most plentiful greenhouse gases which serves as a
feedback for climate. This tends to enhance as soon as the atmosphere of Earth becomes warm,
however along with the same, it also inflates the probability of precipitation and clouds, it results
in combining the most significant outputs in form of greenhouse effect.
Carbon dioxide (CO2): A secondary yet significant element pertaining to atmosphere is
acknowledged to be CO2. This is released by way of natural procedures like volcanic eruption,
respiratory systems and other types of human activities like land utility change, burning fossil
fuel, deforestation etc. Human beings have enhanced atmospheric Carbon dioxide gases
concentration by more than 1/3rd from the initiation of goods producing in industries.
Methane: This is a type of hydrocarbon gas developed through way of natural sources as
well as human activities. On a molecular basis, methane is more powerful as compared to
carbon dioxide, however, it is much less abundant in context of atmosphere.
Nitrous oxide: This is one of the most redundant greenhouse gas which is examined
through practices inclusive in cultivation of soil, especially the use of organic as well as
commercial fertilizers, mixtures of fossil fuels, development of nitric acid as well as preparing of
biomass.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): In this perspective the greenhouse gas is produced from
Synthetic compounds which is overview of industrial origin and is effectively under the range of
applications, but now largely engaged in production and release to the atmosphere through
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international agreement which enhances the ability to contribute to destruction of the ozone
layer.
On Earth, there is an effective change witnessed in natural greenhouse gases due to
human activities lately. There are certain human actions which have a direct interrelation to the
variations witnessed in terms of environmental conditions within the world. This change has
been witnessed over the last decades through determining of several fossil fuels such as varieties
of oil ingredients and coal and has enhanced the procedure of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2).
It happens as the oil and the coal which is used to amalgamates carbon with oxygen to produce
CO2 in the air. However to a lesser extent as compared to the activities above, the clearing of
land for industry, agriculture as well as other activities has enhanced concentrations of
greenhouse gases.
Climate change is a threat to nature and people for present as well as for future. It is
mainly caused by the humans and its also known as global warming. There are various factors
that influencing climate, it includes ocean currents, latitude, air masses, winds, relief. elevation,
nearness to water, and so forth.
Latitude :- It based on how a location is far or near to the equator. If the place is far
from the equator, then it receive less sunlight, moreover, it receive more sunlight, if it is close to
the either of poles. Seasons are a part of climate and it occur according to the latitude.
Ocean currents :- This is related to the movement of water or the circulation of water in
the oceans. Certain ocean currents have different temperatures like warm and cold. The warm
water flows toward the coolest area or cool water to warmest area, and the air as well as coast
are converted according to the nature of temperature.
Winds and air masses :- It is based on the air with the concern of humidity, temperature,
and pressure. When ground heated, causes to rise air, it results in low air pressure. Moreover,
when the ground is not heated and is remained cold, outcome of the same is high pressure of air.
So, the climate or weather is depending on the location.
Elevation: It is mainly related with lithosphere. As if an individual rise in elevation, there
are subjected towards less air pressure and more colder temperatures. They both are one of the
essential factors for climate. In addition with this, it has been seen that change in elevation will
lead towards affecting flora and fauna. If further lead towards putting an impact on biosphere.
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Relief: Relief includes atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere. In a situation when a
mountainous area relatively blocks prevailing humid winds from sea, only one mountain side
receives heavy amount of rains while other side posses very little precipitation. Due to this kind
of landforms, it leads towards creating relief which is simultaneously a most important factors as
to determine regional climate.
Nearness to Water: It mainly include lithosphere and hydrosphere. Due to the effect of
moderating water, the vicinity of location to water lead towards affecting climate. Water takes in
heat and releases heat slower than the air or the land, so areas around water tend to have a milder
and wetter climate.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, it can be said that climate change occurs due to a number of
reasons. It depends upon the point of views of different personnel and scientists which differ in
relation to the subject matter. Some think that LOWERN are the factors which are responsible
for changes taking place within the climate, while others are of the view that global warming is
the primary reasons which results in climate change. Moreover, there are several gases which
resultant in having the positive impact to greenhouse procedure like Water vapour procedure,
Carbon dioxide (CO2) gases, Methane, Nitrous oxide and Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which
also have a quite heavy contribution in terms of bringing in change to the climate. Lastly, several
actions are required to be taken by individuals which bring in positive changes in the
environment rather than enhancement in aspects like global warming.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bibliography CRAAP Test
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As far as the currency of this reference is
concerned, the information was published in
2019, which makes it current and highly
effective to be used within the project. This
information is quite relevant as it reflects how
climate change is a challenge to the economy
and covers in detail the reasons of climate
change and its possible consequences. The
publisher of information was American
Economic review, which makes authority of
the information quite appropriate. Moreover, it
also contributes in the accuracy of information
as the journal from which the data has been
taken out is a national level analysis. Lastly, it
reflected on the climate change and
consequences which economies could face due
to the same, hence, the purpose of the journal
coincides with the assignment.
The published information is of year 2018,
which could be used for another 2 years, seeing
the changes in climate. Reason for the same is
that the climate change has seen variations in
intensity each year, else the root causes are the
same making the information current.
Moreover, the book has information about the
ongoing climate changes in the UK as well as
other countries in the world, which makes the
information relevant. In context with authority,
the publisher of information has been Penguin,
UK, which is known to deliver authentic
information. The data presented within this
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contains content which could be backed up by
several other resources, weighing more on its
accuracy. In addition, the purpose of this
information is to enlighten readers about
climate change, hence, contributing to the topic
of this assignment. Thus, its purpose is also
aligned with the project.
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