Climate change is an amazingly simple phrase for such a complex subject. Following, we have a go at defining climate change in today’s terms. Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. It is a global problem that requires a global solution, and one that requires the concerted effort of individuals, communities, businesses, and governments.
The problem of climate change is a result of the increased emission of greenhouse gases. These gases act like a thermal blanket around the Earth, trapping heat and causing the Earth's average temperature to rise. This rise in temperature is known as global warming.
The Earth's climate is constantly changing. However, the rate of change that we are experiencing now is unprecedented, and it is largely a result of human activity. For this reason, climate change is often referred to as Anthropogenic Climate Change, or man-made climate change.
Scientists are still learning about the full extent of the impact of climate change. However, we do know that it is a serious problem with the potential to cause widespread damage to the environment, human health, and the economy.
There are a number of things that individuals, communities, businesses, and governments can do to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases and help mitigate the effects of climate change.
What is Climate Change?
In the current day lexicon of scientists, climate modification isn’t really a term of use anymore. The reason for this is that we have come to understand that the effect of the changes we make to our environment will increase the temperature in many locations on the planet, but will also cool a few places. In light of this, the thing you know of as climate modification is actually referred to as global climate change. Over all, however, the world is definitely warming.
We need a simple definition for climate change in relation to the warming of the planet, one that gets the gist without excluding the simplicities. The simplest and most accurate definition is that climate change is the effect greenhouse gases have on the earth’s climate. Greenhouse gases include, but are not limited to, carbon dioxide and methane. While this sounds like a simple definition, there are a couple of key things to realize.
First, climate change is both a natural phenomena and one created by man. Put another way, greenhouse gases are a natural part of the biosphere and would exist if man did not. Indeed, they are a critical component to the existence of life on this planet. If greenhouse gases didn’t exist, the temperature on planet earth would average zero degrees! Naturally occurring gases, however, keep the temperature at a much more livable 59 degrees.
So, if climate change occurs naturally, what is the big panic about? The problem we are facing is the volume of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These gases act as thermal blankets for the atmosphere. The more gas in the atmosphere, the thicker the blanket and the less heat escapes. Over the last 80 years, we have been pumping massive amounts of greenhouse gases into the sky. At the same time, we have been reducing forestation around the planet, the primary plant collection that sucks greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere. This double whammy is starting to show negative results, the increased heating of our world.
The ultimate question with climate alteration is what will happen as the planet heats up. We are already seeing signs with the retreat of the glaciers. Glacier National Park, for instance, is going to have to be renamed since it has already lost 65 percent of all of its glaciers! While the exact end result of these environmental changes is not clear, we can expect major climatic changes over the next 80 years.