It's scary, it's big, and we play a part in it.
"Men argue. Nature Acts." - Voltaire
Why is Climate Change Happening?
We know climate change is real, but many are still left wondering why. Why is it happening? How do we know? Many factors contribute to the warming of the globe, but one is the most evident. It’s called the “greenhouse effect.” The greenhouse effect is the main cause for the increase of temperature across the globe, and we play a part in it.
According to NASA, this effect is described as the “warming that results when the atmosphere traps heat radiating from Earth toward space” (Climate Change Causes). The gases absorbing this heat are called greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases include gases such as water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide. These gases work together to act as a thermal blanket around the Earth, regulating the temperature to keep the surface warm enough to support life. The amount of these gases has increased in the last century, causing the “thermal blanket” in the atmosphere to thicken and trap too much heat. The heat radiates back down to Earth’s surface and increases the temperature across the surface. The combustion of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas is a major cause of this. Other human activities such as deforestation and even driving a vehicle have contributed to this awful build-up of gas.
Humans have contributed greatly to the build-up of greenhouse gases. Who knew that your everyday commute in your car to and from work would lead to this drastic global change? Something needs to be done. We all have a hand in this, and every day we are digging ourselves deeper and deeper into irreversible damage. It’s getting hot in here, and things are not looking up.
“Climate Change Causes: A Blanket around the Earth.” Edited by Holly Shaftel, NASA, NASA, 5 Feb. 2019, https://climate.nasa.gov/causes/.
Images:
Nick Page Photography, nickpagephotography.com
Climate Matters Media Library- Climate Central, medialibrary.climatecentral.org
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