The global climate has been changing rapidly in the past few decades. There has been a measurable trend towards global warming. Scientists are finding growing evidence that humans are at least partly responsible for this climatic change. With all the data about global warming and disasters, there are a few things that everyone should know.

On the simplest of terms, when the surface of the earth is heated up by the sun the majority of the heat is reflected back into the atmosphere. Of that not reflected back, some of the heat is absorbed by the earth’s oceans and then released more slowly. There are several factors in nature that control the heating and cooling processes in the atmosphere and shape the climatic conditions of a given land.

Natural weather patterns, ocean currents and wind patterns, among other variables, are also being influenced by human activities.

Adding greenhouse gases into the atmosphere has been one of the major causes of global warming and climatic changes since the beginning of the industrial age.  

Do you think the global warming is real? If so, what do you think is causing it? Please add your comment on our Facebook post.

Climate of the globe

So, what controls and influences the temperature of the town that you live in? The climate of a given country or continent depends on several factors, given below.

• Geographical location
• Distance from the sea
• Ocean currents
• Direction of prevailing winds
• Topography of the land or land formation
• Altitude
• Greenhouse gases

We experience seasonal changes because of the tilt of the earth and the revolution of the earth around the sun. Because the equator goes across the middle of the earth, there is no deviation in the angle of the sun’s rays striking the equator so the closer you are to the equator, the more constant your climate will be. In contrast, the more you move away from the equator and get closer to the Polar Regions, the cooler it will get.

5 facts about global warming

1. Climate change is a long term shift

The climate of any place changes from time to time, season to season, year to year. But when all the readings are taken into account over a long period of time, say a 100 years, it reveals  true shifts. “Climate” is not only the temperature, but also all other features that make up our daily weather such as rainfall, snowfall, wind, storms, droughts, etc.

Climate change refers to a long-term shift in weather conditions.

2. Global climate is trending warmer

To know the actual global trend of warming or cooling, you have to look at a bigger scale of time. Although you might feel that this year is cooler than last year, it is warmer now than what it was 100 years ago. There is substantial evidence found by scientists that show that the global temperature rise and climatic changes are real.

3. Climate change can be natural

Source: ncdc.noaa.gov used by permission

Human beings have inhabited the earth for a very short period of time compared to the history of the earth. The earth was formed about five billion years ago, and the climate of the Earth has changed throughout its history. For example, the earth was hotter at first, and then it gradually cooled down. It also went through periods of ice ages and warmer interval periods that lasted for hundreds of years.

Changes in the earth’s climate can be explained through science. Before human beings the changes in the past are explained by natural factors such as changes in the sun’s intensity, the earth’s orbit, or the amount of explosive volcanic activity.

4. Humans have influenced the climate changes

Human activities such as a rise in agriculture and the development of cities and factories have contributed to the climate change. Our releasing of large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere has been like covering the globe with a blanket and trapping the heat from escaping into the space.

“Since 1870, global sea levels have risen by about 8 inches.” – dosomething.org

5. Making a difference in dealing with climate change

Government agencies, international communities, and every individual can work together to reduce the greenhouse gas emission, and slow down the global warming process. We could significantly stop or reduce the amount of carbon emission by changing our lifestyle. This means cutting energy consumption and finding alternative sources of renewable clean energy.

Our goal is to raise awareness about the current global warming trends and bring about a significant change in the way that we are impacting the globe. The result of our collective action is sure to reduce the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Please join us in our battle to combat global warming.

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To learn more about global warming and renewable energy sources, watch the replay of our webinar huddle with Dr. Robert W. Howarth, Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at Cornell University

Source: Nourish the Planet

Resources and related articles:

• 10 Thing You Should Do To Save the Planet | Environmental Professionals Network
• How to Convince your Friends that Climate Change is Real | Nourish The Planet
• Effects of Climate change on our Health and Wellbeing | Nourish The Planet
• Promising Alternative Sources of Clean Energy: Wind and Solar | Environmental Professionals Network