The Earth's climate has changed throughout history. Just in the last 650,000 years there have been seven cycles of glacial advance and retreat, with the abrupt end of the last ice age about 7,000 years ago marking the beginning of the modern climate era — and of human civilization. Most of these climate changes are attributed to very small variations in Earth’s orbit that change the amount of solar energy our planet receives.
The current warming trend is of particular significance because most of it is extremely likely (greater than 95 percent probability) to be the result of human activity since the mid-20th century and proceeding at a rate that is unprecedented over decades to millennia.1
Earth-orbiting satellites and other technological advances have enabled scientists to see the big picture, collecting many different types of information about our planet and its climate on a global scale. This body of data, collected over many years, reveals the signals of a changing climate.
The heat-trapping nature of carbon dioxide and other gases was demonstrated in the mid-19th century.2 Their ability to affect the transfer of infrared energy through the atmosphere is the scientific basis of many instruments flown by NASA. There is no question that increased levels of greenhouse gases must cause the Earth to warm in response.
Ice cores drawn from Greenland, Antarctica, and tropical mountain glaciers show that the Earth’s climate responds to changes in greenhouse gas levels. Ancient evidence can also be found in tree rings, ocean sediments, coral reefs, and layers of sedimentary rocks. This ancient, or paleoclimate, evidence reveals that current warming is occurring roughly ten times faster than the average rate of ice-age-recovery warming.3
Reflection
Although it is fair to say that the earth has been heating up and cooling down for as long as time began, there is no denying that CO2 gas (heavily used by humanity) is an major factor in the heat rising we have seen in resent years, these gases when released into the atmosphere harm the ozone layer our planet is surrounding in, this has dramatic effects on weather and climate change for the entire world. It is my opinion that governments should have more control over companies that collect fuels by not allowing them to harvest excessive amounts of oils and gases from under the land and oceans. Furthermore they should invest more money in looking for solutions for the current and future concerns rather then allowing greed to negate there responsibility.
Sources
No comments:
Post a Comment