One of the biggest discussions in the current political scene is the matter of climate change. From a hole in the ozone layer being discovered in 1985, to the subject of global warming, and to what is now called climate change, it is clear that the environment has been a matter of concern for quite a long time, but still generates a lot of confusion. Many journalists, politicians, and scientists expect everyone to already know about the subject, as if it was already engraved into the population’s subconscious. In reality, climate change is complicated, and this article will explain it.
Global Warming
First introduced in 1975 by American scientist Wallace Broker (BBC, 2013), the term global warming refers to the increasing temperature in the atmosphere. There is a belief that the decrease of the use of the term global warming was because there was not enough proof to back it up. This misconception was often regurgitated by former US president Donald Trump, who tweeted in 2013: “They changed the name from ‘global warming’ to ‘climate change’ after the term global warming just wasn’t working (it was too cold)!” (Samenow, 2018).
In reality, global warming is definitely still happening: according to NASA,
Since the pre-industrial period, human activities are estimated to have increased Earth’s global average temperature by about 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit), a number that is currently increasing by 0.2 degrees Celsius (0.36 degrees Fahrenheit) per decade. (Global Warming vs. Climate Change, NASA)
They claim it is “unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land.” (Global Warming vs. Climate Change, NASA). Though it would be nice to believe that temperatures are going down and the numerous world conferences have finally paid off, that is not yet the canse.
The real reason for the change in name is that the changes in the planet’s climate go far beyond rising temperatures. In 2005, the National Academies of Sciences put out a pamphlet claiming: “The phrase ‘climate change’ is growing in preferred use to ‘global warming’ because it helps convey that there are changes in addition to rising temperatures” (Samenow, 2018).
What are the other changes?
Human activity has not just made the planet warmer, but completely changed the natural configuration of Earth. Though this sounds dramatic, it is true, and something you can see with your own eyes.
When you take a block of ice out of the freezer and leave it in a warmer room, it melts; the same is happening to the 15 million kilometers squared of glaciers we have on the planet (National Snow & Ice Data Center). The warming temperatures are causing the ice to melt at a rapid pace, and the extra water in the ocean will cause the sea levels to rise, affecting life in uncountable coastal communities. This picture by Nasa shows the difference in Alaska’s Muir Glacier from 1941 to 2004:
If the image isn’t enough, the Extreme Ice Survey is an institute dedicated to photograph the planet’s changing ecosystems, using art and science to shape public perception and inspire change (Extreme Ice Survey). They have put together a time-lapse of photos taken from the same position to show the glaciers thinning throughout time. Those videos are available on this link: http://extremeicesurvey.org.
Another clear example is the effect of warming oceans on coral reefs. As the temperature on the planet rises, its waters rise with it, and that is visible through the bleaching of coral reefs. “When corals experience stress from hot temperatures or pollution, they end their symbiotic relationship with this algae, typically expelling them and turning white” (Gibbens, 2020). THis is something that cannot be denied, and can be seen in many places around the world.
Works Cited
Extreme Ice Survey - A program of Earth Vision Institute - Extreme Ice Survey, http://extremeicesurvey.org. Accessed 9 February 2022.
“A brief history of climate change.” BBC, 20 September 2013, https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-15874560. Accessed 9 February 2022.
Gibbens, Sarah. “The world's coral reefs are dying—here's how scientists plan to save them.” National Geographic, 4 June 2020, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/scientists-work-to-save-coral-reefs-climate-change-marine-parks. Accessed 9 February 2022.
“Global Warming vs. Climate Change.” NASA Climate Change, https://climate.nasa.gov/resources/global-warming-vs-climate-change/. Accessed 9 February 2022.
Hocevar, John. “What's Killing Coral Reefs? And How Can We Stop It?” Greenpeace, 4 April 2016, https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/whats-killing-coral-reefs-and-how-can-we-stop-it/. Accessed 9 February 2022.
Molnia, Bruce F. “Graphic: Dramatic glacier melt – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet.” NASA Climate Change, https://climate.nasa.gov/climate_resources/4/graphic-dramatic-glacier-melt/. Accessed 9 February 2022.
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