Global Climate Change

Climate change is the change in average patterns of natural events or phenomena such as temperature and rainfall over time in a region or around the world. Changes may occur naturally as well as occur due to human activities posing threats to nature.

How Climate Change Occur / Causes of Climate Change

There has been a drastic increase in climate change since the industrial revolution around the globe. Greenhouse gases are the primary cause behind these climatic changes. These gases trap and hold light energy reaching the earth’s surface from the sun, and radiate it in the form of infrared heat. Eventually, this process causes an increase in the average temperature of the atmosphere of our globe. Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrogen oxide (N2O), and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are major greenhouse gas contributors. 

• Carbon DiOxide (CO₂). CO2 is generated due to natural processes (i.e. volcanic eruptions) as well as through human activities (deforestation and burning of fossil fuels).
• Methane (CH4). Methane (CH4) is majorly caused due to the breakdown/decay of organic material. Methane is also produced due to leaks from fossil fuel production and transportation, rice farming, and when livestock animals emit methane from their digestion.
• Nitrous Oxide (N₂O).The major causes behind the production of this gas include farming practices. Nitrous oxide is produced during commercial and organic production and during their use. The burning of fossil fuels is also involved in the release of Nitrous oxide.
• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).   These compounds have been released since the early 1900s through air-conditioning, refrigeration, blowing agents in foams and insulation.

Deforestation is also a major cause of climate change as lighter surfaces (increased due to cutting dark trees) tend to increase the earth’s reflectivity globally

Natural processes also cause climatic changes. These processes explain climatic changes before the industrial revolution. This includes changes in the earth’s orbit. Volcanoes also play a vital role in climatic changes.

Biggest Contributors to Climate Change

According to the November 12th, 2021 edition of the New York Times, rich countries like the US, Canada, Japan, and much of Western Europe account for only 12% of the worldwide population today but are liable for 50% of all the planet-warming greenhouse gases released by fossil fuels and industry over the last 170 years.

Climate Change and Global Warming

Some use these two terms interchangeably, but global warming is just one aspect of climate change, which is an increase in the average temperature of the globe. whereas the study of climate change includes the aftereffects of global warming as well as other factors such as heavy rainfall and exponential melting of glaciers, among others. 

Climate change and migration of species (Ecology, Habitat)

Temperature increases caused by global climate change result in less food, less successful reproduction, and interference with the environment for native wildlife, leading to a lower rate of survival for many species. A warming climate is pushing many animals to migrate toward higher latitudes to stay within their preferred environments.

Solution to Climate change

At an individual level, we can reduce our usage of energy at homes and workplaces in order to reduce energy production, as most of the electricity and heat are powered by coal, oil, and gas. The world’s roads are congested with vehicles running on diesel or petrol. Walking or riding a bicycle will reduce greenhouse emissions. Mass transit buses or trains may be used for long routes to reduce traffic on roads. There are many other steps too that we can take to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases, including recycling, throwing away less food, and eating more green food.

Nobel Prize for work on Climate Change (Physics – 2021)

For physical modelling of the earth’s climate, quantifying variability and reliably predicting global warming, Klaus Hasselmann (oceanographer and climate modeler) and Syukuro Manabe (meteorologist and climatologist) jointly won one half of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2021. The other half of the prize was won by Giogio Parisi for explaining the discovery of the interplay of disorder and fluctuations in physical systems from atomic to planetary scales.

• Syukuro Manabe.    Syukuro Manabe, a Japanese-American meteorologist and climatologist, played a lead role in developing the first climate model by explaining the vertical temperature structure as a response to trace gases emitting radiation. He also explored the fluid dynamics and convection of the atmosphere. He pioneered the use of computers in order to stimulate climate change and natural climate variations. Manabe earned his Doctorate of Science from the University of Tokyo.
• Klaus Hasselmann.        Klaus Hasselmann is German oceanographer and climate modeler. He is the founding director of the Max-Planck Institute for Meteorology (MPI-M), Hamburg. One of his many achievements includes producing a stochastic climate model. Hasselmann is a graduate of the University of Hamburg and earned his Ph.D from the University of Gottingen.

Interesting Facts

• The oceans absorb most of the heat from our planet.
• We’ve lost around 28 trillion tonnes of ice since the mid-1990s.
• Polluting particles such as PM10 or PM2.5 are not only bad for the air but also tend to be good for us as they reflect the sun’s heat rather than trapping it.
• It could become too hot to live in many places by the end of the century.