When changes occur on the earth’s climate system leading to new patterns on whether, either for an extended period or permanently, they are referred to as a climate change. However, these changes might occur naturally, but human activities are the primary cause. When the climate changes are human-induced, they are referred to as an anthropogenic climate change. Such activities include burning of fossils fuels, agricultural land alteration, aerosol releases, and deforestation among others. Consequently, great technological advancement has played a primary role in enhancing the activities in question hence increasing the rate of anthropogenic climate change. As a result, some visible pieces of evidence such as temperature rise, ocean acidification, the rise in sea level, flooding, heat waves, agricultural yield reduction, human health, and increase in groundwater pressure, among others. Additionally, quality of plant, animal and human life has also been affected. Several studies have proved that most of the climate changes experienced are human-driven.
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (n.d.), increased flooding mostly in coastal areas and rising seas are some of the effects of anthropogenic climate change. Although the report indicates that there is an average of eight inches increase of sea level globally, the rise is faster in the Gulf of Mexico and the East Coast region of the United States. High sea levels lead to flooding which can cause death to the area residents, displacement, and diseases among other impacts. Also, floods pose a considerable risk to the properties in the area since they can be easily destroyed (Union of Concerned Scientists, n.d.). Comparatively, the sea levels were lower in previous years, but global warming has recently accelerated its rise. Arguably, human activities that put a vast amount of carbon in the atmosphere, which is the primary cause of global warming. Coal burning, oil, and gas extraction are some of the main activities that increase the amount of carbon in the air.
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Similarly, climate change due to individuals' activities has also impacted oceans negatively. Oceans are good absorbers of carbon dioxide in large amounts hence barring it from getting to the upper atmosphere. Subsequently, the water temperature increases and carbon dioxide concentrations go higher than the average rate, thus resulting in acidic oceans. As a result, aquatic life is negatively affected. Research by World Wildlife Fund (n.d.), indicates that oceans are experiencing a warming change of 1°C, with a potential of it going beyond 1.5°C. Consequently, such temperatures can destroy coral reefs further by 70-90%. The repercussions are not only expected to be felt only on aquatic life as more than half a billion individuals worldwide depend on fish from coral reefs as their primary protein source. Since the pre-industrial era, carbon dioxide atmospheric concentration has increased to 400 parts per million (ppm), from the previous 280 ppm (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2017). Arguably, the high concentration has come as a result of industrial advancement. Although such improvements have played a critical role in making life easier for human beings, it has significantly influenced climate changes.
Further research by Environmental Defense Fund (2018) has shown that heat waves have become more frequent in the current world. The study indicates that the past three years, 2015 to 2018, were the hottest years recorded in history. As a result, there has been an increase in water evaporation hence leading to rising in storms and other weather events such as hurricanes. For instance, the frequency, duration, and intensity of hurricanes in the North Atlantic have increased since the 1980s. Besides, wildfires and droughts have become more intensifying in arid areas. Also, a rise in temperatures has led to a rapid ice melt in glaciers, earth’s snowpack, and fresh and seawater. When polar ice sheets and glaciers melt, they contribute to the rise of sea levels which in return cause floods. However, the temperatures are expected to continue rising due to warming that is induced by human activities, which are imposed on a climate that used to vary naturally (NASA, 2019). Therefore, unless an action is taken, the harsh effects will continue being experienced globally.
Human life and prosperity have also been put at risk by climate change. Agriculture is one of the affected fields since the usual pattern of a climate cycle used to help the farmers know when how and where to grow food (Environmental Defense Fund, 2018). Therefore, when the weather patterns keep on shifting, the rainwater, which is vital for plants’ growth, becomes unpredictable hence affecting plants germination. As a result, the product reduces, therefore, creating inadequate food security. Additionally, pests, weeds, and diseases are more likely to attack the crop thus decreasing the yield (Union of Concerned Scientists, n.d.). Due to the extreme changes in weather events, rain might be too much and end up threatening yields further through floods. Farming is the primary source of livelihood in most third world countries but due to climate change, an individual might end up losing their life due to hunger or suffering from malnutrition diseases. Similarly, the economy of countries that majorly depends on agricultural products for sale is equally affected by small yields. Generally, global warming has disrupted food supply in many countries, and as a result, the cost of living has gone up.
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (n.d.), climate change has essential implications for individuals’ health. For example, high temperatures easily lead to increased air pollution, which is capable of causing and spreading air-borne diseases. Besides, it also led to a prolonged allergy season, thus putting allergic individuals’ health at risk. Heavy rains cause flooding which can lead to an outbreak of water-borne diseases. Likewise, dangerous and frequent heat waves also pose a risk to human health. Polluted regions also form ground-level ozone due to the warm atmosphere, which causes asthma attacks (Union of Concerned Scientists, n.d.). Freshwater being warm creates growth environment for bacteria which are capable of contaminating the drinking water. Therefore, global warming poses a great risk to individuals’ health and therefore preventive measure should be put in place.
Similarly, a report by the Union of Concerned Scientists (2014) has shown that groundwater supplies have increased pressure due to climate change. Groundwater is essential to individuals as 63% of it is used by farmers for agricultural purposes worldwide. Also, 22% of it is used for home and business activities, while 7% of it used for mining and industrial purposes. Additionally, further 2% of it is used for aquaculture, livestock watering, and generation of thermoelectricity (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2014). However, in the recent past, this water source has become unstable due to global warming which has which has emerged as a climate change. Arguably, individuals are currently pumping out more groundwater than it is being replaced, therefore interfering with its natural balance (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2014). Consequently, there are several repercussions as a result of this groundwater overdraft. For example, in future individuals will be forced to drill deeper to reach the groundwater, which in return will require more energy and increased cost. Further effects include potential salinization on the water source in question as a result of seawater intrusion, loss of stream flows and ecosystem degradation.
In the recent past, some trees have been dying and not reseeding due to dry conditions, which are results of global warming. However, human activities such as deforestation and emissions produced by the burning of fossil fuels have been linked to the problem in question (Kemp, 2014). A report indicates that forests situated in the Rocky Mountains are dying in large portions due to climate change. If the trend continues, the world is likely to lose natural forests in hundreds of millions of acres by the year 2027. Also, Engelmann spruce, Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, and Lodgepole pine are likely to be eliminated if no action will be taken against the increasing global warming (Kemp, 2014). Similarly, there will be a spread of bark beetle infestations, more frequent fires that destroy forests, and less snow cover during spring. The loss will cause more problems in the environment hence impacting both human and wildlife negatively.
Individuals are continuously engaging in activities that are unfavorable to the atmosphere. In result, a lot of problems have started arising due to climate changes. Life has become more challenging for both wild animals and humans. More intense and frequent heat waves, droughts, melting glaciers, warming oceans, rising sea levels, and storms have caused harm on both animals and human, properties and habitats destroyed. However, climate changes are expected to continue if the human activities will not be monitored and regulated. Although other natural things have contributed to these changes, social events are the primary cause. Before humans started engaging in industrial activities, there were minimal changes to the climate. When industrialization was introduced in the 18th century, carbon dioxide emissions began taking place hence interfering with the weather climate. Better ways of individuals engaging in their daily activities that do not interfere with the weather change need to be developed. The development will be a better way of saving both human and wildlife and reducing the challenges being experienced currently as a result of global warming.
References
Environmental Defense Fund, (2018). How climate change plunders the planet. Retrieved from https://www.edf.org/climate/how-climate-change-plunders-planet
Kemp R. (2014). Climate Change Destroying Rocky Mountain Forests, Report Says. Retrieved from https://weather.com/science/environment/news/climate-change-rocky-mountain-forests-20140925
NASA (2019). Global Climate Change. How climate is changing. Retrieved from https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/
World Wildlife Fund (n.d). The impact of climate change on wildlife. Retrieved from https://www.wwf.org.uk/effectsofclimatechange#climate-change-and-oceans
Union of Concerned Scientists. (2014). Groundwater and Global Warming in the Western US – An overview. Retrieved from https://www.ucsusa.org/global-warming/science-and-impacts/impacts/groundwater-and-global-warming-western-us-overview
Union of Concerned Scientists, (n.d.). Global warming impacts: The consequences of climate change are already here. Retrieved from https://www.ucsusa.org/our-work/global-warming/science-and-impacts/global-warming-impacts
Union of Concerned Scientists. (2017). How do we know that humans are the major cause of global warming? Retrieved from https://www.ucsusa.org/global-warming/science-and-impacts/science/human-contribution-to-gw-faq.html
