I guess this is the last blog post I'll write on a topic I am extremely passionate about, that's kind of sad. I have to go out with a really solid post if this is my last one, right? What should I talk about? The sea level having the potential to harm California's coast due to global warming? Or maybe the fact that James Hansen, the guy who is known as the "father of climate change awareness" (you know like Freud is the father of psychoanalysis) is agreeing with the Republican's carbon fee? Or the fact that global warming is thawing the world's frozen tundras. I think the last one works the best, so... that's what I'm going to talk about.
Basically, tundras are the coldest biome, which is defined as the world's major communities, classified according to the predominant vegetation and characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment, on the planet. There are two types of tundras and they are categorized as Arctic and Alpine Tundras. The Arctic Tundra is categorized as a desert like a climate since it gets less than ten inches of rain per year; the plants that live in this environment can only survive in extremely harsh climates. These plants produce energy through photosynthesis instead of using water because the ground of this tundra is completely frozen. The Alpine Tundra is an ecosystem where no trees can survive since their elevation is so high. The elevation begins anywhere from 11,000 to 15,000 feet and have extremely strong winds and cold temperatures,
Now that you know little more about tundras, assuming you knew little about them before... they are now beginning to melt! Isn't that just so cool?
Scientists now believe that global warming has the ability to eliminate these arctic tundras for good because of how negatively greenhouse gasses are affecting the environment. Permafrost melting could drastically change the landscape of the tundras and the plants that are able to survive in the climate at this time. You might be thinking, well how does this drastically changing environment really affect me? I mean, it is just plants that survive in really freezing cold environments, right?
WRONG.
If this permafrost melts, which it is, then more greenhouse gasses become trapped in the Earth's atmosphere. More carbon dioxide would be released into the air because permafrost soil contains about twice the amount of carbon than the atmosphere does. The Earth warming one degree celsius also has the ability to thaw one-quarter of Earth's frozen tundra area. This means that with the Earth constantly warming that permafrost is consistently putting more carbon dioxide into the air.
The reason there is so much carbon in the tundras is because of the dead animals that are preserved under the layers of ice. With this ice melting, humans and animals alike would become more at risk because there are so many dead animals buried underneath the thick layers of ice. It's kind of like coal in the way that this greenhouse gas is made up of dead animals.
The last thing we need in our atmosphere is more greenhouse gasses, seriously. It is actually crazy how much carbon dioxide is put into the air from the human process of breathing, by itself, and we do not need to continue to harm the environment by putting manmade greenhouse gasses into it.
I wish more people would realize what's really happening to the environment right now. You barely see anything on the media anymore about global warming, besides the fact that our president backed us out of the Paris Agreement (ugh). No one really knows that this recent development of the tundras having huge parts of their environment melt is going on because the media isn't giving it the attention it deserves. Sure some articles online are speaking out about this issue, but it's not being shown on television on the news for all to watch and hear.
Our environment is being so damaged by all of the gasses we're putting into the air and there is now a huge risk that a chunk of permafrost as big as India will soon be gone due to the rising temperatures in the air. Small steps like carpooling or taking public transportation could do so much good for the environment and allow the Earth to thrive.
I hope you got something out of these posts I've gotten to share with you. With one last goodbye...
Take care, environment.
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Let's Talk About Environmental Protection
One of the most breathtaking places that I've ever gotten to experience is the Grand Canyon, seriously it is the absolute best part of that State. Honestly, I can walk around that park for hours without getting tired of it; each formation is so unique, how could you not love it?! You know what the best thing about that park is right now? That the budget for protecting the park and the animals that roam it is being slashed! Isn't that just so cool?
If you answered no to the question about it being cool, you would be correct! If none of you know what's going on in politics right now, Donald Trump has decided to try to slash the Environmental Protection Agency's budget. He's not just taking a small amount from their budget, he's trying to slash the budget by, about, 31 percent!
I hope you know what the Environmental Protection Agency is, but if you don't I'll explain it to you. The EPA was officially formed in December of 1970 following Richard Nixon's presidency; it works to reduce environmental risks to humans and animals and they work to create and maintain a healthy environment. While the National Parks Services is what takes care of the, you know, National Parks, the NPS and EPA work hand in hand. They are both working to protect the environment and our health; although they do not do the same thing, they are both being affected by Trump's presidency.
Anyway, Donald Trump and his cabinet don't believe in global warming. He believes it is just a hoax. A HOAX! So disappointing to have made so much progress for global warming within the last eight years just to have it all have the potential to be revoked. I am soooo happy about this, can't you tell?
So right now, this budget cut would not only cut more than 50 EPA programs (which means lost jobs for many people), it would also harm the way the rest of the world looks at us. There are several countries around the world that are working together to fight climate change and Donald Trump is beginning to exclude us from that effort. The U.S. Energy Department was even told to stop using the phrases “climate change”, “emissions reduction” and “Paris Agreement” in all briefings and written communications, on the same day Donald Trump signed an executive order. Like... WHAT?!
Speaking of the Paris Agreement... I'm going to explain it real quick. So this agreement was made so that all nations have a common cause to combat climate change. Guess what, America is no longer a part of that agreement. So cool. China, a developing country, is now the leader of climate change since the U.S. is no longer in the agreement. Although it's terrible that we are no longer in this agreement, it is good to see a country that has a large amount of pollution step up to make a change.
I'm kind of jumping all over the place in this, there's just a lot to talk about with what's going on right now. I'm really upset about the EPAs budget being cut. Honestly, I agree with Van Jones of CNN in an opinion article he wrote that Trump may have signed Earth's death warrant. I just don't understand how or why years of reform for climate change could be torn down so quickly; it's like eight years of development was thrown down the drain.
Sigh. I don't really know what more to say about this besides the fact that I'm extremely ashamed that military has become more important than climate change. The EPA is one of the most important needs for climate change in order to make sure that America progresses into a country that works on the health of the environment. Overall, this is just so terrible. I am genuinely depressed that we are taking ten steps backwards for the environment from where we previously were.
If you answered no to the question about it being cool, you would be correct! If none of you know what's going on in politics right now, Donald Trump has decided to try to slash the Environmental Protection Agency's budget. He's not just taking a small amount from their budget, he's trying to slash the budget by, about, 31 percent!
I hope you know what the Environmental Protection Agency is, but if you don't I'll explain it to you. The EPA was officially formed in December of 1970 following Richard Nixon's presidency; it works to reduce environmental risks to humans and animals and they work to create and maintain a healthy environment. While the National Parks Services is what takes care of the, you know, National Parks, the NPS and EPA work hand in hand. They are both working to protect the environment and our health; although they do not do the same thing, they are both being affected by Trump's presidency.
Anyway, Donald Trump and his cabinet don't believe in global warming. He believes it is just a hoax. A HOAX! So disappointing to have made so much progress for global warming within the last eight years just to have it all have the potential to be revoked. I am soooo happy about this, can't you tell?
So right now, this budget cut would not only cut more than 50 EPA programs (which means lost jobs for many people), it would also harm the way the rest of the world looks at us. There are several countries around the world that are working together to fight climate change and Donald Trump is beginning to exclude us from that effort. The U.S. Energy Department was even told to stop using the phrases “climate change”, “emissions reduction” and “Paris Agreement” in all briefings and written communications, on the same day Donald Trump signed an executive order. Like... WHAT?!
Speaking of the Paris Agreement... I'm going to explain it real quick. So this agreement was made so that all nations have a common cause to combat climate change. Guess what, America is no longer a part of that agreement. So cool. China, a developing country, is now the leader of climate change since the U.S. is no longer in the agreement. Although it's terrible that we are no longer in this agreement, it is good to see a country that has a large amount of pollution step up to make a change.
I'm kind of jumping all over the place in this, there's just a lot to talk about with what's going on right now. I'm really upset about the EPAs budget being cut. Honestly, I agree with Van Jones of CNN in an opinion article he wrote that Trump may have signed Earth's death warrant. I just don't understand how or why years of reform for climate change could be torn down so quickly; it's like eight years of development was thrown down the drain.
Sigh. I don't really know what more to say about this besides the fact that I'm extremely ashamed that military has become more important than climate change. The EPA is one of the most important needs for climate change in order to make sure that America progresses into a country that works on the health of the environment. Overall, this is just so terrible. I am genuinely depressed that we are taking ten steps backwards for the environment from where we previously were.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Are You Sick, or is That Climate Change?
Ugh, I think living in the dorms is really starting to effect my health. I feel like I'm constantly getting sick from living in this small cramped space, I swear. I mean, it has to be the dorm that's getting me sick, right? That or the fact that people are coming to class sick. Maybe it's me, maybe I'm just prone to getting sick since my immune system is so compromised. Or... maybe it's the air I'm breathing in that's making me just a little bit sicker.
The Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health came out with an extensive report on March 15th on the fact that "climate change is harming our health." This report even shows a map to illustrate how one's health is harmed by a particular region of the United States. Here in the northeast we are oh so lucky to only have five things affect us rather than six (too bad we're really not lucky since pretty much every region has at least five expect for the northwest, Alaska, and Hawaii. Oh well).
What affects us is extreme temperature, air pollution, extreme events such as flooding, hurricanes, and storms, tick-borne infections, and mental health and wellbeing. An article in USA Today said that "scientists have warned for years of the potential impacts of climate change on human health," meaning that there have been health concerns from climate change for years. The fossil fuels that are released into the air do not only have an effect on the environment but also us living on this Earth.
The extreme heat can cause heat-related illness and death from heat stroke and dehydration. The Summer where I live in New York used to be bearable when I was younger; I didn't mind sitting outside for long periods of time relaxing. Now, the heat is one of the absolute worst parts of the Summer. By the time July rolled around, New York had only gone under 80 degrees, during the day, once. The average temperature in July of 2014 for New York was 76 degrees and had an average low of 68 degrees compared to the average of 79 degrees and an average low of 71 for July of 2016. That is a crazy increase to have within just two years and can really impact people's health; as stated by the World Health Organization, "an increase in future heat-related mortality is seen as one of the most likely impacts of future anthropogenic climate change." This Summer when you say "this heat is killing me" or "it's so hot, I might die" (I know I say this a lot when it's hot out), those small comments can actually be a real health problem.
Obviously, the extreme temperature isn't the only thing to affect people, as previously stated, it just happens to be the most well-known effect of climate change. I mean, it is called global warming for a reason. Everything else can be summed up pretty easily compared to the long explanation for extreme temperature.
Air pollution can affect anybody, but it mainly harms people with preexisting respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic lung diseases. Air pollution is pretty self-explanatory, the air quality is terrible and is slowly affecting everybody's health. Extreme events can injury people and even kill them if the event is bad enough; between the years 1980 and 2000, there was an estimated 250,000 deaths from floods associated with cyclones and storm surges. Tick-borne infections come from more and more ticks carrying Lyme Disease. This disease can only be transmitted through Ixodes ticks, or deer ticks; they have been more and more common in the north and east part of the United States over the past few years.
The last thing that affects us in the northeast is mental health and wellbeing. I'm sure at this point in your life you've heard the term seasonal depression at least once; this basically means that the wintertime months can cause people to become more depressed in the colder months of the year. Since it gets darker earlier in the winter, as well, the lack of light tends to add to the depression people may have during these months of time. The extreme weather events can also severely stress a person out and can lead to consequences such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and an increase in suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Extreme weather can have a serious effect on mental strain since the events can be so traumatic to the person experiencing it.
If you didn't think climate change could get any worse for us... well, here's your proof. People have known for years that global warming has been affecting our health, but this extensive report really illustrated how terrible it is to us. I get sick all the time, but after this I really have to sit back and think to myself, "am I still sick just because that's how my body is, or is it the fact that the air I'm breathing in is keeping me sick?"
The extreme heat can cause heat-related illness and death from heat stroke and dehydration. The Summer where I live in New York used to be bearable when I was younger; I didn't mind sitting outside for long periods of time relaxing. Now, the heat is one of the absolute worst parts of the Summer. By the time July rolled around, New York had only gone under 80 degrees, during the day, once. The average temperature in July of 2014 for New York was 76 degrees and had an average low of 68 degrees compared to the average of 79 degrees and an average low of 71 for July of 2016. That is a crazy increase to have within just two years and can really impact people's health; as stated by the World Health Organization, "an increase in future heat-related mortality is seen as one of the most likely impacts of future anthropogenic climate change." This Summer when you say "this heat is killing me" or "it's so hot, I might die" (I know I say this a lot when it's hot out), those small comments can actually be a real health problem.
Obviously, the extreme temperature isn't the only thing to affect people, as previously stated, it just happens to be the most well-known effect of climate change. I mean, it is called global warming for a reason. Everything else can be summed up pretty easily compared to the long explanation for extreme temperature.
Air pollution can affect anybody, but it mainly harms people with preexisting respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic lung diseases. Air pollution is pretty self-explanatory, the air quality is terrible and is slowly affecting everybody's health. Extreme events can injury people and even kill them if the event is bad enough; between the years 1980 and 2000, there was an estimated 250,000 deaths from floods associated with cyclones and storm surges. Tick-borne infections come from more and more ticks carrying Lyme Disease. This disease can only be transmitted through Ixodes ticks, or deer ticks; they have been more and more common in the north and east part of the United States over the past few years.
The last thing that affects us in the northeast is mental health and wellbeing. I'm sure at this point in your life you've heard the term seasonal depression at least once; this basically means that the wintertime months can cause people to become more depressed in the colder months of the year. Since it gets darker earlier in the winter, as well, the lack of light tends to add to the depression people may have during these months of time. The extreme weather events can also severely stress a person out and can lead to consequences such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and an increase in suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Extreme weather can have a serious effect on mental strain since the events can be so traumatic to the person experiencing it.
If you didn't think climate change could get any worse for us... well, here's your proof. People have known for years that global warming has been affecting our health, but this extensive report really illustrated how terrible it is to us. I get sick all the time, but after this I really have to sit back and think to myself, "am I still sick just because that's how my body is, or is it the fact that the air I'm breathing in is keeping me sick?"
Friday, February 17, 2017
But what really is a greenhouse gas?
Well, I guess to start this off I should probably tell you what a greenhouse gas is. I'm sure most of you know, it's a well spoken about topic and I feel like it's something everyone should know about at this point in their lives. The definition of a greenhouse gas, according to whatsyourimpact, is "a group of compounds that are able to trap heat in the atmosphere." This basically means that these gases are emissions that make the Earth much warmer than it should be.
Whilst a lot of greenhouse gases are the fault of humans, there are some gases that can't be controlled. Carbon dioxide is a chemical that occurs during the natural process of respiration; we breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Now, this is a process that we can't control since we need it to live.
This is not the only way carbon dioxide is released into the air and it, actually, happens to be the largest greenhouse gas created by human activity. If that comes as a surprise to you... it shouldn't. We do so much to the Earth that involves the use of this particular greenhouse gas, it's kind of ridiculous that we haven't found alternatives to the use of CO2 at this point. You'd think that since people have come to realize that this gas is negatively effecting the environment and us that this would lessen the use of it. Hm... nope.
Some CO2 emissions that are released into the air are from fossil fuels, land use changes (natural changes), and natural sources. You know when you're driving and you see a huge mound of smoke being released into the air from one source? I have to see one every time I drive to the mall I go to on Long Island, so I'm sure you've seen at least one of these buildings in your lifetime too. Each of these emissions listed are all manmade sources of CO2 emission; the burning of fossil fuels is the biggest unnatural source of carbon dioxide in our environment.
Fossil fuels come from, it's going to sound really weird, decomposed dead animals and plants from hundreds of millions of years ago. These decomposed plants and animals eventually formed the fossil fuels that we use today. Fossil fuels make up coal, natural gas, and oil. Coal (fun fact: it's the most abundant fossil fuel in the world!) is used in the use of electricity and in those buildings I was talking about before, you know the ones with the smoke coming out of them. Basically, coal is really bad for the environment because of the steam that is released from the coals when it's used. Carbon dioxide is not the only greenhouse gas released into the air from coal; the burning of this fossil fuel also releases sulfur dioxide, Nitrogen oxides and ash (so it's really bad!!!).
Gas and oil are pretty similar for the fact that they're usually found near one another underneath the Earth's surface. Natural gas that is dug up is usually used in heating/electricity; it's what's used in order to allow you to make some food on your stove and other things in your home. The industry also uses natural gases (surprising, I know) in order to run their factories that are killing the environment. Oil, or petroleum, is used to create gasoline. Whenever we decide to drive or take an uber somewhere, I mean they really are so convenient, we are releasing fossil fuels into the air.
A huge reason why many car manufacturers are switching to electric cars is to stop people from releasing gasoline into the air. There's a lot of debate between people on whether electric cars really are better for the environment or not. I mean, remember what I said before, these gases are used to create electricity. So, basically, more CO2 is going to be released into the atmosphere since electric is made by using a greenhouse gas.
I've only touched on some of the greenhouse gases that are emitted into the air and most of them are through human error; over 85% of the greenhouse gases that are released into the air by humans are fossil fuels. We are killing the atmosphere through the use of electricity, driving, and the industrial buildings that are all over the world.
I'm sure humans will eventually find a way to stop the use of greenhouse gases that we can control, but until then the environment will continue to suffer.
Whilst a lot of greenhouse gases are the fault of humans, there are some gases that can't be controlled. Carbon dioxide is a chemical that occurs during the natural process of respiration; we breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Now, this is a process that we can't control since we need it to live.
This is not the only way carbon dioxide is released into the air and it, actually, happens to be the largest greenhouse gas created by human activity. If that comes as a surprise to you... it shouldn't. We do so much to the Earth that involves the use of this particular greenhouse gas, it's kind of ridiculous that we haven't found alternatives to the use of CO2 at this point. You'd think that since people have come to realize that this gas is negatively effecting the environment and us that this would lessen the use of it. Hm... nope.
Some CO2 emissions that are released into the air are from fossil fuels, land use changes (natural changes), and natural sources. You know when you're driving and you see a huge mound of smoke being released into the air from one source? I have to see one every time I drive to the mall I go to on Long Island, so I'm sure you've seen at least one of these buildings in your lifetime too. Each of these emissions listed are all manmade sources of CO2 emission; the burning of fossil fuels is the biggest unnatural source of carbon dioxide in our environment.
Fossil fuels come from, it's going to sound really weird, decomposed dead animals and plants from hundreds of millions of years ago. These decomposed plants and animals eventually formed the fossil fuels that we use today. Fossil fuels make up coal, natural gas, and oil. Coal (fun fact: it's the most abundant fossil fuel in the world!) is used in the use of electricity and in those buildings I was talking about before, you know the ones with the smoke coming out of them. Basically, coal is really bad for the environment because of the steam that is released from the coals when it's used. Carbon dioxide is not the only greenhouse gas released into the air from coal; the burning of this fossil fuel also releases sulfur dioxide, Nitrogen oxides and ash (so it's really bad!!!).
Gas and oil are pretty similar for the fact that they're usually found near one another underneath the Earth's surface. Natural gas that is dug up is usually used in heating/electricity; it's what's used in order to allow you to make some food on your stove and other things in your home. The industry also uses natural gases (surprising, I know) in order to run their factories that are killing the environment. Oil, or petroleum, is used to create gasoline. Whenever we decide to drive or take an uber somewhere, I mean they really are so convenient, we are releasing fossil fuels into the air.
A huge reason why many car manufacturers are switching to electric cars is to stop people from releasing gasoline into the air. There's a lot of debate between people on whether electric cars really are better for the environment or not. I mean, remember what I said before, these gases are used to create electricity. So, basically, more CO2 is going to be released into the atmosphere since electric is made by using a greenhouse gas.
I've only touched on some of the greenhouse gases that are emitted into the air and most of them are through human error; over 85% of the greenhouse gases that are released into the air by humans are fossil fuels. We are killing the atmosphere through the use of electricity, driving, and the industrial buildings that are all over the world.
I'm sure humans will eventually find a way to stop the use of greenhouse gases that we can control, but until then the environment will continue to suffer.
Friday, February 3, 2017
Is Climate Change Real?
Yes.
In short, climate change is very, very real. Although our new president doesn't believe in climate change (for some reason that I will never understand), I can promise you that it is extremely real. Whether you'd like to deny it or not, climate change is one of the biggest problems in society today.
Climate change doesn't only effect the United States, it effects entire world. Hence the term "global climate change." The world has heated up, literally, in the past hundred years. In 2014, the earth’s surface temperature was around 0.74º Celsius (about 33º Fahrenheit) warmer than the average was in the twentieth century. I know that doesn't sound like much and I know one hundred years sounds like a hell of a long time, but 33º is such a large change from where the average used to be. I don't know about you, but I seriously think that that is one crazy statistic.
Evidence of climate change isn't only shown by the fact that the world has gotten much warmer, on average, than it used to be. The polar ice caps are melting, people! In 2009, the minimum level of ice cover in the Arctic was 24% which is significantly low the past average for the Arctic. Melting of the ice caps is bound to continue since the average has gone down so much in less than ten years. If you step back and think about the statistic I just presented, how crazy is that. Climate change is destroying our environment so much that we're impacting a place where only 4,000,000 people live, 4,000,000 out of the almost 7.5 billion people living on this planet today. That is less than 00% of the population!
The Arctic has been effected by climate change much more than the Antarctic has, although the Antarctic Peninsula has warmed 2.4º Celsius since 1950. The Antarctic Peninsula is just north of Antarctica, but is not the only part of the Antarctic to be effected. The ice sheet on the west Antarctic is also losing mass. This occurrence shows how much the warmer water in the ocean has effected the polar ice caps on the earth. Although the Antarctic has not been in as much danger as the Arctic has, it is still suffering from climate change.
Now, I'm sure you know that we're not the only thing effecting climate change on Earth. The sun is also effecting the slow-paced rise in temperature... but honestly that's partially our fault too, so... oops? There is something in the atmosphere that I'm sure most of you have heard of at this point in your life. This "thing" is called the ozone layer. If you're not entirely sure what the Ozone Layer does, I'll explain it in a short and concise way. The ozone layer protects us, and the Earth, from the sun's ultraviolet radiation. Now, here's another tidbit of information about the wonderful ozone layer that allows us to survive with the sun beating down on us.
WE MADE A HUGE HOLE IN IT.
You know how people have said that using products like hairspray and spray deodorant are bad for the environment? Well, it's true. Although the aerosol cans no longer harm the environment like they used to, the damage has been done. From the 1920s all the way up to the 1970s, a chemical called chlorofluorocarbon (also known as CFC) was used to allow the product to be sprayed from the can and into the air. CFC and other man-made chemicals are a huge cause of the lovely hole we have in our ozone layer, today. This hole, obviously, does not help with climate change since the sun's UV rays are now directly heating Earth up rather than a bit of protection from this layer in the atmosphere.
I hope you noticed how I said "it's true" and not "it was true" that these cans harm the environment. Although they no longer have the same effect they used to, these products still contribute to global warming. Since carbon is released from the product every time it's used, greenhouse gases are released into the air.
I don't know how, or why, people still deny climate change... but the evidence is pretty substantial. Climate change is real. Climate change is a problem. And climate change can no longer be denied by those who think it was made up. Where did anyone even get the idea that climate change was made up? Anyway...
Climate change is real.
In short, climate change is very, very real. Although our new president doesn't believe in climate change (for some reason that I will never understand), I can promise you that it is extremely real. Whether you'd like to deny it or not, climate change is one of the biggest problems in society today.
Climate change doesn't only effect the United States, it effects entire world. Hence the term "global climate change." The world has heated up, literally, in the past hundred years. In 2014, the earth’s surface temperature was around 0.74º Celsius (about 33º Fahrenheit) warmer than the average was in the twentieth century. I know that doesn't sound like much and I know one hundred years sounds like a hell of a long time, but 33º is such a large change from where the average used to be. I don't know about you, but I seriously think that that is one crazy statistic.
Evidence of climate change isn't only shown by the fact that the world has gotten much warmer, on average, than it used to be. The polar ice caps are melting, people! In 2009, the minimum level of ice cover in the Arctic was 24% which is significantly low the past average for the Arctic. Melting of the ice caps is bound to continue since the average has gone down so much in less than ten years. If you step back and think about the statistic I just presented, how crazy is that. Climate change is destroying our environment so much that we're impacting a place where only 4,000,000 people live, 4,000,000 out of the almost 7.5 billion people living on this planet today. That is less than 00% of the population!
The Arctic has been effected by climate change much more than the Antarctic has, although the Antarctic Peninsula has warmed 2.4º Celsius since 1950. The Antarctic Peninsula is just north of Antarctica, but is not the only part of the Antarctic to be effected. The ice sheet on the west Antarctic is also losing mass. This occurrence shows how much the warmer water in the ocean has effected the polar ice caps on the earth. Although the Antarctic has not been in as much danger as the Arctic has, it is still suffering from climate change.
Now, I'm sure you know that we're not the only thing effecting climate change on Earth. The sun is also effecting the slow-paced rise in temperature... but honestly that's partially our fault too, so... oops? There is something in the atmosphere that I'm sure most of you have heard of at this point in your life. This "thing" is called the ozone layer. If you're not entirely sure what the Ozone Layer does, I'll explain it in a short and concise way. The ozone layer protects us, and the Earth, from the sun's ultraviolet radiation. Now, here's another tidbit of information about the wonderful ozone layer that allows us to survive with the sun beating down on us.
WE MADE A HUGE HOLE IN IT.
You know how people have said that using products like hairspray and spray deodorant are bad for the environment? Well, it's true. Although the aerosol cans no longer harm the environment like they used to, the damage has been done. From the 1920s all the way up to the 1970s, a chemical called chlorofluorocarbon (also known as CFC) was used to allow the product to be sprayed from the can and into the air. CFC and other man-made chemicals are a huge cause of the lovely hole we have in our ozone layer, today. This hole, obviously, does not help with climate change since the sun's UV rays are now directly heating Earth up rather than a bit of protection from this layer in the atmosphere.
I hope you noticed how I said "it's true" and not "it was true" that these cans harm the environment. Although they no longer have the same effect they used to, these products still contribute to global warming. Since carbon is released from the product every time it's used, greenhouse gases are released into the air.
I don't know how, or why, people still deny climate change... but the evidence is pretty substantial. Climate change is real. Climate change is a problem. And climate change can no longer be denied by those who think it was made up. Where did anyone even get the idea that climate change was made up? Anyway...
Climate change is real.
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