Why Does Climate Change?
ASSIGNMENT ONE WHY DOES CLIMATE CHANGE? The average, long-range weather or state of the atmosphere of any place is known as climate. Climate is defined by temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind, cloudiness, and snow cover. The study of climate is known as climatology. There are different types of climate types for different locations around the world. They are Tropical, Desert, Alpine, Subtropical, Temperate, and Polar. Some carry warm temperatures, and some cold. There are many factors that can change climate. The irregular distribution of land and water surfaces is a major control of climate. Prevailing winds and belts of high and low pressure, and latitude all play a major role in climate and its constant changing. The climate for a region depends mainly on the yearly cycle of its temperature and moisture; this can dramatically change a region's climate. There are many other factors that play roles in climate depending on where the location is. Such as wind direction, seasonal humidity, location with respect to oceans and mountains, and cyclone activity. Even though there are so many factors to consider with climate, climate very slowly changes over time. There are many main types of climate change that are affecting our world. Some of them are Global warming, Ozone Depletion, and El Nino. These all affect our environment and have an impact on the human
Causes of Global Climate Change
Causes of Global Climate Change Long term climate change can be influenced by either external or internal factors. An example of an external factor is solar output. This is energy that comes from the sun. This energy changes over time with measurements made in the 1980s showing that total amount of solar energy reaching earth has decreased by 0.1%. Although this is doesn't seem like much, if it continued over a long period of time, it could influence the global climate. It is predicted that a 1% change in solar output could make temperatures rise or fall by between 0.5 and 1°C. It has also been suggested that the activity of sunspots on the sun's surface affects solar output. There is also evidence to suggest that this was the reason for the little ice age. Another example of an external factor that affects global climate is orbital geometry. Variations in the Earth's orbit and tilt (called the Milankovitch variations) seem to have a link with climatic change. Colder, glacial periods have occurred when the Earth's orbit is circular and warmer periods when it is more elliptical. The tilt of the Earth's axis will also vary over time from 21.5° and 24.5°. The greater the angle of tilt, the hotter the summers are and colder winters are. When the angle of tilt is greater the earth usually experiences warmer periods. Another kind of factor is an internal factor. An
Is Climate Change caused by humans?
Introduction Climate Change is a term used to describe all of the inconsistencies in climate on the Earth. Nowadays, however, the term climate change is generally used when referring to changes in our climate which have been identified since the early part of the 1900's1. The main observations made when looking at climate change are changes in rainfall, wind speeds, sea levels and extreme weather conditions. These are normally affected always affected by temperature changes. Scientist have seen rises in the level of CO2 and in temperature over the last decade and they believe this is what is making climate change. ''Global mean surface temperatures have risen by 0.5-1.0°F since the late 19th century. The 20th century's 10 warmest years all occurred in the last 15 years of the century. Of these, 1998 was the warmest year on record. The snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere and floating ice in the Arctic Ocean have decreased. Globally, sea level has risen 4-8 inches over the past century. Worldwide precipitation over land has increased by about one percent. The frequency of extreme rainfall events has increased throughout much of the United States.2 Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases are likely to accelerate the rate of climate change. Scientists expect that the average global surface temperature could rise 1-4.5°F (0.6-2.5°C) in the next fifty years, and
The Human and Physical Causes of Climate Change
The Human and Physical causes of Climate Change There are several different occurrences that cause climate to change, whether they are enforced by humans or the natural environment. These causes can be divided into having a long term or short term effect on the climate. An example of a long term physical cause is the Milankovitch cycles which can take place within a period of 20,000 to 1 million years, involving the earth altering on its axis or its orbit around the sun. This consists of how much solar power different parts of the earth receive. This corresponds with the number of ice ages throughout the earth's history and has had effects on seasonality and the distribution of energy over the earth's surface. Extracting ice cores from either Greenland or Antarctica allows scientists to research further into the Milankovitch theory. Plate tectonics also play a role in causing climate to change as they move different areas of land into separate climatic regions. The Pangaea theory suggests that when the world first evolved, it was one big land mass and over a period of millions of years, plate tectonics divided it into different continents spread all over the world where climatic conditions vary. As opposed to land moving apart, there is now evidence that continents are moving together but at millimetres per year. The constant change in plate tectonics could result in more
Climate change
Climate Change Presentation - Take 2 Conflict * Main points of conflict are between developed and developing countries. * Developed: US, Japan, UK. Developing: China, India, South Africa. * The reason there is conflict is that developed countries are now trying to limit the rest of the world's energy use to help combat global warming. The developing countries argue that it isn't fair considering the developed countries have already done the damage with their energy consumption and that they should be able to get on the same level. Russia vs. The West * European governments have been told to plan for an era of conflict over energy resources, with global warming likely to trigger a dangerous contest between Russia and the west for the vast mineral riches of the Arctic. * A report from the EU's top two foreign policy officials to the 27 heads of government gathering in Brussels for a summit this week warns that "significant potential conflicts" are likely in the decades ahead as a result of "intensified competition over access to, and control over, energy resources". * The seven-page report, obtained by the Guardian, has been written by Javier Solana, the EU's foreign policy supremo, and Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the commissioner for external relations. It predicts that global warming will precipitate security issues for Europe, ranging from energy wars to mass migration,
RESPONSES OF COMPANIES IN RESPECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUE
RESPONSES OF COMPANIES IN RESPECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUE AN ESSAY ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN BUSINESS (IBO 3004) DECEMBER 2008 INTRODUCTION The industrial revolution of the eighteenth century has brought about increase in the consumption of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other green house gases in the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels and the cutting down of forest (Deforestation). These emissions have thickened the greenhouse blanket cause gasses to be trapped and the surface of the earth temperature to rise slightly. The resultant effect of this is climate change which has been on the rise and as such becomes a major source of global. Business organisation has not been left out of this concern because no business operates in isolation of the environment. The organisation's general environment consists of broad trends in the context within which a firm operates that can have an impact on its quest to gain competitive advantage. The success of any firm is rooted in environmental analysis to identify market opportunities and avoid the risk or threats posed by the market environment. A firm must therefore ensure that it is adapted to the need of the market place than that of its competitors in other to gain strategic competitive positioning. There must therefore be an in depth understanding and analysis of this environment in order to gain competitive
Ethical Clarification of the Climate Change Debate
Ethical Clarification of the Climate Change Debate It is clear that neither scientists, economists, environmentalists nor politicians can agree, even with those in their chosen fields of expertise, on whether or not climate change is a real problem. Regardless of the answer to this question - whether or not climate change exists - there are ethical consequences of any course of action or inaction we choose to take. While the debate over climate change may seem to be more scientific, rather than ethical in nature, there are underlying ethical convictions which serve to further complicate the issue. In order to understand the role that ethics play in this controversy we use a five-step method of ethical clarification as it is important in understanding the debate as a whole. Explanation of the basic arguments put forth by each side is the first step towards a better understanding of the issue. Those who believe that climate change is indeed a threat claim that human activity is to blame for the increase in atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases which have intensified and will continue to this effect (Dotto, 1). They advocate immediate action in order to avoid further climate change and adapt to the already altered environment (Dotto, 22). Though most environmentalists seem to subscribe to this viewpoint, it is interesting that both politicians and scientists have found both
Opportunities and Applied Possibilities for Positive Social Change on Climate Change
Climate Change Climate Change: Opportunities and Applied Possibilities for Positive Social Change on Climate Change There is no doubt that the global warming and climate change is an important social issue affecting human kind today. As identified in our earlier topic, global warming and climate change have resulted in negative impacts on our environment. Over the last three decades, there have been notable changes in temperature levels and weather patterns. Global warming is caused by increased emission of harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The current changes in climatic patterns are mainly caused by our social activities and practices. These are not limited to our rapid globalization, urbanization and industrialization of the global society (Adger, Arnell & Tompkins, 2005). Since this issue of climate change is a major problem today, different governments and societies have implemented a number of possibilities and opportunities towards positive social changes in order to deal with the menace. There are several incentives and approaches which have been encouraged and promoted to deal with the problem. It is obvious that climate change results in adverse environmental effects. There are increased efforts and initiatives being promoted by governments and business models to deal with the social challenges towards climate change. To begin with,
Impacts of Climate Change on Loggerhead Turtles
The Impact of Climate Change on Loggerhead Sea Turtles on the Atlantic Coast of Florida Lauren DeGeorge, Kristin Spiess, Chelsea Linman, Jake Fitzgerald, Kate Forsmark , & El Lorenz \ Introduction Loggerhead sea turtles are an iconic beach reptile. In the face of climate change there is a possibility that this species could be lost without proper mitigation techniques. Loggerheads rely on temperature of both water and air and the availability of beaches in order to properly reproduce, nest, provide nutrients to costal ecosystems, and continue life in the ocean functioning as an important species in sea grass, coral reef, and beach ecosystems (Hawkes, L. A., Broderick, A. C., Godfrey, M. H., & Godley, J., 2007, Wilson, E. G., Miller, K. L., Allison, D., & Magliocca, M., 2003). Climate change threatens Loggerhead sea turtles reproduction processes because of changes in sea temperature, increased storm activity and sea level rise. This can be prevented, however; with proper mitigation measures which include educating the public, continued practice of current conservation methods and increasing the amount of protected shorelines. The purpose of this study is to provide an overview and analysis of the current literature and to present an estimate of the future populations Loggerhead sea turtles in a changing climate without mitigation. We will also provide a suggestion of the
Climate change and its impacts.
THE SUBJECT OF THIS PROJECT OPTION #5 CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS In the past 10 years a great deal of scientific evidence that earth is undergoing significant climate change due to what has been called "global warming". The climate weather change is expected to result in primary environmental impacts such as changing weather patterns (increased rainfall, storms, draughts) as well as a rise in sea levels due to melting of the polar icecap. The secondary impacts will be felt by people living in the affected regions - land use patterns will change and people will have to adjust to new environmental conditions. Some regions, of course, will benefit and some will be adversely affected. The state will have to be able to analyze the situation, plan for a new future, and mobilize resources. For this project assess some of the likely impacts on Brunei Darussalam - especially the possibility of a 0.5 to 1.0 meter rise in sea levels. What can be done in Brunei Darussalam to plan for and alleviate any negative impacts? International efforts have been underway (international meetings and agreements) to try to reverse the global warming trend by reducing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. What has been the Brunei Darussalam government's policy in this regard? Examine their involvement in the international negotiations. INTRODUCTION WHAT IS "GLOBAL
