Climate Change
Climate change means any significant, long-term change in the expected patterns of average weather of a specific region, or even the whole world over a significant period of time. It describes changes in the state of the atmosphere over time, scales ranging from decades to millions of years. Data shows that earth’s average air temperature has changed by about 1.4 degrees fahrenheit (Citation). Climate change is about abnormal variations into the climate, and the effects of these variations on other parts of the Earth. One example is the melting of the ice caps at the South Pole and North Pole. These changes may take tens, hundreds or perhaps millions of years. The greenhouse effect occurs when certain gases in …show more content…
In 2013, 82% of human-produced greenhouse gas emissions were carbon dioxide (Nasa climate change). This resulted from the burning of fossil fuels, solid waste, trees, wood, and other chemical reactions. The biggest reason is because of the burning of fossil fuels this includes driving your car and nuclear power plants. Another greenhouse gas, methane, comes from landfills, coal mines, oil, natural gas operations, and agriculture. It represented about 9% of total greenhouse gas emissions (Citation). Nitrous oxide (6% of total greenhouse gas emissions) is emitted through the use of nitrogen fertilizers, from burning fossil fuels, and from certain industrial and waste management operations (Citation). Satellites orbiting the earth and other advanced technologies have enabled scientists to collect many different types of information about our planet and its climate on a global scale. This body of data, collected over many years, reveals the signals of a changing climate.The heat-trapping nature of carbon dioxide and other gases was demonstrated in the mid-19th century. Their ability to affect the transfer of infrared energy through the atmosphere is the scientific basis of many instruments flown by NASA. There is no question that increased levels of greenhouse gases must cause the Earth to warm in