GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE: RISING SEA LEVELS
The crux of the sea level issue is that it starts very slowly but once it gets going it is practically unstoppable…There is no way I can see to stop this rise, even if we have gone to zero emissions.” —Dr. Stefan Rahmstorf,Reuters, Sep. 30, 2009
Changes in the earth's weather, temperature, wind patterns and rainfall, defines climate change especially changes in the temperature that is brought on by green houses gases and other factors.
Usually, climate change is used interchangeably with another common term, global warming. However, global warming occurs due to increase levels of compounds such as carbon dioxide and other pollutants in the atmosphere that causes a green house effect leading to a gradual increase in the temperature of the earth. Though the two physical phenomena are used interchangeably they are in fact different. Global warming is caused by green house gases and thus leads to climate change (Climate Science Glossary, 2013).
CAUSES OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
These changes in the climate are influenced by two main factors which are, natural and anthropogenic factors (human induced). Today the anthropogenic factors are those responsible for rapid changes in climate that are occurring due to the advance technologies and luxury lifestyle of humans. The main causes associated with climate change are greenhouse gases, land use change and aerosols.
Green house gases
Sunlight is allowed to enter the earth’s atmosphere in order for the heat radiation to be absorbed by the earth’s natural greenhouse gases to keep the earth warm. Without these gases the temperature of the earth will be a terrifying -19°C, but thankfully with these natural greenhouse gases the earth’s average surface temperature is approximately 14°C.
As the years increase, the amount of greenhouses gases have also increased and is still increasing due to the industrial revolution