Controversy: The Effects Of Global Warming
The effects of what global warming is doing to our client has been a question debated for many years. There has been considerable evidence that global warming has been linked to the increase of extreme weather events that could cause widespread devastation across the world. The damages that could be caused by these events could cost millions to even billions of dollars and could be even worse for third world countries that do not have the infrastructure to withstand these powerful events. The extreme weather events that can be caused by global warming can be devastating to our society and others around the world. The controversy surrounding this issue is that global warming can not be the only direct cause to increase these extreme weather
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events. A personal experience for me is that here in Florida, my home state, we have seen an increase in the amount of tornadoes that occur on an annual basis. Especially in 2016 where was have seen over 20 tornadoes in just the first two months of the year (National Weather Service, 2016). Compared to 2015 where the state of florida only saw about 20 tornadoes touch down for the entire year (National Weather Service, 2015). However this can be linked to the strong El Nino in the pacific ocean which causes the subtropical jet stream to dip farther south bringing with it the chance of more severe weather (Sean Breslin, 2015). But the question still remains is this strong El Nino and severe weather in Florida when the state is suppose to be in the dry season all linked to the increase of temperature across the entire planet.
To say that global warming is the cause of the increase in extreme weather would be the easiest explanation, but is there something else that the researchers of today are not taking note of. There is no doubt that there is an increase in global temperatures, with January of 2016 being the hottest January on record (Brian Kahn, 2016), the evidence is there that the Earth is heating up, but could this just be a normal process that the Earth has every couple of decades that causes these extreme weather events. Now while this might not seem like the most logical of explanations there are some researchers who believe this to be true. While this might be a far fetched reality the possibility is still out there and only time will tell if a global cooling is in the future for our planet.
Now while the opposing argument to global warming and climate change might be a little far fetched, the fact is that people still believe that climate change is not upon us even with the overwhelming amount of evidence that has been appearing in recent years. There is no other explanation to why January was the hottest on record than that a form of change in our planet's climate is occurring (Brian Kahn, 2016). Now these abnormal temperatures were occurring during winter month, what would happen if something like this were to happen during the summer months of June and July? An extreme heat wave could be upon us in the upcoming summer months all because of climate change and the global warming of the planet. An extreme heat wave in the summer months is one form of extreme weather that can be caused by the inevitable changes of global warming. To take a look on the historical data of heat waves we must look at record high temperatures that have taken place over the last couple of decades. Since the 1950s the ratio between record high and record low temperatures has been ever growing larger (Climate Communication, 2009). This is meaning that both the low and high temperature records are higher than ever before for a given year in the 2000s. For example in the 1950s the ratio between record low and record high temperatures was 1.09 to 1, however in the 2000s it was 2.04 to 1 (Climate Communication, 2009). Now this dramatic increase is not sudden, it has been taken place since the 1950s and 1960s with each year after the ratio becoming larger and larger. This increase is evidence that the climate change taking place is having a dramatic effect on our global temperatures which might eventually lead to an extreme increase in temperatures over a short period of time. This can lead to costly damages to countries that this extreme event might effect, such as water shortages, and power outages because of the extreme heat. This could lead to many lives lost and cost millions and even billions of dollars for the countries affected.
While the dramatic increase in temperature might be the most obvious concern of climate change and global warming, the fact is that this temperature increase can have a dramatic effect on other deadly weather events. One of these events that are especially common across the United States are tornadoes, more specifically across the southeastern United States according to a new model study (Becky Oskin, 2015). The heart of a normal tornado season is during the spring months of March, April, and May when the temperature and humidity are favorable for tornadic development (Becky Oskin, 2015). Now while the increase in temperature from global warming will not have a direct cause on the development of tornadoes, it will however have a cause changes in the jet stream that runs across America and fuels severe weather which includes tornadoes (Becky Oskin, 2015). This will cause tornadoes to occur more often at other times of year as well as possibly stronger tornadoes that usually only occur during the spring months and peak of tornado season. This could also change the peak of tornado season as well, instead of being in May it could be in March along with a slight increase in the amount of tornadoes in April as well (Becky Oskin, 2015). The specific reasons why this could especially target the southeastern part of the United States is because that the factors that create tornadoes will move more towards the Ohio River Valleys, Mississippi, and Tennessee (Becky Oskin, 2015). All of this is driven by climate change which could greatly impact where and when it is most likely to see deadly tornadoes in the United States.
While an increase in the future of the amount of tornadoes seen in the United States might be upon us because of climate change, there has since been no evidence to show this in recent years (Robert Kunzig, 2013). There is currently no historical data that shows that an increase in tornadoes is happening and there also isn’t a way to link it to global warming. While it could be a possibility in the future it doesn’t look as such with the current climate change that is occurring with the world's weather patterns. There is even some evidence that this climate change is suppressing the amount of tornadoes that are occurring, especially in the amount of stronger tornadoes such as EF4 and EF5 tornadoes (Robert Kunzig, 2013). This could also be linked with the lack of evidence that tornadoes are becoming more damaging (Robert Kunzig, 2013). If in fact that global warming is suppressing tornado formation and strength, they would in turn become less damaging to life and property in the future if such a trend is to continue. Now this does not mean that the storms in general are becoming weaker there are other factors that seem to be on the increase because of the current climate change. The increase in severe thunderstorms can lie with increasing severe hail and straight-line winds instead of tornadoes because of the effects of climate change (Robert Kunzig, 2013). While tornadoes might not be on the increase currently this could all change if more dramatic changes are to occur with global warming and they could have deadly effects on the lives and property of the people of the United States and around the world.
The term Superstorm was not very common until the 2012 Atlantic Hurricane season.
In 2012 Superstorm Sandy became the largest Atlantic storm on record covering over 2 million square miles (The World Science Festival, 2015). Was this so called superstorm created because of dramatic climate change that has occurred over the recent years. If this is the case storms much worse could be in store and Superstorm Sandy can be the first of many superstorms that could impact not just the United States but the rest of the world that could already be affected by Hurricanes and Typhoons. One of the most destructive parts of these storms will be the storm surge, and with both the increase of sea levels and the strength of a storm these storm surges can become even more destructive (Joe Romm, 2012). Storm surge already causes costly damage to the coasts of the United States and other nations affected by storms such as these, but climate change can cause these to be even more destructive and cost more money for the nations they affect. This storm surge might also effect the more populated area because of the unusual path of these storms that has been seen in Superstorm Sandy and that could possibly be seen with future Superstorms (Joe Romm, 2012). Currently most storms in both Atlantic and Pacific Hurricane and Typhoon seasons drift out to sea only effecting shipping lanes, but with climate change wind patterns can change dramatically directing more storms towards the mainland of countries affected by Hurricanes and Typhoons. The effects of global warming can have drastic effects on the path, strength, and formation of so called superstorms and can greatly affect people that are in the paths of these possible future
storms.
Now while the evidence is more so there for the future formation of superstorms, there are still some reports that want to go against this claim. Some claim that sandy was a freak incident and that the core problem is not climate change but just the storm itself (The World Science Festival, 2015). This is inferring that people should worry about storms themselves than climate change as a whole. While preparing for storms is important I think that people should look at ways to take on climate change as a whole in order to help maybe decrease the amount of superstorms in the future.
Is the extent of global warming and climate change all explainable by normal events in our planet's climate or is something occurring that people have caused and causing these extreme weather events. A common explanation could be El Nino for most of these extreme weather events but it is clear that something bigger is going on and a change is taking place. The extent of global warming affecting extreme weather events is far reaching and could possibly change the way weather works on our planet. Ranging from extreme heat waves, an increase of strong tornadoes, and the possibility of super storms becoming a common occurrence in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans these all can have lasting effects on our daily lives and could devastate the structures of nations around the world.
events. A personal experience for me is that here in Florida, my home state, we have seen an increase in the amount of tornadoes that occur on an annual basis. Especially in 2016 where was have seen over 20 tornadoes in just the first two months of the year (National Weather Service, 2016). Compared to 2015 where the state of florida only saw about 20 tornadoes touch down for the entire year (National Weather Service, 2015). However this can be linked to the strong El Nino in the pacific ocean which causes the subtropical jet stream to dip farther south bringing with it the chance of more severe weather (Sean Breslin, 2015). But the question still remains is this strong El Nino and severe weather in Florida when the state is suppose to be in the dry season all linked to the increase of temperature across the entire planet.
To say that global warming is the cause of the increase in extreme weather would be the easiest explanation, but is there something else that the researchers of today are not taking note of. There is no doubt that there is an increase in global temperatures, with January of 2016 being the hottest January on record (Brian Kahn, 2016), the evidence is there that the Earth is heating up, but could this just be a normal process that the Earth has every couple of decades that causes these extreme weather events. Now while this might not seem like the most logical of explanations there are some researchers who believe this to be true. While this might be a far fetched reality the possibility is still out there and only time will tell if a global cooling is in the future for our planet.
Now while the opposing argument to global warming and climate change might be a little far fetched, the fact is that people still believe that climate change is not upon us even with the overwhelming amount of evidence that has been appearing in recent years. There is no other explanation to why January was the hottest on record than that a form of change in our planet's climate is occurring (Brian Kahn, 2016). Now these abnormal temperatures were occurring during winter month, what would happen if something like this were to happen during the summer months of June and July? An extreme heat wave could be upon us in the upcoming summer months all because of climate change and the global warming of the planet. An extreme heat wave in the summer months is one form of extreme weather that can be caused by the inevitable changes of global warming. To take a look on the historical data of heat waves we must look at record high temperatures that have taken place over the last couple of decades. Since the 1950s the ratio between record high and record low temperatures has been ever growing larger (Climate Communication, 2009). This is meaning that both the low and high temperature records are higher than ever before for a given year in the 2000s. For example in the 1950s the ratio between record low and record high temperatures was 1.09 to 1, however in the 2000s it was 2.04 to 1 (Climate Communication, 2009). Now this dramatic increase is not sudden, it has been taken place since the 1950s and 1960s with each year after the ratio becoming larger and larger. This increase is evidence that the climate change taking place is having a dramatic effect on our global temperatures which might eventually lead to an extreme increase in temperatures over a short period of time. This can lead to costly damages to countries that this extreme event might effect, such as water shortages, and power outages because of the extreme heat. This could lead to many lives lost and cost millions and even billions of dollars for the countries affected.
While the dramatic increase in temperature might be the most obvious concern of climate change and global warming, the fact is that this temperature increase can have a dramatic effect on other deadly weather events. One of these events that are especially common across the United States are tornadoes, more specifically across the southeastern United States according to a new model study (Becky Oskin, 2015). The heart of a normal tornado season is during the spring months of March, April, and May when the temperature and humidity are favorable for tornadic development (Becky Oskin, 2015). Now while the increase in temperature from global warming will not have a direct cause on the development of tornadoes, it will however have a cause changes in the jet stream that runs across America and fuels severe weather which includes tornadoes (Becky Oskin, 2015). This will cause tornadoes to occur more often at other times of year as well as possibly stronger tornadoes that usually only occur during the spring months and peak of tornado season. This could also change the peak of tornado season as well, instead of being in May it could be in March along with a slight increase in the amount of tornadoes in April as well (Becky Oskin, 2015). The specific reasons why this could especially target the southeastern part of the United States is because that the factors that create tornadoes will move more towards the Ohio River Valleys, Mississippi, and Tennessee (Becky Oskin, 2015). All of this is driven by climate change which could greatly impact where and when it is most likely to see deadly tornadoes in the United States.
While an increase in the future of the amount of tornadoes seen in the United States might be upon us because of climate change, there has since been no evidence to show this in recent years (Robert Kunzig, 2013). There is currently no historical data that shows that an increase in tornadoes is happening and there also isn’t a way to link it to global warming. While it could be a possibility in the future it doesn’t look as such with the current climate change that is occurring with the world's weather patterns. There is even some evidence that this climate change is suppressing the amount of tornadoes that are occurring, especially in the amount of stronger tornadoes such as EF4 and EF5 tornadoes (Robert Kunzig, 2013). This could also be linked with the lack of evidence that tornadoes are becoming more damaging (Robert Kunzig, 2013). If in fact that global warming is suppressing tornado formation and strength, they would in turn become less damaging to life and property in the future if such a trend is to continue. Now this does not mean that the storms in general are becoming weaker there are other factors that seem to be on the increase because of the current climate change. The increase in severe thunderstorms can lie with increasing severe hail and straight-line winds instead of tornadoes because of the effects of climate change (Robert Kunzig, 2013). While tornadoes might not be on the increase currently this could all change if more dramatic changes are to occur with global warming and they could have deadly effects on the lives and property of the people of the United States and around the world.
The term Superstorm was not very common until the 2012 Atlantic Hurricane season.
In 2012 Superstorm Sandy became the largest Atlantic storm on record covering over 2 million square miles (The World Science Festival, 2015). Was this so called superstorm created because of dramatic climate change that has occurred over the recent years. If this is the case storms much worse could be in store and Superstorm Sandy can be the first of many superstorms that could impact not just the United States but the rest of the world that could already be affected by Hurricanes and Typhoons. One of the most destructive parts of these storms will be the storm surge, and with both the increase of sea levels and the strength of a storm these storm surges can become even more destructive (Joe Romm, 2012). Storm surge already causes costly damage to the coasts of the United States and other nations affected by storms such as these, but climate change can cause these to be even more destructive and cost more money for the nations they affect. This storm surge might also effect the more populated area because of the unusual path of these storms that has been seen in Superstorm Sandy and that could possibly be seen with future Superstorms (Joe Romm, 2012). Currently most storms in both Atlantic and Pacific Hurricane and Typhoon seasons drift out to sea only effecting shipping lanes, but with climate change wind patterns can change dramatically directing more storms towards the mainland of countries affected by Hurricanes and Typhoons. The effects of global warming can have drastic effects on the path, strength, and formation of so called superstorms and can greatly affect people that are in the paths of these possible future
storms.
Now while the evidence is more so there for the future formation of superstorms, there are still some reports that want to go against this claim. Some claim that sandy was a freak incident and that the core problem is not climate change but just the storm itself (The World Science Festival, 2015). This is inferring that people should worry about storms themselves than climate change as a whole. While preparing for storms is important I think that people should look at ways to take on climate change as a whole in order to help maybe decrease the amount of superstorms in the future.
Is the extent of global warming and climate change all explainable by normal events in our planet's climate or is something occurring that people have caused and causing these extreme weather events. A common explanation could be El Nino for most of these extreme weather events but it is clear that something bigger is going on and a change is taking place. The extent of global warming affecting extreme weather events is far reaching and could possibly change the way weather works on our planet. Ranging from extreme heat waves, an increase of strong tornadoes, and the possibility of super storms becoming a common occurrence in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans these all can have lasting effects on our daily lives and could devastate the structures of nations around the world.