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Climate Change - Coggle Diagram
Climate Change
CAUSES
Landfills
High levels of methane gas and CO2 are generated by the rotting trash underground. This produces dangerous greenhouse gases, which contribute greatly to the process of global warming. Many toxic substances end up on landfill, which leech into the earth and groundwater over time, making the practice very hazardous to our environment
Natural Sources
Natural sources of climate change, like volcanoes, have existed all throughout history. In the case of the volcano, its eruption's ashes and dust particles can block output from the sun, resulting in cooler temperatures (global cooling)
Fossil Fuels
When burned, fossil fuels can produce significant quantities of CO2, which lead to a greenhouse effect and consequently trap heat in our atmosphere. The heavy usage of fossil fuels across the globe makes this cause rather severe
Deforestation
when trees are cut down and burned or allowed to rot, their stored carbon is released into the air as carbon dioxide, which in turn contributes to CC (global warming) as it provides an excessive amount of CO2 into the atmosphere
Many of these causes create changes to our earth system throughout the world (most notably fossil fuels), which exacerbates the issue of climate change. Besides this, the way we use land and other vital resources directly impacts these causes and their signifcance (for example, higher population rates leads to more deforestation in order to create places for people to live) deforestation subsequently rewrites the biological makeup of an area that depended on a large mass of trees for its ecosystem.
SOLUTIONS
Awareness and Education
Properly educating the public about the urgency of the consequences of climate change. It is controversial for some groups on whether or not various scientific reports on climate change are even real. Giving people resources on responsible recycling practices, nuclear vs. fossil fuel energy sources, etc. can allow every day people to equip themselves with the tools needed to fight climate change in their own communties.
Renewable Energy
Using alternatives like wind energy, solar panels, and other routes towards clean sustainable energy will move our world further away from the dependency on fossil fuels, coal, and other pollutants
Legislation
Government Action is a grand way to solve the issue of Climate Change. Actions such as regulating the use of particular fossil fuels and energy sources or taxing companies that use particularly harmful energy sources are ways to reduce the heavy impact that industry nd human activity has on our planet
Reduce Water Waste
Taking shorter showers, turning the tap off when brushing one's teeth, and reusing water are a few simple ways for the common person to reduce their water usage and alleviate the overwhelming need for potable water across the world.
Solutions relates to our land and water use unit, as the way that we either indulge in our natural resources OR take particular steps to conserve them can be a great determinant in the fight against climate change
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Declining water supplies
Due to unpredictable weather patterns, natural disasters, and irregular rain patterns can gravely affect the supply of potable water across the world. This not only is dangerous for people who need the water to survive, but also for industries like agriculture and fashion which depend on potable water for production.
Loss of habitat
Climate change quickly alters ecosystems, making it difficult for certain species to adapt. This leads to certain species dying, lessening biodiversity and throwing food chains off balance
Drought
Global warming causes higher rates of droughts as weather patterns become more unpredictable and there are higher rates of rain than other forms of precipitation (snow, etc.), which in turn leads to higher rates of evaporation--causing drought
Increasing temperatures
Increasing temperatures is a big factor within the grave consequences of climate change. Widespread warming across the globe leads to glacier melts, hasher heat waves and summer months, and more aggressive natural disasters
The environmental effects of climate change connects to population. As we alter our environment into unrecognizable land masses, the growing human population will begin to run into more obstacles regarding survival. By the end of the century there will be more than 9 billion people roaming the earth with the same amount of land to make our food. If we keep deteriorating our lands and no longer can predict our weather patterns as our water source becomes more scarce, our chance of survival as a human race will begin to dwindle
EVIDENCE
extreme weather
When fossil fuels are burned for electricity, heat, and transportation, carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that traps solar radiation, is released into our atmosphere, leading to higher temperatures and in turn, extreme weather--changing our climate overall.
lower air quality
Pollutants and chemical reactions in the atmosphere can decrease air quality. For instance, Ground-level ozone increases in cities when the air is still, the temperature is warm, and the sun is out. This combination traps pollution in the air.
melting ice caps
Since the industrial revolution, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions have raised temperatures, even higher in the poles, and as a result, glaciers are rapidly melting, leading to rising sea levels.
rising sea levels
As the ocean warms via global warming, sea levels begin to rise, subsequently disrupting habitats and human developments. Besides this, the melting of glaciers can also cause a rise in sea levels.
Evidence of Climate Change can be seen across various units in APES, particularly in the Pollutants unit. Greenhouse gases like methane or ozone can have very dangerous affects on our atmosphere when emissions are high, and often are the main culprits of global warming.
Economic Impacts
money spent on repairs
Due to things like rising sea levels or more extreme weather, new expenses must be taken into consideration regarding civil engineering. Those who have beach houses or who live in towns near water now must account for things like the havoc of hurricanes (often needing to purchase flood insurance). Things like tornados, hurricanes, and other natural disasters are becoming exceedingly common and much harsher than in past centuries, meaning that the ability to rebuild must be utilized often and at the expense of homeowners
loss of land
Climate change has caused many areas across the world to be rendered completely infertile, meaning agricultural production is reduced and occurrences like famine become more prevalent.
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disease
Consequences of climate change such as lack of access to potable water, famine, poor air quality, etc. make illness much more common, especially amongst developing countries and in low income areas in first world countries. Access to healthcare then becomes more overwhelmed as illnesses caused by the consequences of climate change become more common place.
Improving our global ecology can be economically beneficial, as seen with the excessive expenditures of hurting the environment. Exacerbating climate change and destroying biodiversity across the world makes land, food, and other necessities more expensive and much more difficult to distribute. Improving ecology would solve these issues.