Over the past couple of decades, people worldwide have been noticing differences in the earth’s atmosphere. They have noticed that the earth’s average temperature is rapidly increasing at a rate that is much faster than ever before, making winter season shorter and warmer, while making summer season shorter and lasting longer than usual. This is known as climate change. Climate change is a change in the earth’s climate, usually as a result of an increase in the atmospheric temperature.
There are many factors that contribute to the cause of climate change, some of them being natural causes, others however, are caused by humans. The greenhouse effect takes major consideration to how climate change begins. This is because the greenhouse effect is the scientific process that occurs when the sun’s solar energy passes through the atmosphere and warms up the earth. About 30 percent of the radiation immediately reflects back into space. The remaining 70 percent is absorbed by the earth, and is the reason why earth is a habitable planet. This 70 percent that remains is the greenhouse effect.
Carbon dioxide lies in the atmosphere, absorbing the radiation from the sun. Carbon dioxide also prevents much of the infrared radiation from escaping the atmosphere, building up the earth’s temperature. This is called the greenhouse effect, due to the characteristics of a greenhouse entrapping radiation, warming the greenhouse.
Throughout the last 100 years, human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, have caused the levels of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere to increase tremendously, which results in the trapping of radiation, preventing it from leaving the earth. Climate change is happening everywhere around the world, and is predicted to increase throughout the upcoming years,if humanity cannot find a way to decrease the greenhouse effect. Although climate change is something that is inevitable, it is happening at an increased rate due to the increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which are a direct result of human activities.
Not only are humans being affected by climate change, but so are wildlife animals. If we can’t find a method to reduce the effects of climate change, “Climate change could cause a quarter of land animals, birdlife and plants to become extinct,” (Ali Penman). Although there isn’t any evidence that has determined that wildlife have become extinct directly because of climate change, there is evidence proving that climate change is already affecting their behavior. For example, “Birds lay eggs earlier in the year than usual, plants bloom earlier and mammals are [coming] out of hibernation sooner,”(Effects on Wildlife and Habitat). Another example would be that of a Polar bear. Polar bears live around the Arctic sea ice, mainly involves places like Russia, Canada, etc. According to the National Wildlife Federation, the Arctic ice is “rapidly disappearing due to global warming.” They also state that “polar bears are starving during the long summer months as the ice they rely on to hunt for food melts earlier each spring and later in the fall. Not only is climate change and global warming a danger to human life, but it is a danger to all life in the planet. If one cannot find a way to combat climate change it will become a greater problem in the future.
Climate change is a problem that is affecting everyone around the world. Those who are living in first-world countries are more likely to face drastic consequences of climate change, due to them participating in the industrial revolution. The industrial revolution has changed the lives of many countries, having benefits to society as well as having many disadvantages. One of the many advantages that the industrial revolution has brought are the factories, which has increased the efficiency of production. The industrial revolution has brought many factories around the world, increasing in number as the years go by. Although the industrial revolution seemed like a good idea at first, especially to manufacturers, “No one would have thought that their burning of fossil fuels would have an almost immediate effect on the climate”(Henry Gastineau). Burning fossil fuels have a negative impact on the ecosystem as they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, where they absorb the sun’s radiation. Fossil fuels are mainly composed of hydrocarbons, coal, fuel oil or natural gas which people burn as a way to get energy. One of the states that is feeling the major consequence of climate change is Texas, and its condition is predicted to worsen in the future, if people don’t find ways to reduce the effects of climate change. Humans are part of the reason why climate change is happening and need to understand that climate change is affecting the whole world, especially in Texas.
Climate change has had a major impact on Texas, and one of the living species it is affecting are animals. As Texas keeps on getting hotter with the years, it has become evident that animals are starting to change the way they have accustomed to life as a direct result of climate change. Ted Hollingsworth, director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, states that “species may be migrating, shifting, because of climate changes.” One notable example of this is the American goldfinch, a North American bird, has shown to have migrated up to 220 miles north of Texas, and it’s population in Texas has shown to decrease by up to 40 percent. Not only is climate change affecting land animals, but it is also affecting sea creatures as well. The Gray snapper has shown to “steadily [move] hundreds of miles north since the 1990s, and is now found near Sabine Lake, close to Port Arthur. Young snappers live inshore in mangroves and grass beds, moving offshore to coral or rocky reefs when fully grown” (Ana M. Tinsley). Climate change is affecting many animals, causing them to migrate as a way to avoid being killed off by the increasing heat. As the years pass, birds, sea life, etc. are being killed off by a substantial amount and are forced to adapt to a different lifestyle, not only impacting them, but also impacting those who pray on those animals as well.
Texas is suffering one of the worst effects of climate change. With the state getting hotter each year, Texas has shown to be suffering in droughts, heat waves, etc. From 2010 to 2015, the state has gone through a long period of drought. This has caused “Water levels [being] at historical lows, and [the land and plant life to dry up], acres upon acres [to] lit up with wildfires” (Climate Reality Project). Due to the long drought, Texas has lost “$8.5 billion in agricultural losses,” (Climate Reality Project). One of the most notable effects of climate change in Texas is the increase in temperature. Texas could suffer a severe increase in heat-related deaths and substantial economic losses linked to coastal storms in the coming decades if no action is taken to mitigate climate change, stated by the “Risky Business Project, a bipartisan group of lawmakers and executives from various companies, who make effort to raise awareness and take action on the business community,” (James Haley). Over the next 25 years, Texas is likely to register as many as 2,500 additional deaths per year and Florida to an additional 840 additional deaths per year due to increased extreme heat. By the mid-century, they are more likely to have up to 10,000 additional deaths per year due to the heat. Those who are more prone to the increase in heat are the elders, as well as children and those who work outside and don’t have access to shelter. Dr. Al Sommer, member of the Risky Business Project, states that “increasing heat and humidity pose serious risks to the health of citizens across the Southeast, especially among the elderly, the sick, and the populations without access to air conditioning.”
Since climate change is disturbing the physical features of Texas, it is beginning to change the bodies of water, such as the rise in the seas, and the retreating of shorelines. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, it has been predicted that “in the coming decades, storms are likely to become more severe,” which can result in the flooding of houses. This can result in the loss of millions of dollars. One of the notable changes in Texas is the retreating of the shoreline along the Texas Gulf coast. The shoreline can be seen “retreating approximately 1.6 meters each year, which could have been contributed by human activities,” (Jeffrey Paine). Not only is the shoreline retreating, but the sea level is rising at a faster rate than ever before. Many scientists believe that this is due to the “increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,” (The Bureau of Economic Geology). According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, “if the oceans and atmosphere continue to warm, sea level is likely to rise two to five feet in the next century along much of the Texas coast.” This is a result of the land that is sinking as a result of water pumping. Rising sea levels are dangerous because they have the potential to “erodes beaches, exacerbate coastal ooding, etc.” (United States Environmental Protection Agency). If the climate change continues to warm the atmosphere, it is predicted that sea level will rise up to five feet by the next century.
Conclusion: Although Texas is changing its physical features due to climate change, there are many methods one can take to reduce those effects. One of the steps that people can take to reduce climate change, is to become aware and understanding of the causes and to help spread the word. Many people don’t believe in climate change as they are not aware of its cause. Another step one can take to control climate change is to support projects that have been creating alternative energy systems that do not emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. There are many steps one can take at home to restrict climate change. For example, a simple procedure someone can take at home is to replace a traditional light bulb with a low-energy light bulb. Doing this can save up to 45 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year. Even though it seems to be more expensive, it has shown to also more economical throughout its life. Another step one can take is to completely turn off all TV’s, DVD’s or computers when they are not being used. Doing so will prevent thousands of kilos of carbon dioxide from going into the atmosphere. One of the simpler ways to combat climate change is to recycle. Recycling can save more than “730 kilos of carbon dioxide per year by recycling half of the waste produced at home,” (James Haley). Another step one can take is to reduce the amount of times they are using a vehicle, such as a car, and to instead use forms as transportation, such as walking, using a bicycle, etc. whenever possible. This not only helps in promoting a healthy lifestyle, but it also helps in emitting the least amount of greenhouse gases. Instead of using regular cars, one should consider buying electric or hybrid cars. Since electric or hybrid cars are made with the intention to being better for the economy, they are usually being run on a combination of gas and electricity which will result in less pollution, as opposed to gas-only vehicles.