What Is Climate Change?

Climate Change is probably something everyone has heard of, but do we all actually know what it means? Today, in this blog, there will be information about What it is, The Science behind it, and what you can do to help!

Understanding Climate Change

I have some understanding of climate change, but I will admit that I did have to search up some facts on google to double-check I was correct. But to put it in the most simple way to understand, climate change is when the temperature of the Earth experiences long-term shifts in the temperature, this results in the droughts, or flooding or the ice caps melting

Causes of Climate Change

The mane cause is the greenhouse gases, which you have probably heard of before, but don't exactly know what they mean. If you think of a greenhouse, then you probably also think of heat, because if you have ever stepped inside a greenhouse, you will realise it gets very hot inside. The greenhouse gases, are a similar thing.

Greenhouse gases are indeed toxic, if you go to a factory, and you see all the smoke coming out, then that is actually greenhouse gas, and the gas is polluting the air, causing it to form a sort of blanket round the area. In result of this, breathing in the dirty air can cause disease and lung issues.

So the increase of machinery, leads to an increase of green house gases, and when the greenhouse gases form a "blanket" over the earth, they are able to trap heat from the sun, and that is where the idea of them being like a greenhouse comes in. Greenhouse gases can also be referred to as "Fossil Fuels" and this include things such as coal and oil, as well as gas.

As well as this, deforestation (the process of clearing trees for usually architectural reasons) is a massive problem, because trees soak up this thing called Carbon Dioxide, and when they are chopped down, the Carbon Dioxide or CO2 simply releases into the Earth's atmosphere. So we need lots of trees, to soak up the CO2, but because they are being chopped down, the CO2 is floating in the air, meaning the remaining trees are struggling to do their job of keeping the atmosphere clean.

Also, the Ozone Layer, is a protective layer which shields our Earth from the sun's rays, and the Ozone Layer at the moment, has a hole in it, by Antarctica, which could be another reason, why the ice caps are melting, because it is completely vulnerable to the sun's rays. But scientists hope, that in about 4 decades, the Ozone Layer will repair itself, as it stands right now, the hole is already shrinking.

Impacts on the Environment

As mentioned before, Climate Change can result in droughts, flooding and the ice caps melting. Let's focus in on why flooding is in that list. Droughts are to do with the ground drying up and cracking because of the heat, and the ice caps melting is to do with the heat too, but why is flooding in there? That is to do with rainfall, and wouldn't you think that if there was a lot of rainfall, then there would be no reason for droughts and mass heat?

Lets add some statistics in here, Climate Change results in for rainfall, which can lead to flooding, this is because the warming, results in the air being able to hold more moisture, a good thing to remember is- for every 1`C of warming, the atmosphere can create 7% more moisture.

Taking Action

Nobody wakes up and suddenly fixes a major problem, and nobody wakes up with a superhero cape and starts saving lives.

Climate Change may seem rather overwhelming, and to some people, frightening, but there isn't all negativity. As mentioned, the Ozone Layer is slowly repairing, and there are lots of people like me who are trying to spread awareness, and there are lots of people like you who want to help us!

If you want to help out, then here are 3 things you can do. They might not seem that much, but I have even tried doing them, and it makes you also feel a whole lot more positive in yourself, knowing that you are trying to help the environment.

1. Walk more! You are about to get in the car to get to school. But wait! Think to yourself, how far away is school if you have to walk? If you are rather local to your school and are in a suitable walking distance, then why not take a walk? This can help cut back on fossil fuels that your car produces.

2. Create Green Space! You don't necessarily need a garden to do this. If you simply have a flower bed or flower box then this is achievable! Create an area of your garden where you don't cut the lawn. It doesn't have to be a big area. That way, you are encouraging more wildflowers to grow there, resulting in more biodiversity! Depending on the environment, you might see different insects, such as butterflies, crickets, spiders and bees! If you feel like your patch of Green Space is more grass than wildflowers, then you can always go online, and buy some wildflower seeds. If you don't have a garden, you can simply plant some flowers in your flower beds, it won't have exactly the same effect, but you will still be encouraging insects such as bees and butterflies.

3. Turn off the lights! Admit it, you have turned the light on, and walked straight out of the room leaving it on. Everyone has done it, including me. Cut back on the energy you are using by turning off the lights. When you walk out of a room, turn off the light! If you see a light that has been left on in your bedroom or something and no-one is in there, then turn off the light!
   

Conclusion

In conclusion, Climate Change isn't going to just disappear, but it will slowly and gradually become less of a problem. Follow the 3 tips and remember to spread the awareness.

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