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Ladeja Warren
5/11/16
Biology Honors
2nd Period
Climate Change
Climate Change is a long term change in global or regional climate patterns. The
debate on whether humans are the main reason for climate change is a hard thing to
argue. The facts give us reason to believe that humans may or may not be one of the
main causes for the change in climate. There are also many pros and cons on the
argument if humans are responsible for global climate change or not. The real question
here is “are humans the major cause of climate change currently ongoing on Earth?”
Since the early 20th century global temperatures on earth have rose 1.4 degrees
Fahrenheit. Scientific consensus says human activity is primarily responsible for global
climate change. I believe that human activities contribute to climate changes in Earth’s
atmosphere. The amounts of greenhouse gases, aerosols, and cloudiness are some
contributions. One of the largest contributions comes from burning of fossil fuels. This
releases carbon dioxide gas to the atmosphere.
Since 1750 the overall effect of human activities on earth has been a warming
influence. Due to changes in natural processes (solar changes or volcanic eruptions)
the human impact on climate greatly exceeded. The average temperature on earth has
risen higher than natural climate changes could produces. This means that it was
clearly caused by human activities. The specific type of CO2 that is increasing earth’s
atmosphere can be directly connected to human activities.
While humans release excess carbon dioxide into the atmosphere we are also
changing the way earth can handle dealing with this excess. By altering the natural
landscape we also alter the environment’s ability to deal with all of the excesses that we
Ladeja Warren
5/11/16
Biology Honors
2nd Period
create. The carbon dioxide that we release into the air is at an accelerated rate and the
excess amount can be tracked back to humans. We rely on fossil fuels to power our
lives.
Research says that “human activities are adding about 7 billion tons of carbon
into the atmosphere every year”. The oceans and land absorb some of our emissions
and the rest stays in the atmosphere for many years. My belief that humans are the
main reason for climate change is very strong. A lot of the things that we do change the
earth.
Ladeja Warren
5/11/16
Biology Honors
2nd Period
Works Cited
"How Do Human Activities Contribute to Climate Change and How Do They
Compare with Natural Influences?" — European Environment Agency. N.p., n.d. Web.
13 May 2016.
"Science _ Other Questions? Are Humans the Cause? How Can We Predict
Climate? Is the Climate Changing? Arctic Global Climate Manitoba’s Climate Other
Observed Changes What about Lag Time? What about Water Vapour? What Causes
Climate Change? Feedback Processes Greenhouse Effect Greenhouse Gases (GHG)
Natural Processes The Sun’s Effect on Climate What Might Happen in the Future?
What Was Climate like in the Past? Why Must We Prevent a 2ºC Rise?" Are Humans
the Cause? N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2016.
"Climate Change ProCon.org." ProConorg Headlines. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May
2016.