Is Global Warming and Climate Change Real?

The earth has never experienced such a warming trend as it is today. In fact, the world global temperature is estimated to be about 1.2C above pre-industrial levels, and the last two years in a row has been the hottest years on record (Schuldt, Sara, and Norbert 115). The problem of global warming continues to increase because of rising in greenhouse gas emissions, burning of fossil fuels and continued global deforestation (Meinshausen et al. 1158). Although the scientific evidence seems in support of global warming, some believe that it is a hoax and an allegory or an excuse that has never been empirically verified. The paper outline the evidence, which shows that global warming and climate change are real and it needs to be addressed because of its devastating effects on marine life, food sources, and living environments.

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The world has experienced the global rise in overall temperature. "These changes are caused by global warming, which occurs when greenhouse gas (GHG) emission depletes the ozone layer and increases the average temperature on earth" (Meinshausen et al. 1159). In 2016, the world experienced a global average temperature above the worldwide average in 2001. For example, the ice in the Arctic sea is decreasing rapidly. Data from the National Ice and Snow Data Center indicate that the thickness and extent of the sea ice in Arctic sea in the last decades have dissipated quickly (Easterling et al. 2068). Besides, just like ice sheets, glaciers are also affected by global warming because they continue to retreat slowly. For example, in areas such as Africa, Alaska, the Andes, the Himalayas, the Alps and the Rockies, glaciers continue to reduce making it a common phenomenon and a global problem that needs to be addressed immediately (Easterling et al. 2068).

Global warming and climate change have caused extreme environmental catastrophes. High-temperature events have been increasing while low-temperature events have been decreasing since the 90s. For example, "in the US, there has been an increase in the intense amount of rainfall" (Schuldt, Sara, and Norbert 115). Although there are still cold winters, the rise in global temperatures experienced globally has become harsh that can ravish cropland and kill more people either through floods or droughts.

Ocean acidification has also grown as a result of global warming. According to the PMEL Carbon Group, "the acidity of sea and ocean waters has increased by about 40%" (Schuldt, Sara, and Norbert 115). For example, in the western Pacific oceans, the Palauan coral reefs are dying due to ocean acidification. Coral reefs are crucial to the rest of marine life because they provide habitat for many organisms that make up the foundation of the food web in our oceans.

The sea levels are rising at a very high rate because of the melting of glaciers and ice sheets across the world. Melting of glaciers in Greenland, Alaska, and Antarctica helps in explaining the warming effect of the earth (Shakun, Jeremy D., et al. 49). The shrinking of ice sheets in mass in these regions are increasing rapidly. According to NASA, "Greenland has lost about 250cubic kilometers of ice between 2010 and 2012" (Shakun, Jeremy D., et al. 49). It is estimated that the global sea level increased by about 6.7 inches in the last century. Besides, the rise of sea level in the last decade has doubled taking an unexpected turn-and global warming has much to do with this. This is not normal and leads to uncertainty of the animals living in these regions and on the other hand it means water will cover particular parts of land as the ice sheets continue to melt.

Despite all the effects cases by global warming, there are skeptics and critics in both science and politics who believe there is no consensus that global warming is real and it has not taken place on a massive scale. They base their arguments on minor studies funded by lobbyists and politicians (Meinshausen et al. 1159). They think that global warming is a natural phenomenon that occurs in cycles after some years and it is not as a result of human activities. "They also consider that what is happening is part of the earth's geophysical processes since the distribution of the heat on earth is different and switches from one hemisphere to another" (Meinshausen et al. 1159).

However, the fact is that about 96% of scientists believe that global warming is happening rapidly (Schuldt, Sara, and Norbert 115). Humans have produced global warming due to the emission of CO2 in the atmosphere. Thus, global warming is real based on the empirical evidence and the strong consensus among scientists. Environmental scientists should strategize to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere because they deplete the ozone layer, which causes global warming and other extreme weather conditions on earth.

Works Cited

Easterling, David R., et al. "Climate extremes: observations, modeling, and impacts." science 289.5487 (2000): 2068-2074.

Meinshausen, Malte, et al. "Greenhouse-gas emission targets for limiting global warming to 2 C." Nature 458.7242 (2009): 1158.

Shakun, Jeremy D., et al. "Global warming proceeded by increasing carbon dioxide concentrations during the last deglaciation." Nature 484.7392 (2012): 49.

Schuldt, Jonathon P., Sara H. Konrath, and Norbert Schwarz. "Global warming" or "climate change"? Whether the planet is warming depends on question-wording." Public Opinion Quarterly 75.1 (2011): 115-124.