CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate is the long-term weather pattern in a region, typically averaged over 30 years.

So, what is climate change?

Our Earth is surrounded by an atmosphere made up of gases. When sunlight enters our atmosphere, some of the sun’s heat is trapped by the gas, and some bounces back out into space. By trapping that heat, our atmosphere keeps Earth warm enough to live on. Without it, our planet would be very cold, like Mars. But during the past few hundred years, oil, gas, and coal have powered homes, cars, and factories. These energy sources release a gas called carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. This gas traps heat that would otherwise escape Earth’s atmosphere. That increases Earth’s temperature, which contributes to the planet’s warming. The Earth’s average temperature has increased about 1.5°F in the past hundred years. This temperature increase has caused melting glaciers, drought etc.

Climate change affects more than temperature. Warmer water changes the patterns of ocean currents, some places will receive more rainfall, which could lead to flooding, while other places will get less, which might mean drought, tropical storms could be stronger, and a continuing rise in sea level due to melting polar ice might push people out of their homes.  Due to increase in warmth, there will be more disease-carrying mosquitoes as they thrive in warm, wet weather. More people could contract illnesses such as malaria as the Earth warms. To keep a check on the climate change, we should keep a check on our everyday actions as your everyday actions affect people, plants, and animals all over the world. So be cool by doing your best to keep Earth well … cool!

Vasudha Soni