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Lauren Birkmeyer

Professor Stalbird

ENG 1201 Online

18 July 2019

Climate Change

“Climate change, global warming, holes in the ozone layer, these cannot possibly be real,

right?” “If our president claims it is simply a hoax, then it must be true.” “Look! It’s snowing! If

climate change is real, then why is it snowing so much?” These are just some of the statements

that have been circulating in our country for the many years, but never more than in the past

three years. Citizens of the United States started turning their attention and beliefs towards

political figures instead of scientists who have studied this crisis, as well as collected thousands

of pieces of evidence, for decades. People, animals, plants- everything is affected by the many

effects of climate change in one way or another, yet the United States leaders are choosing to

sweep it under a rug, leaving it to be cleaned up by other countries. However, this is a problem

that cannot stand to be ignored any longer than it already has. The United States needs to start

facing reality, because the resulting complications are taking a turn for the worse. Climate

change is a real life problem that needs to be taken more seriously by the United States because

the sea levels are rising, extreme events in the weather are becoming more frequent, and ocean

acidification is killing the coral reefs and many species of marine life.
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One of the many complications resulting from climate change is the rising sea levels.

Rising sea levels occur because winter sea ice is steadily decreasing. María José Viñas, a

member of NASA’s Earth Science News Team, wrote about NASA and the National Snow and

Ice Data Center’s research from March of 2019, which studies the accumulation of sea ice in the

Artic and how this could affect the rest of the world within the next decade. Viñas writes, “This

year’s maximum extent is 332,000 square miles below the average maximum- equivalent to

missing an area of ice larger than the state of Texas” (Viñas 2019). The water resulting from the

melted ice has nowhere else to go besides back into the ocean, which leads to rising sea levels.

This occurrence of events has not started recently, it has been occurring gradually over time.

“Beyond its seasonal wax and wane cycles, Arctic sea ice extent has been plummeting during

both the growing and melting seasons over the last 40 years” (Viñas 2019). It is certain that

melting sea ice does contribute to rising sea levels, but it is not the only source. In National

Geographic, Sarah Gibbens describes how melting glaciers contribute to the rising sea levels, as

well as how they came to this conclusion. She writes, “A study in Nature Climate Change

showed the world's glaciers are the smallest they've been in human history, revealing

radiocarbon material that hasn't been exposed for 40,000 years” (Gibbens 2019). About one-

third of the measured sea level rise is found to have come from mountain glaciers. The loss of

these glaciers could affect the way of life of people that depend on them for water sources.

“The Peruvian Andes are home to some of the world's most heavily relied upon glaciers.

Since the Inca, Peru's glaciers have been a crucial source of freshwater for human

consumption and agriculture. A study published last October in the journal Scientific

Reports estimated that the Quelccaya Ice Cap, a region that spans more than 9,000
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football fields, could reach a tipping point if emissions aren't reduced in the next 30

years” (Gibbens 2019).

These areas could experience floods and droughts if these glaciers were lost to climate change.

The idea that they have evidence that glaciers and land ice are decreasing is also a concern.

NASA’s writer, Carol Rasmussen discusses the situation of the warming seas and the melting ice

sheets that lead to rising sea levels and are caused by situations such as climate change, the El

Niño phenomenon and Pacific Decadal Oscillation. Rasmussen writes,

“In the early 1990s, scientists were not able to determine whether

polar land ice was growing, shrinking, or in balance. Satellite and

airborne missions, complemented by field measurements, have not

only answered that question, but also provided the means for

scientists to determine the mechanisms that are contributing to the

growth and shrinkage of polar ice” (Rasmussen 2017).

With the improvement in technology, it has become easier to note changes in the environment

now than it was 29 years ago. With these rising sea levels, cities along the coasts are beginning

to feel the influences of rising sea levels. According to Gibbens, “In the Outer Banks in North

Carolina, neighborhoods that once looked over the ocean have begun to fall into it” (Gibbens

2019). As the sea levels continue to rise, coastal cities are getting closer to being swallowed by

the seas. Rising sea levels will eventually force residents from their homes further inland. Some

researchers predict that if the carbon footprint is not reduced, some large bodies of ice will

disappear in the next century. While rising sea levels are truly a problem, there are many other

negative consequences from climate change. One of which being the extreme events in the

weather.
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The extreme events in the weather caused by climate change come in many shapes and

forms. One event that has shown up more in the news recently is wildfires. Writer for

McClatchy DC Bureau, Stuart Leavenworth, explains how the heat is drying out the

environment, leading to more frequent wildfires. Leavenworth writes, “Higher temperatures

sharply increase the risk of megadroughts—dry periods lasting 10 years or more…. [These rising

temperatures] will trigger a cascade of impacts, including tripling the frequency of large

wildfires than what has historically occurred” (Leavenworth 2018). Even with this, the executive

branch refused to link the wild fires to climate change, and instead blames it on absurd and

ridiculous ideas like “lack of forest management.” Leavenworth continues to describe how the

previous fall had experienced a less than average percentage of rainfall, leading to dry vegetation

that is perfect fire fuel. These forest fires will not only destroy environments and homes, but they

will also take lives. The warming of the Artic is having a negative effect of the United States and

the world. Writer of National Geographic, Sarah Gibbens, states that the warmer temperatures in

the Artic is causing colder winters in the United States. Gibbens writes,

“‘Warm temperatures in the Arctic cause the jet stream to take these wild swings, and

when it swings farther south, that causes cold air to reach farther south. These swings

tend to hang around for a while, so the weather we have in the eastern United States,

whether it’s cold or warm, tends to stay with us longer,’ said study co-author Jennifer

Francis in a press release. [Research shows that] over the past three decades, plants pulled

less carbon from the Earth's atmosphere during periods of warmer weather in the arctic”

(Gibbens 2018).

This information explains why snow does not accumulate until about mid-December, as well as

explaining why we may have days in October where it feels like it could be June or July.
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However, this does not mean that we will need to wear more layers. The colder winters could

have harsh repercussions on farms in the United States and likely the rest of the world as well.

“Crop yields recorded by the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the U.S.

Department of Agriculture and found crop production declined by an average of one to

four percent during warmer Arctic years. Some states, however, saw a decline of almost

20 percent. [Research shows] as warmer Arctic years become more frequent, crop

productivity could be increasingly hard hit, [and] with fewer plants available to absorb

more carbon, Arctic warming could accelerate, further weakening the carbon sink”

(Gibbens 2018).

These problems produced by warmer temperatures in the Artic could continue to fuel each other

and make conditions worse and worse. Another example comes from National Geographic’s

Alejandra Borunda, who discusses how climate change is causing glaciers in the Hindu Kush

Himalayan mountain ranges to melt. Borunda writes, “Most snowfall in the high mountains

along the eastern swath of the region falls during the summer, when the powerful monsoon rises

up into the mountains. But, that monsoon has weakened, starving the mountains of the snow that

feeds glaciers and that provides key water to many farmers” (Borunda 2019). This lack of water

is forcing farmers to plant further up the mountains, while other areas are experiencing

dangerous floods. That is not the only situation, however, while some areas are not receiving

enough water, other areas are receiving too much water. “In the Himalaya, newly released

glacier meltwater is forming dangerous lakes that lead to flooding; an assessment published

earlier this year estimated that two thirds of the Himalaya could disappear if carbon emissions

aren't reduced in the next century” (Borunda 2019). The floods could force people out of their

homes, destroy crops, and take lives. Climate change could easily change ways of life if people
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do not take action. Just by looking around us, we can see how too much rain, for example, can

destroy a whole growing season, threatening many farmers livelihood, and causing shortages and

price increases. and now the oceans are suffering as well. Ocean acidification is killing off coral

reefs and many species of marine life.

Ocean Acidification is when carbon dioxide dissolves into the ocean and forms carbonic

acid. This causes the acidity in the water to rise higher than normal, mainly near the water’s

surface.

The diagram depicts the rising level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, rising C02 levels in the ocean,

and decreasing pH in the water surrounding Hawaii (Ocean Portal Team 2018).

The Smithsonian’s partner, the Ocean Portal Team, explains how exactly ocean acidification

effects ocean life. They write, “Such a relatively quick change in ocean chemistry doesn’t give

marine life, which evolved over millions of years in an ocean with a generally stable pH, much
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time to adapt. In fact, the shells of some animals are already dissolving in the more acidic

seawater” (Ocean Portal Team 2018). This also means that shellfish larvae die before reaching

maturity. The decrease in shellfish, such as oysters and clams, will harm businesses like oyster

farmers. Coral reefs are also suffering from ocean acidification.

“Acidification may limit coral growth by corroding pre-existing coral skeletons while

simultaneously slowing the growth of new ones, and the weaker reefs that result will be

more vulnerable to erosion. This erosion will come not only from storm waves, but also

from animals that drill into or eat coral. A recent study predicts that by roughly 2080

ocean conditions will be so acidic that even otherwise healthy coral reefs will be eroding

more quickly than they can rebuild” (Ocean Portal Team 2018).

One obvious change in the coral reefs is the pigmentation, the coral becomes white after it expels

the algae that lives in its tissues; this process is known as coral bleaching. Although not all coral

will change color because of this, some species of coral could completely dissolve. “Reefs in

Papua New Guinea are affected by natural carbon dioxide seeps, big boulder colonies have taken

over and the delicately branching forms have disappeared, probably because their thin branches

are more susceptible to dissolving” (Ocean Portal Team 2018). The idea that certain species of

coral can eventually disappear overnight because of climate change is surreal. The very sudden

disappearance of the coral could affect the many organisms that live in these coral reefs. This in

the long run could also affect the humans that fish and eat organisms from these areas, causing

problems for fishing industries. Fish are especially easily susceptible to changes in the pH level

of the water. According to the Ocean Portal Team,

“A fish's cells often come into balance with the seawater by taking in carbonic acid. This

changes the pH of the fish's blood, a condition called acidosis. Although the fish is then
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in harmony with its environment, many of the chemical reactions that take place in its

body can be altered. Just a small change in pH can make a huge difference in survival. In

humans, for instance, a drop in blood pH of 0.2-0.3 can cause seizures, comas, and even

death. Likewise, a fish is also sensitive to pH and has to put its body into overdrive to

bring its chemistry back to normal” (Ocean Portal Team 2018).

Many thousands of fish could be effected by ocean acidification, this could lead to a large

decrease in fish populations, which in turn could have negative impressions on food webs and

several fishing industries. Plants and algae could easily benefit in these circumstances, but with

other factors such as pollution, the enhancement of plant and algae life will not be able to make

up for the damages caused by other strains. Although some people may believe that these do not

have any effect on us-out of sight, out of mind-they could be sorely mistaken. Research has

shown that ocean acidification can also have an effect on atmospheric warming as well as

oceanic biomes. Bryan Walsh writes for Time, and discusses in his article, “Ocean Acidification

Will Make Climate Change Worse,” a study has shown that ocean acidification could make

global warming in the atmosphere worse. Wash writes,

“Researchers found that as the pH of the oceans dropped, it would result in lower

concentrations of the biogenic sulfur compound dimethylsulphide (DMS) - Marine

emissions of DMS are the largest natural source of atmospheric sulfur. (Manmade

sources of sulfur include the burning of coal.) Sulfur, in the form of sulfur dioxide, isn’t a

greenhouse gas; but higher levels of sulfur in the atmosphere can reduce the amount of

solar energy reaching the Earth’s surface, causing a cooling effect. [Researchers predict]

if acidification decreases marine emissions of sulfur, it could cause an increase in the

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amount of solar energy reaching the Earth’s surface, speeding up warming” (Walsh

2013).

If the ocean continues to become more acidic, it is possible the amount of sulfur in the

atmosphere could decrease and make the already higher temperatures caused by climate change

to continue to rise. Not only temperatures will be effected. Glaciers and sea ice will melt at a

faster rate, causing droughts, floods, and rising sea levels. This could also make winters in the

Artic warmer, resulting in colder winters in the United States. This will have negative impacts on

the crop output, and due to drier summers, increase the frequency of wildfires more than what it

is now. Ocean acidification is sometimes known as “climate change’s equally evil twin,” and

with what is known about climate change, and the devastating effects it can have on other

species in the environment and on humans, this name fits like a glove. Yet, even with the

collection of research scientists have accumulated over the years, there are still people who find

ways to question the reality of the situation.

Arguments from people who believe global warming is a myth state that ice isn’t melting

or the sea level isn’t rising. In actuality, artic sea ice has shrunk by an area equal to Western

Australia and fear that multi-year sea ice might be gone in a decade. Secondly, graphs and

scientific experts have documented the rise in sea levels over the course of nearly forty years.

Some groups of people who do acknowledge there are changes in nature believe that it will

eventually revert back to the way it was before. However, the reality of it all is that people will

not make changes, how they produce goods, or government policies until their personal quality

of life is affected. People refuse to accept the reality of the situation because they refuse to

change their ways of life without the promise of financial gain unless their own lives are on the

line.
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There are several outcomes that result from climate change that are have destructive

effects on the world around us. Some are well known- like the melting ice caps, and rising sea

levels- while there are some results that people have neither realized are caused by climate

change nor how much of an impact they have on us, such as the increasing frequency of

wildfires, warmer winters in the Artic, and ocean acidification. It is about time that the United

States as a whole- government, schools, businesses, industries, etc. - started to address this series

of events that has been ignored for far too long. Recycling should be made mandatory, and not

just an option for people that live in areas where their recycling can be picked up. Solar panels

and wind turbines should be used more as means for generating electricity and powering homes,

the initial price may seem like much, but it could save thousands of dollars that would have been

put towards electricity bills, depending upon the energy consumption of the household. Other

simple actions, such as using public transportation, turning off unused electronics, walking short

distances instead of driving, even simply checking tire pressures could help to minimize gas

consumption and decrease the carbon footprint. In conclusion, climate change is very real and

has many harmful effects on our communities, our country, and our world.
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Work Cited

Borunda, Alejandra. “Climate change is roasting the Himalaya region, threatening millions.”

National Geographic, 4 February 2019.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/02/himalaya-mountain-climate-

change-report. Accessed on 21 June 2019.

Gibbens, Sarah. “Why a Warming Arctic May Be Causing Colder U.S. Winters.” National

Geographic, 13 March 2018. https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/07/global-

warming-arctic-colder-winters-climate-change-spd/. Accessed on 3 July 2019.

Gibbens, Sarah. “Melting glaciers contribute a third of sea-level rise.” National Geographic, 8

April 2019. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/04/world-mountain-

glaciers-melting-sea-level-rise/. Accessed on 21 June 2019.

Leavenworth, Stuart. “Climate change could triple the frequency of large wildfires, says new

federal report.” McClatchy DC Bureau, 11 March 2018.

https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/policy/environment/climate/article222091650.html.

Accessed on 18 June 2019.

Ocean Portal Team, The. “Ocean Acidification.” Smithsonian, April 2018.

https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/ocean-acidification. Accessed on 20 June

2019.

Rasmussen, Carol. “Warming Seas and Melting Ice Sheets.” NASA, 7 August 2017.

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/warming-seas-and-melting-ice-sheets. Accessed

on 17 June 2019.
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Viñas, María José. “2019 Arctic sea ice wintertime extent is seventh lowest.” NASA’s Earth

Science News Team, 20 March 2019. https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2850/2019-arctic-sea-

ice-wintertime-extent-is-seventh-lowest/. Accessed on 17 June 2019.

Walsh, Bryan. “Ocean Acidification Will Make Climate Change Worse.” Time, 26 August 2013.

http://science.time.com/2013/08/26/ocean-acidification-will-make-climate-change-

worse/. Accessed on 19 June 2019.