What are the causes of the climate change crisis?

Arabia Weather - Climate change is known in English as “Climate Change”, and it is a long-term change in temperatures and weather patterns somewhere on the surface of the Earth, and it can occur either in a specific place or on the level of the entire planet, and one of the most prominent causes of climate change currently is the phenomenon of global warming, It is an increase in the Earth's temperature in general resulting from human activities, most notably the burning of fossil fuels, such as natural gas, oil, and coal. Through this article, we will know what are the causes of the climate change crisis?

Causes of the human climate change crisis

Greenhouse gas emissions:

These gases collect in the atmosphere and hinder the release of heat and do not respond to temperature changes. When these gases remain in the atmosphere for a long time, they can cause changes in climate.

Greenhouse gas emissions are a major cause of human-induced climate change, and their sources include transportation, electricity production, the burning of fossil fuels in industries, commercial and residential applications, agriculture, and land use. These gases include:

• Carbon dioxide (CO2): It is produced by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas, and contributes significantly to climate change.
• Methane: includes emissions from petroleum industries and agriculture, especially from grazing animal digestion systems, waste management, and rice cultivation.
• Nitrous oxide: Emitted as a result of agricultural practices such as the use of organic and commercial fertilizers, biocombustion, nitric acid production, and biomass burning.
• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): Used in household appliances such as refrigerators and industrial applications, they are associated with dangerous effects on the atmosphere such as depletion of the ozone layer and heat trapping.

Industry:

Although the Industrial Revolution and industry have improved living conditions in many areas, they are linked to negative environmental impacts that lead to changes in climate. The large use of energy and the modification of natural systems during manufacturing processes cause the phenomenon of global warming, as manufacturing processes are related to the direct emission of gases from Due to the production of chemicals, iron and steel, which requires large amounts of energy.

Agriculture:

Every stage of food production, from production to storage, manufacturing, packaging, transportation and preparation, releases large amounts of greenhouse gases, and agriculture is one of the common causes of climate change through the emission of gases and the conversion of forests into agricultural land.

Elimination of Forests:

Deforestation is one of the main causes of human-induced climate change; Trees absorb greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, preventing their accumulation in the atmosphere and preventing the planet from warming. However, most forests are cleared to make room for agriculture, construction, and other human activities.

Natural causes of the climate change crisis

• Volcanic eruptions:

Volcanic eruptions release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, but they can also release aerosols that include volcanic ash and dust, in addition to sulfur dioxide. Aerosols consist of liquid and solid materials that float in the air, such as soot, dust, salt crystals, bacteria, and viruses. Aerosols are able to scatter incoming solar radiation, leading to a slight cooling effect. Moreover, volcanic aerosols block part of the sunlight, leading to a cooling effect that continues for up to two years.

• El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO):

This phenomenon represents a periodic oscillation in the ocean and atmosphere system, with its greatest impact in the equatorial region of the Pacific Ocean, which is directly reflected in global weather. Under normal conditions, the southeastern trade winds across the equatorial Pacific Ocean move westward, but every 3 to 10 Years, these winds weaken, which opens the way for warm water to flow eastward towards South America. This warm water current usually reaches the west coast of South America, and this phase (warming of the ocean surface) is called “El Niño.”

The El Niño phenomenon greatly affects global weather patterns, as it brings noticeable weather and climate changes. This phenomenon causes South America to witness more humid weather than usual, while North America experiences mild winter weather. This effect is attributed to complex interactions between ocean surface temperatures and air currents, and is reflected in It clearly affects the weather conditions in the affected areas. Therefore, understanding and monitoring the El Niño phenomenon is an essential part of studying and analyzing global weather and climate changes.

• Movement of cortical plates:

With the movement of tectonic plates over geological times, land masses move to multiple locations and latitudes, and this change affects global air circulation patterns and ocean currents, in addition to its noticeable impact on the global climate. The location of coal mines is a prominent example of the impact of the movement of tectonic plates on climate. Coal mines were formed in tropical regions in the past, but today they are found in higher latitudes. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the temperature of the Northern Hemisphere has risen by a greater rate than the Southern Hemisphere, and this is due to the fact that the Northern Hemisphere contains a larger proportion of the land area.

Effects of the climate change crisis

Climate change poses a major threat to public health as it leads to air pollution, the spread of diseases, worsening forced displacement, increasing pressures on mental health, and increasing problems of hunger and malnutrition, resulting in the loss of the lives of approximately 13 million people annually, and the complexity of health care systems in the world. Adapt to these challenges.

Climate change and extreme weather events are contributing to rising levels of global hunger and malnutrition, with major food sources being affected by the destruction of fisheries, crops, and livestock, while marine resources are being threatened by increasing ocean acidity, changes in ice and ice cover in the Arctic hampering food supplies, and heat stress leading to... To water shortages and a decline in crops and livestock.

Climate change leads to a shortage of water in different regions, making it more scarce. Global warming increases water shortages in poor areas, causing increased risks of drought and thus affecting crops. Environmental drought increases the vulnerability of ecosystems. Drought can also trigger storms. Devastating sand and dirt, capable of transporting billions of tons of sand across continents. Deserts are also expanding, reducing the space available for growing food, and increasing the risk of water not being available on a regular basis for many people.

With the increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases, the Earth’s surface is witnessing a rise in temperatures, and the last decade (2011-2020) was characterized as the warmest, and all land areas suffer from an increase in hot days and heat waves, and rising temperatures lead to the emergence of heat-related diseases and complicate working conditions in Open air. Increased heat increases the possibility of forest fires and accelerates their spread.

Read also: How does climate change pose the biggest threat to human health?