We are going back to basics through our new mini-series on climate and health. This week we are talking about climate change.
Climate is often confused with weather. Let’s get to the bottom of this once and for all.
Weather is what you get daily. If you look out your window and see that it’s raining, you are describing today’s weather. Rain, snow, wind, hurricanes, tornadoes — these are all weather events.
Climate change is what you observe in a particular region over a long period of time.
Trends of how cold or hot over longer periods, like years or decades, are a sign of a changing Earth. Many of the warmest temps happening recently. Warmer temperatures has many ramifications.
Let’s dive a bit deeper into climate change:
Make no mistake, climate change is sped up by human activity.
When we burn fossil fuels, we release CO2. That’s what we call a greenhouse gas. Another GHG emitted is methane from agricultural activities, fracking and landfills, to name a few
GHGs have no where to go so they accumulate in the atmosphere, causing temperatures rise.
And the resulting hot atmosphere acts like an invisible blanket that traps heat from the sun on the Earth’s surface. This results in lasting disruption of the planet’s ecosystems
The impacts of climate change are far reaching, yet presents differently based on the region and ecosystem. Some areas may experience extreme precipitation and flooding, while others will observe drought and wildfires. Coastal regions may experience sea level rise or be touched by hurricanes. And places that previously didn’t battle with heat are experiencing extreme heat events. These conditions have far-reaching environmental, social, agricultural, and economic effects — and are harmful to our health and well-being.
Thanks so much for following. Tell us what you want us to cover in the comments below. And make some noise for climate.