2016 is already proving to be the hottest year to date, with only January, February and March behind us. Each of these three months were hotter than they were in 2015. The El Nino that occurred this year is also responsible for the increase in temperatures as well as the abnormal weather patterns that were witnessed. The El Nino was reinforced by climate change, but is now, fortunately, coming to an end. Scientists compared this El Nino to the most recent, record-breaking El Nino that occurred from 1997 to 1998. This was used to differentiate the temperature increase from climate change or from the El Nino. Their findings revealed that this El Nino was an additional 0.8 degrees higher than the one recorded in the late 90’s.

The combination of both the El Nino and global warming does not show a bright outlook for escaping climate change and rapid increases in heat. Scientists fear that this new heat will melt the Arctic sea ice in the upcoming summer. The 1.5 degree threshold that was set at Paris this past December is already being threatened. One research and scientist stated that, “I don’t see at all how we’re going to not go through the 1.5 degree-number in the next decade or so.” 2016 is already looking like an ominous year for climate change, and it is only a third of the way finished.

References:

Schlossberg, Tatiana. “2016 Already Shows Record Global Temperatures.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 19 Apr. 2016. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.

NASA’s two largest launch pads are located a quarter of a mile away from the encroaching ocean. These launch pads sit atop of two 50 foot artificial hills. Most of the Florida Space Coast is in threatening danger due to climate change. Researchers have proposed that the sea levels could rise five to six feet by the end of the century due to the warming of the Antarctic ice sheet. An astronaut, named Scott Kelly, just recently returned from a year long trip in space and spoke of differences in the earth that he had observed from his prior trip from 2010. He stated, “It seems to me there is more pollution in India and China than what I saw last time. Definitely noticed the fires this summer in the USA; sometimes, could see the smoke all the way to Chicago.”

Much of the land that is owned and operated by NASA is “within 16 feet of mean sea level”. This means that the sites owned by NASA will be under severe threat from climate change although, retreating the facilities inland is not an option. The most inexpensive way to deal with climate change would to be upgrading the facilities to prepare for the changing climate. The reason these billion dollar facilities are located on the coast is due to the fact that it is much safer to launch rockets over water than over land and human civilization. The article finishes with a very sound statement, “Water, once the solution to many of the space agency’s problems, is becoming its biggest threat.”

References:

Schwartz, John. “NASA Is Facing a Climate Change Countdown.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 04 Apr. 2016. Web. 14 Apr. 2016.

The West Antarctic ice sheet is larger than Mexico and it is believed to be in danger from global warming. If the ice sheet breaks up and melts, it has the ability to raise the sea level by twelve feet. Originally, researchers thought this would take thousands of years, but now new research is displaying a much more scary future for the ice sheet. Due to the high carbon emissions and warming temperatures, the ice sheet could be gone by the end of the century, and its disappearance could cause the sea level to rise by three feet. Research now indicates that with all of the melting ice, sea levels could rise six feet by 2100. The article states that many dense coastal cities will have to be abandoned, because there will not be enough protection for all of them to survive the rising sea levels. These cities include New York City, Miami, New Orleans, London, Venice, Sydney and many more.

The article then discusses the findings of researchers, including what will happen if humans continue burning fossil fuels at the same rate of today. It is expected that the West Antarctic ice sheet would be broken apart by 2050 that is only 34 years away. Most of the research is in debate now, but one thing is clear, we cannot continue to burn fossil fuels at this same rate or we will be leaving future generations a disastrous world with rising sea levels.

References:

Gillis, Justin. “Climate Model Predicts West Antarctic Ice Sheet Could Melt Rapidly.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 30 Mar. 2016. Web. 04 Apr. 2016.

Scientists have now discovered a way to predict heat waves that occur on the Eastern United States by tracking water temperatures in the North Pacific Ocean. The article states, “From 1999 to 2012, about 620 people died each year, on average, from heat-related illness in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease.” The number of deaths will only rise with the oncoming climate change. The increased awareness ahead of time would allow for everyone in society to be better prepared for the heat waves ahead of them.

Farmers would be able to prepare shady spots for their livestock, as well as upping the water release on their crops. Schools and businesses could prepare their cooling agents to make sure they are up to par for the upcoming heat. The scientists discovered this trend by studying extremely hot days during the summers from 1982 to 2015 and the temperature of the surface ocean. They found that the increased temperatures correlated with one another up to seven weeks in advance. This discovery will be extremely beneficial to the Eastern part of the United States in the future summers to come. It will be especially beneficial for when the climate really begins to change and the globe is seeing increasing temperatures.

References:

Fountain, Henry. “Scientists Find a Way to Predict U.S. Heat Waves Weeks in Advance.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 28 Mar. 2016. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.

As the number of earthquakes rise in a once earthquake-free state, the state of Oklahoma has chosen to step in and set some ground rules. The amount of earthquakes have gradually been increasing for past six years. When the earthquakes first began in 2010, there were only three that were recorded with a magnitude above 3. In 2015, there were 907 earthquakes with a magnitude above 3. 2016 is already paving the way for more quakes with 160 in the last three months. Oklahoma regulators have requested that oil and gas industries now reduce the amount of oil and gas liquids being injected into the ground by 40%. The regulators are focusing this request on a location the size of Connecticut with around 411 injection wells.

The government and state Legislature had been denying the correlation between the oil and gas industry and the increase in earthquakes in the state. A seismologist reminded the state that due to the increased number of quakes, there could also be an extremely brutal and awakening quake on the way. The reason for the increased number of earthquakes in the state of Oklahoma is because of the increased number of injection wells in the state as well. Due to the 40% cutback of waste injection, there could be a decrease in production as well.

Module 8 discusses the effects of human impact on the oceans. I have found an article titled, “Wind Farm May be Built off Long Island”, regarding the discussion of whether or not to build this wind farm. The article states that that, “The process of planning the wind farm, which could take several years, involves environmental assessment, an auction, further assessments of the site and construction plans, and an environmental impact report”. The site that has been chosen is around 127 square miles. The site is currently under auction and is not allowing oil or gas drilling in surrounding areas, along the Southeastern Atlantic coast. This specific site could maintain 194 wind turbines which would essentially provide enough electricity to run 300,000 homes. Many wind farms have faced issues regarding funding, and disagreements from residents, fishermen and businesses.

Even though there are many negative issues regarding the construction of wind farms, there are most definitely some notable pros as well. The government has a program called “Smart from the Start”, which now promotes the building of wind farms in the Atlantic Ocean. President Obama has also helped out the wind farm industry by not allowing off shore drilling on the Atlantic coast. It would be truly amazing if New York could channel all of that wind off the coast into pure rich and renewable energy.

References:

Throughout module 6 we have been learning about ocean currents and their effect on global climate. I found an article showing examples of the effects of the El Nino in Los Angeles, California. After receiving ample amounts of rainfall from the El Nino following one of the worst droughts in the history, Los Angeles now has gallons and gallons of storm water. Because of previous flooding dangers, the city has organized their water system to dispose of storm water as quickly and efficiently as possible, draining it straight into the ocean. After a year of cutting their water usage by 25%, this storm water all of a sudden seems like the perfect answer to their drought crisis. Instead of capturing the 200 billion gallons (or at least some) of storm water, the city watched as it washed away into the ocean. This water is now untouchable and was also a potentially perfect answer to the drought and water cutbacks the city has been facing.

The city has now made re-managing their water system a top priority. The El Nino is still expected to shower the state in rain in the following months to come, allowing the state another chance to capture the storm water for reuse. The state is now entering a moment where they know they need to be the ones dealing with their water crisis, the storm water has become a great opportunity for them to cut back on imported water. The task is not as easy as it sounds and will take a generous sum of money and willingness of the residents of California to be successful. The city is composed mostly of impervious surfaces, which will generate a high amount of pollutants in the water which will need to be filtered out for public use. There is much change and work to be done but if they succeed, it will be great.

With the changing climate, Californians know they will now be more susceptible to droughts more than ever. Having a backup water supply will be essential to their state. A new way of managing storm water has become one of the best opportunities for the state of California. This will help them effectively resist both drought and climate change much more smoothly.

References:

Nagourney, Adam. “Storm Water, Long a Nuisance, May Be a Parched California’s Salvation.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 20 Feb. 2016. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.

In module 5 we are studying the global carbon cycle and also, the effects that humans are implementing on the global carbon cycle. 2015 was recorded as the hottest year and scientists predict that the years will continually grow warmer and warmer. Earlier this year began the severe outbreak of the Zika virus which comes from mosquitos living in warmer, tropical areas, such as Brazil. As the temperature warms, the mosquitos are able to mature much faster, and therefore, spread diseases and viruses much quicker than when times were cooler.

The outbreak has gotten out of control and is far from having a cure. There have been many other outbreaks where climate change has been linked to as well. Some of these diseases include, malaria, Lyme’s, and a disease called bluetounge. The mosquitos lay their eggs in water that many people use as their daily drinking supply due to the poor plumbing of the cities.

Global climate change is not just affecting the warmer countries, it will soon directly affect every country around the world. The Zika outbreak is a clear example of the sorts of issues and diseases that we could be facing in the near future due to the increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Global temperatures are rising which means the world needs to be prepared as best as possible for the side effects that will come with it.

References:

Gillis, Justin. “Zika Outbreak Could Be an Omen of the Global Warming Threat.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 18 Feb. 2016. Web. 18 Feb. 2016.

In module 4 we are learning about Global Climate Models (GMCs) and how they can help predict the future climate that our world will be facing in the next century. We studied three specific models: A2, A1B and B1. These three different models all focus on different outcomes surrounding environmental and economic decisions of the world. I thought that the Paris Climate Talks would be an extremely appropriate topic to discuss seeing as though we are learning about the outcome of our climate depending on the participation of our world.

195 countries were involved with the Climate Talks and all came to an agreement to lower their carbon emissions and set reasonable and manageable 5-year goals. There have been many other programs set in place by countries, such as the United States “Mission Initiative” to double the funding for alternative energy research. Even the founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, has begun a program (Breakthrough Energy Coalition) doing research on clean technologies. It has been shown already that companies who are focused on climate change and sustainable living have experienced an incredible economic growth rate.

Although there is still much work and research that needs to be done, it is looking like our world is coming together and following the route of model A1B. This model demonstrates a world that is willing to work together to make our actions more sustainable and less permanent on the surface of the Earth. If the A1B model is followed the temperatures will rise but not as drastically as if we continued to live our daily lives normally before the Paris Climate Talks, like the “business as usual” model, A2. One of the factors that does not match the model would be the population. The article states that we will have 9.7 million people on this planet by the year 2060, but the model states that the world will peak at 9 million in 2050 and begin to decrease in the years to follow.

References:

Norwood, Graham. “Beyond the Paris Climate Talks: What Was Achieved and What Remains to Be Done.” Wilson Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2016. <https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/beyond-the-paris-climate-talks-what-was-achieved-and-what-remains-to-be-done>.

For Module 3’s blog I have decided to find an article written in the past, about an event that took place 200 years ago. The event that my article is about is the eruption of Mount Tambora, which is now located in Indonesia. This eruption took place in April of 1815. The article goes into great detail discussing the global effects of the volcanic eruption that was 100 times greater than that of Mount St. Helens. The eruption killed 100,000 local people of Sumbawa, but the effects did not stop there. The following two years were cold ones for the rest of the world. The Germans called it “the year of the beggar,” while the New Englanders coined it “eighteen hundred and froze to death”. The particles from the eruption were transported well above rain carrying clouds, and therefore acted as a reflector for the sun. The cloud of ash reflected large amounts of sunlight that were trying to reach the Earth’s surface, which created a global cooling to occur in the years to follow.

The effects of the eruption were not only seen in the climate but also in the art during the time period. During the year of 1816, Mary Shelley concocted the story of Frankenstein which was the published in 1818. Vampires also became increasingly popular in literature and stories as well as darker themed stories. There were many paintings that focused on the brilliant sunsets during the time, but little did the artists know that those sunsets were a product of the clouds of ash miles above.

The severe climate changes included, a change in the monsoon of 1817 and extensive rains that led to a cholera outbreak in India which then spread to the Dutch East Indies. This epidemic killed hundreds of thousands. Summers were cooler all over the globe, resulting in a shortage of crops and an increase in hunger. This volcanic eruption did not just effect one area, it produced a domino-effect of global issues for nearly two years. These outcomes can help scientists further predict how change in climate will, in fact, change humanity as well.

References:

Broad, William J. “A Volcanic Eruption That Reverberates 200 Years Later.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 24 Aug. 2015. Web. 04 Feb. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/25/science/mount-tambora-volcano-eruption-1815.html>.

Throughout Module 2 we have continued to learn that climate change is happening, and it is happening rather quickly. The problems that climate change produce include rising sea levels, more intense storms, drought and many other environmental catastrophes. I found an article in the New York Times called El Nino Storms Put Pacifica Cliff Apartments at Risk. These apartments have been built on cliffs right on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, but due to erosion from intense storms, the cliffs have snuck up right under these homeowners back porches.

Although California has seen a long and unforgiving drought, this is not the kind of rain that they were hoping for. The storms have become so severe that they are chiseling away at the side of the cliffs. The apartments have become uninhabitable due to the threat and the reality of them falling into the crashing waves below. The article states that, “Scientists have warned for years that long-term soil erosion and rising sea levels are contributing to increased flooding, cliff failures, severe storms and large scale changes down the Pacific Coast.”

After reading through Module 2 I finally, truly understand the connection between climate change and intensity of storms. When more moisture is in the air (like what is happening now due to the increase in air temperature) it means that there is more energy, and therefore creates more powerful storms than what the human world has ever seen before. This makes me wonder whether or not the El Nino is more strong and destructive than previous ones, or if last weekend’s snow storm, that essentially came “out of the blue”, was linked to this increase in energy in our atmosphere. The storm that swept through the East Coast left countless towns with new records of snowfall.

This article shows how climate change is already affecting and relocating Americans due to the intensity of the storms that come with it.

Reference

Southall, Ashley. “El Nino Storms Put Pacifica Cliff Apartments At Risk.” New York Times 26 Jan. 2016: n. pag. Print.

Throughout Module 1 we have studied the very introduction to climate change. We have seen anything from climate records to climate events that have happened and how we know they happened. In the New York Times I found an article called “Animals Die in Large Numbers, and Researchers Scratch Their Heads”. As the level of CO₂ increases in our world we could potentially see such events as the ones that happened during the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum era. This was a time in Earth’s history where the levels of CO₂ became so high that the oceans became incredibly acidic, wiping out a large number of ocean species. The PETM is linked to the largest mass extinction of animals living in the ocean.

As our surroundings begin to increase with CO₂ scientists are studying the past in order to predict our future. The article that I read was about a type of seabird called a murre which inhabits Alaska. The death rate for these birds has been steadily increasing but just made a rapid increase more recently. Thousands of these sea birds are dying and being found on seashores and out in the middle of the ocean, floating. There seems to be no disease related cause for their death, the only thing that has been recorded is how withered and thin the birds look when they are found. Their appearance can only mean one thing and that would be lack of food for the murres. It is stated in the article that the decline in fish food could be because of the climate change and a difference in ocean temperatures. El Nino has not reached Alaska yet and could not be at fault for the changing ocean temperatures.

The murres are not the only animal to be dying off quickly, but also the moose, bees, dolphin and the saiga antelope. The article also talks about a study that following large animal die offs since 1940 and saw that they are on the rise. It is important to find and study the reasons that many animals are facing such large die-offs because they could have potential effect on humans in the future.

Gorman, James. “Animals Die in Large Numbers, and Researchers Scratch Their Heads.” New York Times. N.p., 18 Jan. 2016. Web. 19 Jan. 2016.