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Oceans are essential in controlling climate since they are responsible for the movements of heat and nutrients both regionally and globally. They are caused by winds at the ocean surface which facilitate the movement of warm water polewards and cold water towards the tropics to regulate global climaRead more
Oceans are essential in controlling climate since they are responsible for the movements of heat and nutrients both regionally and globally. They are caused by winds at the ocean surface which facilitate the movement of warm water polewards and cold water towards the tropics to regulate global climate. This process is known as thermohaline circulation and this is important in regulating temperature on the global level.
There are also warm currents such as the Gulf Stream which increases temperatures near coastal waters than inland areas of similar latitude. On the other hand, cold currents like the California current lower temperatures along the coasts resulting in cooler and stable climate conditions.
ocean currents regulate weather conditions by having an impact on formation and dynamics of storms and precipitation. For instance, the El Niño and La Niña features, which are frontal systems on the Pacific currents, directly affect the climate and cause droughts, floods, and changes in seasonal temperatures.
Currents also carry nutrients that help sustain organisms in the seas and this affects the carbon flow in the ecosystem. Thus, phytoplankton, the primary producers and the first trophic level of the marine ecosystem remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they take in nutrients during photosynthesis. Some of this carbon is taken to the ocean bottom to contribute in maintaining CO2 balance in the atmosphere and therefore climate change.
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The phenomenon of climate change is not new but it has accelerated due to human needs and development. While the course of climate change has been the result of the Industrial Revolution over several decades. Natural processes such as changes in the Sun's energy and volcanic eruptions also affect thRead more
The phenomenon of climate change is not new but it has accelerated due to human needs and development. While the course of climate change has been the result of the Industrial Revolution over several decades. Natural processes such as changes in the Sun’s energy and volcanic eruptions also affect the Earth’s climate.
Here are the main reasons for climate change in recent times:
1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The burning of fossil fuels emits large amount of GHGs such as Carbon-dioxide(CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), CFCs and HFCs. These GHGs emissions caused Earth’s temperature to rise and subsequently lead to global warming.
2. Deforestation: Clearing forests for urban development, agriculture and logging reduces the number of trees that can absorb CO2, thus increasing carbon footprint.
3. Rapid Industrialization: Since Industrial Revolution, human activities have contributed enormously to concentration of GHGs through manufacturing processes and energy production for making goods.
4. Urbanization: The rapid growth of urban cities has often lead to increased energy consumption and emissions from vehicles, heating and cooling systems.
These human- induced factors have hastened the rate of climate change leading to warming of Earth’s surface. Collective efforts are required from governments and individual to reduce the global increase in GHGs.
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