Impacts of Climate change
Climate change is ascribed to dynamic changes in human acts concerning the physical environment observed over a more extended period. Climate change is both a global and local problem that calls for professional knowledge and a manageable response to address the issue. Climate change leads to rapid changes in weather patterns that will affect agricultural productions, storms, desertification, rising sea levels, and adverse human health conditions.
The primary cause of climate change is global warming propagated by the greenhouse effect, which is a situation in which a portion of the solar’s heat is retained in the atmosphere. This phenomenon causes the earth’s temperature to rise to abnormally higher levels. Rising in the sea level is observed due to thermal expansion and geological factors arising from the increase in the earth’s surface due to the removal of underground ice through melting. Floods in the coastal regions become a threat due to this effect. It can also cause the coastal islands to disappear, thus posing a risk to the entire state population. Alternatively, rising water levels and melting of ice in the coastal regions can lead to sedimentation and intruding of saltwater. These factors are beneficial to coastal settlers since it favors agriculture and fishing.
The terrestrial ecosystem also suffers due to changes in human activities such as urbanization, settlement, and deforestation. These causes variations in the atmospheric precipitation and temperatures, which affect the rate of growth in plants and insects. Reduction in carbon (iv) oxide stagnates growth in plants, thus lowering overall production. Clearing of trees for settlements and agriculture causes deforestation. Furthermore, deaths and migration of plants and animal species occur because of the lack of enough food by both animals and people. Quite several plants and animals species get distinct every year due to the continuous destruction of their habitat and lack of food.
Climate change poses a health hazard to humanity by causing severe serious diseases. Both direct and indirect effects cause diseases. Proximity to heatwaves and radiations from the atmosphere are among the direct factors. Some indirect causes include variation in food productions and packaging systems and the absorption of toxic, carcinogenic substances by plants that are later consumed by humans. Respiratory diseases, skin diseases, and psychological disorders are the major health problems associated with climate change. Alternatively, regional malnutrition and hunger, child growth and development impairment occur due to changes in food production attributed to various changes in weather patterns, diseases, and pest attack.
Humans have increased the production of Chlorofluorocarbon and discharging harmful bromine and chlorine gases into the atmosphere. These continually cause depletion in the ozone layer, and in turn, it exposes the earth’s surface to dangerous ultraviolet rays from the sun. An increase in these radiations causes skin cancer, damage in the skin immune system, and eye opacity, which leads to blindness if not treated. An increase in skin cancer is a primary concern in high altitude areas since ozone depletion is at higher levels than in low altitude areas.
Generally, climate change has several harmful impacts on living organisms and plants. Sensitization should be enhanced to reduce its effects. Some of the measures include a reduction in greenhouse gas emission.