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Ian Rolfe
Prof. Archer
ENGL 20803
1 April 2019
The pressing topic of Climate Change has been circulating the media for decades now.
With events such as the melting of polar icecaps causing sea levels to rise and the increase in the
occurrence of tropical cyclones, climate change has been seen to affect both our physical world
and the way we interact with it. Even though climate change and global warming have already
had a profound effect on our earth, many scientists and specialists in the field believe it is not too
late for us to make a difference in preventing further harm to our planet. Without significant
change and attempts to decrease our release of Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere, climate
change will continue to deteriorate the planet we live on until we are unable to survive, and our
planets ecosystems have been devastated. By raising global awareness for the dangers of Climate
Change and enhancing the way we produce energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, our
planet has the ability to adapt to a higher temperature and we can prevent the further degradation
of Earth.
As many scientists and media outlets have made clear, the burning of fossil fuels and
release of Carbon Dioxide in our Earth’s atmosphere have had an extremely profound effect on
the current state of climate change. Since the industrial revolution, CO2 emissions have
increased dramatically and so has the global temperature. A scientific study was done by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that showed the levels of CO2 in the
atmosphere and the results are frightening. In their 2017 study, researchers at Moana Loa
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Observatory in Honolulu, HI, measured the global concentration of Carbon Dioxide and found
that it had reached 400 ppm, which is the highest it has been over the past 800 thousand years
(Lindsey). Because of Hawaii’s location in the Pacific Ocean, away from major CO2 emitters,
the scientists conducting this study have been able to acquire accurate atmospheric readings for
the amount of CO2 present in the Earth’s atmosphere and analyze them in comparison to weather
When comparing the current atmospheric CO2 levels to levels that have been
extrapolated from thousands of years ago through air bubbles trapped in mile-thick ice cores, the
data shows that scale of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is not the problem, since past levels
have been almost as high as what we are seeing in the present day. What is alarming to scientists
is the rate in which greenhouse gases are being pumped into our atmosphere, which is much
higher than ever before due to humans burning fossil fuels. “The annual rate of increase in
atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past 60 years is about 100 times faster than previous natural
increases…” (Lindsey). Our historic climate has always had an ebb and flow, rising very high
and getting to very low temperatures during the ice ages of Earth’s history, but with the impact
of humans burning fossil fuels, the increase in temperature is coming at an alarming rate and will
not give the environment ample time to adapt to the changing climate. This impact is shown
through current changes we have observed in the polar bear population, marine environment, and
the diverse effects it has had on weather conditions across the world.
Polar bears are a species that has been particularly impacted by climate change due to the
changes that global warming has brought upon their environment. As global temperatures have
risen, the arctic region is losing much of the ice that has historically been the habitat of the arctic
polar bears. With the melting of ice caps and breaking apart of ice sheets on the surface of the
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ocean, polar bears are slowly becoming forced into a smaller area. And even though these
animals are known for their ability to swim, the ice sheets provide very important functions for
the species, acting as firm ground to live and move on. Without the ice, the polar bear population
has a severe reduction in their overall ability to survive in the harsh environment. One important
function of ice sheets for the polar bear species is how they use it during their mating season.
The ice and snow provide shelter for the bears during breeding and can be the difference between
the life and death of their newborn cubs. The female polar bears also spend their summers on the
floating ice in order to maximize their fat storage, and then return before making their dens on
the shore. With increased temperatures melting the ice, a greater number of female bears are
unable to successfully make the swim back to shore and also contributing to the loss in polar
bear population (Stirling, 2699). Research into the polar bear breeding has shown an overall
decrease in the survival of polar bear cubs, from 73.0% to 48.8%, due to a recent decrease in ice
The melting of ice and snow in the arctic habitat also affects how the polar bears hunt,
through the availability of dry land. The bears are very competent swimmers and use their
swimming ability to catch their main source of food which are seals. but they are only able to
catch these marine mammals with the help of the sea ice. The polar bears strategically use the ice
to stalk the seals before jumping into the water to kill the animals. Without the ability to
approach their prey on the ice sheets, the seals are able to easily swim away from the polar bears
which has resulted in many bears starving to death. In unique situations, the adult males will
resort to infanticide and cannibalism to meet their nutrition and survival needs, with 8 cases
observed in 2010 (Stirling, 2701). Climate change has affected this population of animals by
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slowly reducing the size of their habitat and altering their traditional eating patterns, and this is
not the only environment or animal species that has been affected by global climate change.
Another environment that has been negatively affected by the effects of climate change is
the marine ecosystem. The impacts of climate change effect many types of marine organisms all
over the world, but one group of organisms that is particularly harmed are marine mammals.
Recent research has been done on marine mammals in the oceans around Australia, where
researchers studied the impacts of climatic factors and how changing temperatures have affected
the important life functions of these particular animals. Similar to the Arctic polar bears, “The
principal climatic influence on many marine mammals appears to be the relationship between
ocean temperature and the distribution and availability of prey” (Schumann, 147). While the
climate changes have been beneficial to some mammals such as dolphins in the Ningaloo Reef in
Australia, many other species have been forced to feed irregularly due to the increase in air and
ocean temperatures. The increased temperatures are driving the prey of these marine mammals
into new habitats and regions which is pulling large marine mammals into these new regions. By
introducing the marine mammals into new habitats, they are forced to adjust to the food chain
that is already present and could possibly lower the survival of predators that are in these new
food chains (Moore, S161). On top of following their food sources, these species are likely to be
thermoregulate their body temperatures, meaning they maintain an internal body temperature by
adjusting blubber levels on their bodies. The change in water temperature would deviate their
normal body temperatures which can cause severe effects on internal cellular processes
(Schumann, 147). With both of these changing factors, marine mammals in Australia could
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observe an extreme decline in population if the ocean temperatures continue to climb at the rate
currently present.
The most widely covered impact of climate change on the marine environment is the
topic of coral bleaching. Though coral bleaching is the most well documented effect, there are
actually two mechanisms through which climate change is harming coral reefs across the globe.
The first is through the warming of the ocean waters which leads to coral bleaching. Coral
bleaching is the widespread death of the coral organisms. When coral die, the cells within the
coral that provide the organism with nutrients through photosynthesis react to the harsh
environmental changes and leave the coral, causing the coral to lose its color, hence the term
‘Coral Bleaching’. Because of the global warming of ocean waters, coral bleaching is occurring
more frequently than ever before, an example is The Great Barrier Reef which has had “An
average of 3.4% loss of coral cover per year from 1985 to 2012…” which “…has led to a current
mean coral cover of only 14%” (Spalding, 771). This severe loss of coral cover is occurring
throughout the ocean and at an extremely fast rate due to the sensitivity of the coral to the change
in water temperature.
The second mechanism through which climate change impacts coral is less known due to
its complexity but just as harmful is through ocean acidification. Ocean acidification occurs
through the absorption of carbon dioxide by the ocean. The ocean is one of the largest carbon
sinks on our planet, meaning it takes up a large majority of the CO2 in the atmosphere and
recycles it like a plant would through photosynthesis. When the carbon dioxide is absorbed into
the ocean, it goes through a series of chemical reactions with the water and leads to the pH of the
ocean to decrease, or become more acidic (Spalding, 770). When the coral’s environment
becomes more acidic, the exoskeleton of the organism decomposes, and new coral is unable to
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form or is grown very brittle. This can lead to the disappearance of entire reefs which affects not
only the coral but also the fish that rely on the coral reefs for shelter and protection from
predators. Through these two complex mechanisms, climate change and the rise in CO2
concentrations in our atmosphere is gradually devastating many ocean environments and could
even have adverse effects on the fishing industry which provides food for many millions of
Even though the CO2 levels in the atmosphere have been rising at a dramatic rate since
the industrial revolution, the advent of burning fossil fuels has brought the world economy to a
new level. Without the discovery of electricity and deriving energy from fossil fuels, our world
wouldn’t be where it is today with the technology and global communication that we are so
familiar with. The burning of carbon related fuels has brought the global economy to new heights
with the ability to provide electricity to rural areas across not just the United States, but also in
developing countries. Through the release of fossil fuels into the atmosphere, millions of people
have been able to have access to food and clean water, increasing the overall health of the world
and growing the world’s population from 1 billion in the 1800s to 6 billion in 2000 (Macedo,
96). Along with the extreme growth in population came the increase in human health with
studies showing that in the western hemisphere, “In 2000, the average human was ten
centimeters taller than his or her great grandparents had been in 1900, lived thirty years longer,
and earned six times as much in real terms” (Macedo, 98). The increase in industrialization and
access to food, water, and living wages has allowed for an overall increase in quality of life for
the average individual. Prior to the industrial revolution many people were forced to live in poor
conditions and work long days just to earn enough to provide for their families. So even with the
negative effects of CO2 in the atmosphere and the burning of fossil fuels, the industry as a whole
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has brought a new generation of health and stability to the global population by providing
The industrial revolution ushered in a new age of health and prosperity for the human
population but has also indirectly harmed the human population through adverse effects on the
global climate. Due to the global rise in temperature and ocean surface temperatures, weather has
been dramatically affected specifically with a global increase in the number of hurricanes.
Hurricanes are weather phenomena that occur at tropical latitudes and form due to ocean
temperatures and wind patterns on the surface of the ocean. With the increase in carbon dioxide
and other greenhouse gases, the surface water temperatures of the ocean have increased and
altered wind patterns so that the conditions which create hurricanes have been more frequent.
Studies have shown a significant increase in hurricane counts between the 1800s and present
(Knutson, 158). Hurricanes are known to devastate places in the United States, such as Florida,
and Islands in the Caribbean, like Haiti and the Dominican Republic. These tropical storms now
form more quickly and grow to historically large magnitudes. Once these cyclones reach the
shore, they are able to travel further onto land and terrorize a greater range of human
Tropical storms both directly and indirectly increase mortality and lead to long-term
increases in morbidity, with accounts stating deaths caused by drowning and physical injuries.
Hurricanes also have the ability to limit access to electricity and clean water (Woodward, 34).
Prior to the global increase in temperature brought on by the emission of greenhouse gases,
hurricanes were not as common and were unable to grow to the magnitude which lead to the
increase in injury to the populations living in low latitude coastal regions. Other large hurricanes
have caused property damage and loss of life in elderly patients who were unable to receive
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treatment after power outages in Florida hospitals and nursing homes (Woodward, 34). Because
of the rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and climate change, weather is now
more unpredictable than ever and has the ability to cause destruction in human populations and
loss of lives.
Though Earth has been drastically affected by climate change and the rise in global CO2
levels, there is still hope for a better tomorrow. Our planet and the species that inhabit it,
including humans, are extremely adaptable and overtime our planet will adjust to the increased
temperature we have observed due to anthropogenic impact. But there still needs to be change.
Scientists and engineers are constantly finding new sources of energy as alternatives to the
burning of fossil fuels. With these new developments, I am optimistic for the future of our
planet, but shifting away from fossil fuels comes down to the decisions made by global leaders
and large businesses across the world. Raising global awareness through education about the
issue of Climate Change is the easiest way for individuals to persuade global leaders and big
businesses to move away from releasing greenhouse gases and begin to use new technological
innovations that are more environmentally friendly. By the actions of individuals who desire to
seek a better future for our own species and the many others on this planet, we can end the
emission of greenhouse gases into our atmosphere and ensure the survival of planet Earth.
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Works Cited
Knutson, Thomas R., et al. "Tropical Cyclones and Climate Change." Nature Geoscience, vol. 3,
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Lindsey, Rebecca. “Climate Change: Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide.” Climate.gov, 1 Aug. 2018,
https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-
Macedo, Stephen, editor. “FOSSIL FUELS.” Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels: How Human
Apr. 2019.
Moore, Sue E., and Huntington, Henry P. “Arctic Marine Mammals and Climate Change:
Impacts and Resilience.” Ecological Applications, vol. 18, no. 2, 2008, pp. S157–
Spalding, Mark D., and Brown, Barbara E. “Warm-water Coral Reefs and Climate Change.”
Science Magazine, Vol. 350, Issue 6262, 13 Nov. 2015, pp. 769-771,
Stirling, Ian, and Derocher, Andrew E. “Effects of Climate Warming on Polar Bears: A Review
of the Evidence.” Global Change Biology, Vol. 18, no. 9, 29 May 2012, pp. 2694-2706,
Woodward, Alistair J, MMedSci,PhD., M.B., and Samet, Jonathan M,M.D., M.S. "Climate
Change, Hurricanes, and Health." American Journal of Public Health, vol. 108, no. 1,
http://library.tcu.edu/PURL/EZproxy_link.asp?http://search.proquest.com/docview/2006
Apr. 2019