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Ian Rolfe

Prof. Archer

ENGL 20803

1 April 2019

The Impact of Climate Change on the Global Environment

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

charts for global temperatures (Lindsey).

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

in the polar region (Stirling, 2700).

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

driven south to accommodate to the rising temperatures as most of these organisms

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

humans across the world (Spalding, 771).

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

resources and a booming economy.

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

civilizations, like Florida and islands in the Caribbean.

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,

no. 3, 2010, pp. 157-163. ProQuest,

http://library.tcu.edu/PURL/EZproxy_link.asp?http://search.proquest.com/docview/1030

085243?accountid=7090, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ngeo779. Accessed 15 Apr. 2019

Lindsey, Rebecca. “Climate Change: Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide.” Climate.gov, 1 Aug. 2018,

https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-

atmospheric-carbon-dioxide. Accessed 22 Apr. 2019.

Macedo, Stephen, editor. “FOSSIL FUELS.” Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels: How Human

Values Evolve, by Ian Morris et al., Princeton University Press, PRINCETON;

OXFORD, 2015, pp. 93–138. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvd58v6p.9. Accessed 15

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–

S165. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40062163. Accessed 15 Apr. 2019.

Schumann, Nicole. “Impacts of Climate Change on Australian Marine Mammals.” Australian

Journal of Zoology, CSIRO Publishing, 28 June 2013, pp. 146-159,

www.publish.csiro.au/zo/12131. Accessed 15 Apr. 2019.

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,

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/350/6262/769.full.pdf. Accessed 22 Apr. 2019.

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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,

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02753.x. Accessed 15 Apr. 2019.

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,

2018, pp. 33-35. ProQuest,

http://library.tcu.edu/PURL/EZproxy_link.asp?http://search.proquest.com/docview/2006

753559?accountid=7090, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2017.304197. Accessed 15

Apr. 2019