Can Global Climate Change Be Reversed?
Salty Wave Story #11
The environment is a hot topic in more ways than one. Scientists say climate change is the Earth’s number one issue, while water pollution and ocean acidification are second, and loss of biodiversity is third. Given the significance of global climate change and its impact on all life, is it possible this trend can be reversed?
Yes, it can be done, but it won’t happen without a dramatic change in the way we behave as a human race.
Stop all human emissions of greenhouse gases – carbon and methane.
I believe these steps are worth following by world leaders because there is only one planet, and the Earth knows no borders—it doesn’t discriminate; it simply supports natural processes and life as we know it. According to a report written by David Herring and Rebecca Linsey (NOAA) in October 2022, if humans were to cease all activities that emit carbon and methane, the Earth would have time to release the trapped heat from the ocean to the surface, where it would gradually be radiated out into space, leading to a decline in Earth’s global temperature. I believe the “sacrifice” is worth it in the long term because I don’t think experiencing the ferocity of forest fires, raging floods, extreme heatwaves, prolonged droughts, cyclones, tornadoes, increased risk of disease, and pests, whether now or in the future, is the way forward.
Some background information
We have been witnessing the increasing effects of climate change over time since temperature data was first recorded in 1880 (NASA, Jan 13, 2023). Scientists have reported progressive global temperature increases caused by greenhouse gas emissions produced by human activity (NASA, Jan 13, 2023). According to Earth.org, carbon dioxide levels were recorded at 420.00 CO2 parts per million in May 2023, the same level that existed on Earth 5 million years ago in the Pliocene (Mulhern, August 2020). Carbon dioxide usually takes thousands of years to be absorbed into the carbon cycle. The carbon cycle is important for supporting life on Earth because it recycles and reuses carbon through processes on land, in the ocean, and in the atmosphere, as well as other processes like carbon sequestration and storage (Carbon Cycle – Wikipedia, 2023).
Greenhouse gases
Greenhouse gases are naturally occurring elements represented by nitrous oxide (N2O), ozone (O3), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and water vapor (H2O). Without greenhouse gases, the Earth would lose heat, the surface temperature on Earth would drop by 33 degrees Celsius, and life would perish because of the freezing conditions (National Geographic, 2023). Although many governments have introduced alternative forms of energy, like solar, wind, hydrogen, and geothermal sources to power up homes, transport, infrastructure, and workplaces, fossil fuels are still being burned by cars, trucks, motorbikes, and planes. Coal mining and gas processing operations happen around the world and release methane gas into the atmosphere, along with other activities associated with livestock farming and landfill (National Geographic, 2023). Other greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere include carbon dioxide through deforestation (National Geographic, 2023).
Artificial greenhouse gases Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) were developed in the late nineteenth century and used in firefighting on military aircraft until the end of World War II. In the 1920s, scientists replaced ammonia (NH3), chloromethane (CH3Cl), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) with CFCs and HCFCs in refrigeration. From the 1960s – 1980s, these compounds were also used in extinguishers to quench fires in laboratories, art galleries and museums (Wikipedia, 12 July 2023, Chlorofluorocarbon). But because of their damaging effects to the ozone layer, a universal treaty called the Montreal Protocol was agreed to by 198 countries, and their manufacture was replaced by Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) (Wikipedia, 12 July 2023, Chlorofluorocarbon). The Kyoto Protocol was another positive step forward in halting climate change, with 197 countries committing to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions in 2009 (National Geographic, 2023). Despite these treaties, excess quantities of carbon dioxide and methane have been released into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels, forcing normal weather patterns to follow an alarming warming trend (NASA Jan 13, 2023). Consequently, we’re experiencing extreme weather events that are catastrophic to agriculture and farming, sustainable natural environments, and supporting a healthy way of life.
How scientists collect and analyze temperature data.
NASA Goddard’s Global Surface Temperature Analysis (GISTEMP) estimates global surface temperature change from the Land Surface Air and Sea-Surface Water Temperature data (NASA, Goddard Institute for Space Studies, 2023) recorded by scientific instruments mounted on ships and ocean buoys, and research and weather stations located across the globe. It compares this information to data recorded by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder located on NASA’s Aqua satellite since 2002. The period 1951-1980 is used as a baseline to calculate how climate temperature has changed over time (NASA, July 13, 2023). Climate patterns like El Nino and La Ninia are also taken into consideration, along with other weather anomalies (NASA, January 13, 2023).
In January 2023, NASA reported that June 2023 was the hottest month recorded (NASA, July 13, 2023) with many countries experiencing extreme land temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius (Reuters, August 2023). The recent forest fires in Canada, North America, Asia, Spain, Portugal, South America, and now Hawaii are causing damage to infrastructure and livelihoods, as well as injuries and loss of life. A report by The Guardian predicts that Australia faces yet another ferocious bushfire season in 2023 – 2024 (Lisa Cox, February 2023). According to a story by ABC News Australia, marine scientists say that the physical sea surface temperature of waters measured in July 2023 from Lizard Island (and at other times in 2023) was 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer compared to the average between 1992 and 2016, and as a result, the Great Barrier Reef might be facing another mass bleaching event in 2023 (ABC News AU, 2023). Last year’s bleaching event was the fourth in seven years (ABC News AU, 2023).
Is it simple to stop burning fossil fuels?
The suggestion to stop all greenhouse gas emissions would require a reversal in human behavior, work types, and lifestyle. Many governments around the world are addressing the need to change the nature and type of employment opportunities available by adapting university degrees and training programs to meet the demands of a new workforce predicted to be in data, digital, artificial intelligence, robotics, and IT-related areas. Recycling programs for metals, plastic, glass, clothes, anything, and everything that has already been mined and processed on the surface can be and are being turned into something else or something similar.
The damage caused by human activity.
Scientists have identified five mass extinctions in the Earth’s geological record that occurred naturally over a long period. However, in the present era, scientists say that human activity has expedited a Sixth Mass Extinction through land modification, air, land, and water pollution, and overfishing (Science Daily, 2022). The following list by the UN Environment Programme (2023) highlights the negative outcomes of human actions.
75 per cent of the Earth’s surface has been modified by human activities.
66 per cent of the ocean is impacted by fishing and pollution.
1 million out of estimated 8 million species worldwide are facing extinction.
90 per cent of the oceans fish stocks are exploited and are either in decline or fished out.
Agriculture is threatening biodiversity with 24,000 to 28,000 species at risk of extinction and accounts for the decline of 70 per cent of terrestrial diversity globally.
We are currently using 1.6 Earths – we can’t keep doing this because the planet we’re on is the only Earth around.
Mitigation measures to cope with climate change.
Scientists record and analyze data and use it to predict weather patterns so we can adapt our routine to suit the conditions. According to National Geographic (2023) the following practices should be or are being implemented to cope with or reduce the effects of climate change:
Carbon sequestration by planting trees and conserving old forests.
Use alternative forms of energy.
Farmers reduce the use of nitrogen-based fertilizers; and change how manure is handled/stored.
Plan for rail lines and road infrastructure to deal with flooding and increased temperatures.
Initiate health plans to handle heat stress.
Monitor and control disease outbreaks.
Pioneer new places for tourists to visit in case popular places disappear.
Build dams to catch rainwater, and desalination plants to create fresh water supplies.
Conserve marshes, wetlands and mangroves and use these areas to reduce the impact of sea surges.
Construct sea walls and barriers along coastal communities to mitigate against rising sea levels.
Given advancements in technologies and innovative mindsets in science, tackling some of the hurdles that sacrificing human greenhouse gas emissions create is small, when you consider the greater threat, we are facing, if we follow the road we are on now, and just wait and see what happens.
Written by Gabrielle Ahern Visual Storyteller & Content Producer Salty Wave®
References
ABC News AU (2023). Great Barrier Reef heatwave sparks fear of ‘potentially catastrophic’ coral bleaching event https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/great-barrier-reef-heatwave-sparks-fear-of-potentially-catastrophic-coral-bleaching-event/ar-AA1f6Hig?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=6c6820e3867a4dc592e33aa7996d2673&ei=5
GISTEMP Team (2023): GISS Surface Temperature Analysis (GISTEMP), version 4. NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Dataset accessed 20YY-MM-DD at https://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/.
Lisa Cox, The Guardian (February 2023). Australia faces unprecedented grassfires next summer ‘supercharged’ by global heating. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/22/australia-faces-unprecedented-grassfires-next-summer-supercharged-by-global-heating
Lenssen, N., G. Schmidt, J. Hansen, M. Menne, A. Persin, R. Ruedy, and D. Zyss, (2019): Improvements in the GISTEMP uncertainty model. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 124, no. 12, 6307-6326, doi:10.1029/2018JD029522.
NASA (June 2023). NASA Finds June 2023 Hottest on Record https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3276/nasa-finds-june-2023-hottest-on-record/#:~:text=June%202023%20was%20the%20hottest,on%20ships%20and%20ocean%20buoys.
NASA (Jan 13, 2023). NASA Says 2022 Fifth Warmest Year on Record, Warming Trend Continueshttps://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-says-2022-fifth-warmest-year-on-record-warming-trend-continues.
NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies(2023).Global surface temperature data: GISTEMP: Surface Temperature Analysishttps://climatedataguide.ucar.edu/climate-data/global-surface-temperature-data-gistemp-nasa-goddard-institute-space-studies-giss
National Geographic (2023). Greenhouse Effect. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/greenhouse-effect/
Owen Mulhern (August 2020). A Graphical History of Atmospheric CO2 Levels Over Time, Earth.org
Reuters (October, 2022) Can we slow or even reverse global warming? https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/us/iraq-s-50c-heat-shows-era-of-global-boiling-has-begun-un-rights-chief/ar-AA1f1zeT?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=dcb5aa25c8254f768894412a044bc551&ei=9.
Science Daily (January 13, 2022). Strong evidence shows Sixth Mass Extinction of global biodiversity in progress. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220113194911.htm
UN Environment Programme (2023). Facts about the nature crisis https://www.unep.org/facts-about-nature-crisis
Wikipedia (12 July 2023). Chlorofluorocarbon, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorofluorocarbon
Wikipedia (14 July 2023). Carbon Cycle. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_cycle
Wikipedia (22 July 2023). Montreal Protocol, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Protocol