The rapidly changing climate of our planet is a topic that is widely discussed. Although some people believe that the gradual transformation of the atmosphere on our planet is normal, overwhelming scientific evidence suggests that this climate is not natural.

Are you unsure of where to start? Don’t be! Let’s get started!

What is Climate Change?

Let’s begin at the beginning. What is the weather?

These are the changes that we experience and feel every day. One area of the globe may see snow, while another region enjoys sunshine. Climate is not the same as weather. It is the weather conditions that occur in a particular area of the world over a prolonged period of time. While seasons have an impact on climate, it’s still important to understand the factors that influence weather patterns.

Let’s now look at the climate . Climate change, as NASA defines it, is, “changes in the weather patterns of a place.” This could affect how much rainfall a place gets over a year. It could also be a change of a place’s average temperature for a particular month or season.” Although our weather can change every few hours or days, climate change is a gradual process.

What Factors Influence Climate Change?

Our Earth’s climate has changed over time due to both natural and human factors. The United States Environmental Protection Agency noted that “…it’s extremely likely (>95%)that human activities are the main cause of the warming.” Here are some examples:

  1. Greenhouse Gasses – The three most important greenhouse gasses have all been increasing since the Industrial Revolution. This is due to human activities other than manufacturing and production. The greenhouse effect has also been exacerbated by higher emissions, which have led to a rise in global surface temperatures. These higher emissions have also increased the greenhouse effect, resulting in a global surface temperature increase.
  2. Carbon Dioxide – Human activities have released more than 30 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year to the atmosphere.
  3. Methane – Human activities have caused methane to increase more than 2.5x since pre industrial levels.
  4. Nitrous Oxide. Since the industrial revolution, concentrations of nitrous oxide have increased by 20%. They have also seen a rapid rise towards the end of 20 th century.

Evidence of Climate Change

Let’s take a look at some of the most important evidence scientists have found for Earth’s rapid climate changes:

  1. Global temperature rise: The increase in carbon dioxide has contributed significantly to the rising average surface temperature. Since the 19 th centuries, there has been a 2 degree Fahrenheit increase in Earth’s temperature. The Earth has seen a 2 degree Fahrenheit increase in its temperature since the 19sup>th/sup> century. 2016 and 2020 tied the record for the warmest year.
  2. The Warming Ocean: Our oceans have absorbed a lot of the extra heat from the sun, as Earth stores 90% of its extra energy under the sea. The ocean’s top 328 feet have seen a warming of over 0.6 degrees Fahrenheit in the past decade.
  3. Shrinking Ice sheets: Data from NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment show that Greenland lost on average “279 billion tonnes of ice” between 1993 and 2019, while Antarctica lost approximately 148 billion tons ….”
  4. Less snow cover: Scientists have observed that there has been a decline in spring snow cover over the Northern Hemisphere for the past 50 years using satellites.
  5. Sea Level Rise – Our sea level has increased by eight inches in the past century.

5 Ways You Can Help

There are many things everyone can do to help combat global warming. These are some simple tasks that we all can do!

  1. Save Energy at Your Home: Often, heat and electricity are generated by oil, coal, or gas. You can reduce your heating and cooling costs by switching to LED lightbulbs, using electric appliances that are energy efficient, and lowering your heating and cooling. Instead of drying your clothes, you can wash them in cold water and hang them up to dry. Using a solar + storage system to store your energy is one of the best ways to save energy. You can not only make money by capturing the sun’s rays through carbon-reducing, money-saving solar but also store excess energy for times like grid outages or peak rate periods.
  2. Take public transportation, walk, bike or cycle. Walking or cycling is a great way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve your health. If you plan to travel longer distances, consider using public transport or carpooling.
  3. Eat More Vegetables: Plant-based meals produce a smaller amount of greenhouse gasses than traditional meals.
  4. Take a Look at Your Travel: Airplanes emit a lot of greenhouse gasses and burn a lot of fossil fuels.
  5. Reuse, repair, and recycle: Certain goods, like electronics and clothing, can produce carbon emissions.

One Installation at a time

This post was written by a professional at Red Solar. Red Solar was started with the mindset of renewable energy being the future. We want everyone to travel through this transition. We can all agree that solar is the best way to reduce your carbon footprint, but it’s not the only way. During a Red Solar energy evaluation, all energy commons in your home will be analyzed for results. Our expert technicians will guide you through the process for better understanding and reassurance. Looking for the best solar panels Palm Beach? Then contact us for more information today!