There have been many theories about whether global warming and climate change are real, and even more theories questioning whether they are affecting the severity of weather, storms, and life forms. Many people are split upon what they think is true regarding global warming and climate change and the effects they have on the world that people call home.
Many scientific studies show that climate change is occurring today, despite a few certain studies that could disprove this. When interviewed, Rio Norte Junior High School science teacher, Lisa VanDyke, answered questions about what her perspectives on the topic were.
When asked if she thinks global warming is real, VanDyke said, “Yes. Absolutely!”, and her reasons came both from her own life experiences and scientific studies. “My entire life people and scientists have been warning the public about pollution, whether it’s trash in the ocean or carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. We are seeing the effects of things like weather today. I also read a lot, and I am a scientist with a science degree… I trust other scientists’ research.”
In addition, when VanDyke was asked if she believes that global warming is affecting the severity and power of storms and weather, she agreed that this statement is true. When asked why, she stated, “We are living in evidence of climate change and warmer and colder temperatures. The river I run by… had all that rain… it was flowing for a lot longer … I’ve rarely seen it like that.” Her interview answers had many pieces of evidence supporting how climate change is impacting the world around us.
On the last question, VanDyke was asked if she could provide some specific examples of how climate change is having an impact on our environment. She answered by referring to not only her local river, but also world events like hurricanes Helene and Milton. By looking at those natural disasters and comparing them to past troubles, it proves that the storms have gotten worse due to warmer ocean temperatures, which are a result of global warming from human life and needs. This warmer water, she stated, is causing patterns to change, and is providing the right conditions for these tropical storms to form and get worse. “It’s all connected,” she said, “the temperature of the earth, the ecosystem. It’s all connected in some way… like a big circle.”
Although that was one perspective, global warming has been such a huge issue that in the 2024 presidential debate in Philadelphia, candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris were asked: “What would you do to fight climate change?”. In response to this question, Harris stated, “Well, the former president had said that climate change is a hoax, … [if y]ou ask anyone who lives in a state who has experienced these extreme weather occurrences who is either being denied home insurance or it’s being jacked up. You ask anyone who has been a victim of what that means in terms of losing their home, having nowhere to go. ” This answer has revealed her perspective, while also going against what Trump has said about climate change.
In addition to this, humans are admitting more and more carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere each year, and the natural system for removing it can’t keep up. Without carbon dioxide, Earth’s natural greenhouse effect would be too weak to keep the average global surface temperature above freezing, however, by adding too much carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, people are “supercharging” the natural greenhouse effect, which leads to higher global temperatures. When admitted into the atmosphere, carbon dioxide warms the planet, which helps aid in the cause of climate change. This climate change causes a number of problems including: warmer ocean temperatures, ocean acidification rising by 30 percent– leading to lower PH levels, and more extreme weather events and occurrences. All of these problems are affecting the planet and its inhabitants.
By looking at a healthy ocean snail shell and comparing it to a shell that has been damaged due to lower ocean PH levels shows a more specific example of how this is affecting life. The healthy snail has smooth ridges and a clear shell, while an unhealthy snail that has been exposed to lower PH levels has a cloudy shell, more defined and ragged ridges, and weak spots. Climate change does not only affect just snails, though.
Every day people are seeing more and more examples of how global warming and climate change are having a negative impact on the Earth, and it is important to acknowledge these problems before it’s too late. There is only one Earth, and everyone should take care of, and stay educated on the things that are impacting the planet.