State of Science (Week 1)- Post 2

State of Science

          The state of science is a general term for all the basic climate information known by well informed citizens and scientists. Science relating to the environment includes the study of climate systems and climate changes. Climate systems are the matter, energy, and processes involved in interactions among Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, and earth-sun interactions. It is important to note the difference between studying weather changes and climate changes. Weather changes happen over days and weeks, while climate changes happen over entire seasons or years. An important part of knowing about the state of science involves being climate literate. Which means understanding basic climate interactions between all living and non-living things. All things are connected on earth in a positive feedback loop, meaning that any significant change will cause extreme problems to the systems components. As an example: The water cycle and carbon cycle are connected. The carbon cycle is the circulation of carbon atoms through the earth systems as a result of conversion of carbon dioxide on all levels of life on earth. When too much CO2 is released into the atmosphere, by human emission, the gas gets trapped and absorbs into the oceans, thus increasing the oceans toxicity level, which then harms hard shelled marine life, and then throws off the entire ocean food chain they are part of. Any change made to the positive feedback loop, that is the ecosystem we live in, will cause major harm to life on earth, and global warming is a scientific certainty. With 97% of scientists crediting it, the threat of global warming is not to be ignored. "Different studies from different scientists may vary but the central theme comes out 3 degrees increase per each doubling of CO2 concentrations. In the last 100 years humans have already nearly doubled carbon concentrations in the atmosphere. A 3 degrees increase may not seem like much, but it will throw off all of earths' major systems: leaving populated islands flooded, millions of people out of water, extreme heat waves, species driven to extinction, and many more problems. The question remains whether our society will take a mitigating approach and resolve the climate problem before it happens, or take an adaptive approach and be forced to adapt after the climate problem takes effect.

          The purpose of the study of climate science is to take a scientific look at whether or not climate change is real. Scientists and climate literate citizens are aware that climate change and global warming is a scientific certainty. Climate science is the tool scientists use determine these environmental facts. Knowing and understanding climate science is vital to making an active difference in climate change and global warming. The only way for society to become sustainable is to communicate the facts and information revealed through climate science. By taking a closer look at climate science, and the state of climate science, a person is able to better understand the prevalent climate issues facing the ecosystem today, and ways to positively influence them. 


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