Human Society and Climate Change: The role of Human Society in Altering the Atmosphere and Initiating Climate Change: Burning of Fossil Fuels.

EXERCISE #4
DATE: Saturday 18^th November, 2023.

How does Human Society Alter the Atmosphere and Initiate Climate Change through the Burning of Fossil Fuels? 

Human Society is denoted as the primary invigorator of global atmospheric alteration, ultimately initiating Climate Change. Poor sewerage systems, large-scale production of agricultural crops and livestock (particularly sheep and cows), heavy pesticide, herbicide and insecticide usage (containing toxic chemicals which pollute ground and surface water), deforestation, oil and gas exploration, etc., are a few of numerous anthropogenic actions which modify the atmosphere and climate system. These activities thereby contribute to the greenhouse effect and global warming which worsen as human population and the need for more goods and services increase annually (Turrentine 2022). Nevertheless, albeit the Industrial Revolution began during the 18^th century, the Burning of Fossil Fuels prevails as the principal inducer of Atmospheric Alteration and Climate Change by human society today (National Geographic Society 2023). 

Figure 1: Infographic depicting the Burning of Fossil Fuels is the main cause of Climate Change and air pollution. 

Source: W.H.O. 2023 (www.who.int). 

Figure 2: Simulation showing the past and expected emission rates of greenhouse gases by varying sectors (2000-2050). 

Source: Skafs 2023 (skafs.com).

Electricity Generation, Transportation and Industrial Processes

The combustion of Fossil Fuels, being coal, natural gas and oil, releases harmful greenhouse gases, mainly methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), into the atmosphere. This is done through Electricity Generation, Transportation and Industrial Manufacturing/Process. 

 Electricity Generation

Ø Residential and commercial electronic devices and appliances, heating and cooling systems, telecommunication networks, etc. mostly utilize fossil fuels that are combusted to generate electricity. According to Eurostat (2022), though fossil fuel use seems to be decreasing in the generation of electricity in the European Union (EU), it continues to be the main source to power electrical grids. 

Diagram 1: Illustration of different sources used to generate electricity in the EU. 

Source: eurostat 2022 (ec.europa.eu). 

Transportation Services

Ø  Buses, ships, planes and cars, as seen in Trinidad and Tobago for instance, are heavy emitters of toxic greenhouse gases, contributing to Atmospheric Alteration and initiating Climate Change as those gases trap heat, influencing global warming and even air, land and water pollution.  

Image 1: Illustration of mass transit bus system in City Gate, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad (left) and type of large ferries in Scarbrough, Tobago (right) which contribute to Atmospheric Alteration and Climate Change. 

Source: TriniTransit 2014 (trinitransit.blogspot.com); Vincent 2021 (guardian.co.tt). 

Industrial Manufacturing/Process

Ø The industrial manufacturing of goods, such as plastics, paper, clothing, tools, cement, chemicals, vehicles, etc. particularly in China, as this country is the number one manufacturer of goods worldwide, contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions and higher global temperatures through its continuous use of fossil fuels, especially coal, for its operations. 

Image 2: Smokestacks at steel factory in Hebei, China, contributing to Climate Change by increasing atmospheric temperature (global warming). Source: Bloomberg News 2016 (www.bloomberg.com). 

According to Kazmeyer (2018), CO₂ has risen by approximately 38% since the 1750s, whereas CH₄ has increased by 148% in the same period. The aforementioned anthropogenic activities account for over 75% of global greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, where CO₂ contributes to 90% of those gases (Ritchie, Rosado and Roser 2020). As such, these gases warm ocean, air and land surfaces by trapping solar radiation heat, altering atmospheric conditions by causing global warming and impacting global climate and weather patterns (BBC 2023). This is seen through severe natural disasters, drought, tornados, wildfires and even snow melt due to a decrease in the albedo effect. 

Diagram 2: Portrayal of how anthropogenic actions leave fingerprints to influence climate change. 
Source: Thoughtscapism 2015 (thoughtcapism.com). 

Destruction to the Ozone Layer

Ø  Additionally, the burning of fossil fuels damages the ozone layer and atmosphere. This essential layer protects the atmosphere from harmful ultraviolet radiation (UV); however, greenhouse gases for instance, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x), react with ozone molecules to break them down and trap heat entering the Earth's atmosphere. These gases are typically released through air-conditioning (A.C) units, refrigerants, aerosols and biomass burning by humans. In accordance with Cole and McCarthy (2015), 2014 was reported as the hottest/warmest year since the 1880s, indicating excess release of greenhouse gases has contributed to this rise in temperature. As such, the size of the ozone layer decreases as UV rays absorb and retain heat penetrating the atmosphere, especially in urban areas as it contains a high percentage of impervious surfaces, amplifying global warming. Crop failure, skin cancer, animal death and even eye damage are also resultant of the ozone layer reducing in size due to negligible human actions upon the atmosphere (EESM 2019).

Diagram 3: Depiction of how ozone-depleting substances (CFCs and HFCs) and greenhouse gases affect the atmosphere. 

Source: Hall 2016 (www.dw.com). 

Acid Rain

Ø  Moreover, fossil fuel burning results in acid rain. The release of sulfur oxides (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) into the atmosphere, pollutants which react with oxygen, water, etc., forms nitric and sulfuric acid. Winds then spread these acidic substances through the atmosphere, increasing air pollution, to eventually fall on the ground as fog, snow and in most instances, rain. Acid rain significantly affects aquatic and land flora, fauna and humans through lowering soil and water pH levels, threatening human and animal health, damaging forests and destroying monuments and buildings (USEPA, n.d.).

Figure 3: Simulation illustrating the formation of Acid Rain due to fossil fuel burning. 

Source: Cool Gif Images 2020 (cool-gifimages.blogspot.com).

Image 3: Presentation of how acid rain affects agriculture, aquatic life, statues/monuments and forests. 

Source: Slide Share 2008 (www.slideshare.net). 

CONCLUSION

Though Fossil Fuel Burning is the main action by humans that contribute to Atmospheric Alteration and initiates Climate Change, it must be noted that other activities, such as solar radiation, volcanic eruptions, the Milankovitch cycles, etc., all related to natural cycles and events, also Alters the Atmosphere and causes Climate Change. Nevertheless, fossil fuel continues to be used as an energy source. However, it must be decreased in order for the atmosphere and climate to be safeguarded and for such fossil fuels to be available for future generations. 

This marks the end of the blog everyone 😭

I hope it was an enjoyable and informative ride as we journeyed through the world of Climate and Environmental Change in the Quaternary period 🤗

Farewell everyone!!!

Remember: “There is no question that climate change is happening; the only arguable point is what part humans are playing in it.” - David Attenborough. 

This was Simply Quaternary 👋😊

Gif images courtesy GIPHY: https://giphy.com/. 

REFERENCES

• Bloomberg News. 2016. “North China City Halts Pharma, Steel Plants to Curb Pollution.” Accessed November 16, 2023. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-21/north-china-city-halts-pharma-steel-plants-to-curb-pollution#xj4y7vzkg.

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 2023. “How has the Earth's atmosphere changed over time, and why?” Accessed November 17, 2023. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z82gng8/revision/6.

• Cole, Steve and Leslie McCarthy. 2015. “2014 warmest year in modern record.” NASA. Accessed November 18, 2023. https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2221/2014-warmest-year-in-modern-record/. 
• Cool Gif Images. 2020. “Acid Rain Animated Gif.” Accessed November 17, 2023. https://cool-gifimages.blogspot.com/2020/01/acid-rain-animated-gif.html.
• Earth and Environmental Systems Modelling (EESM). 2019. “Impacts of Human-Earth System Interactions.” U.S. Department of Energy. Accessed November 14, 2023. https://climatemodeling.science.energy.gov/research-highlights/impacts-human-earth-system-interactions.
• Eurostat. 2022. “Fossil fuels led in electricity generation in 2021.” Accessed November 18, 2023. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/ddn-20220630-1. 
• Hall, Melanie. 2016. “Banning the 'super' greenhouse gas.” Deutsche Welle. Accessed November 17, 2023. https://www.dw.com/en/banning-the-super-greenhouse-gas/a-36044849.
• Kazmeyer, Milton. 2018. “Human Impact on the Earth's Atmosphere.” Leaf Group Ltd. Accessed November 12, 2023. https://sciencing.com/human-impact-earths-atmosphere-3677.html.
• National Geographic Society. 2023. “Climate Change.” Accessed November 13, 2023. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/climate-change/.
• Ritchie, Hannah, Pablo Rosado, and Max Roser. 2020. “Greenhouse gas emissions.” Our World in Data. Accessed November 15, 2023. https://ourworldindata.org/greenhouse-gas-emissions.
• Slide Share. 2008. “Acid Rain.” Accessed November 17, 2023. https://www.slideshare.net/chestertoncc/acid-rain-330436.
• Skafs. 2023. “What is Smart City?” Accessed November 17, 2023. https://skafs.com/smartcity.php.
• TriniTransit. 2014. “Urban Transit in Trinidad.” Accessed November 17, 2023. https://trinitransit.blogspot.com/.
• Thoughtscapism. 2015. “How Does CO₂ Warm the Earth?” Accessed November 17, 2023.  https://thoughtscapism.com/2015/05/19/how-does-co%E2%82%82-warm-the-earth/.
• Turrentine, Jeff. 2022. “What Are the Causes of Climate Change?” NRDC. Accessed November 12, 2023. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/what-are-causes-climate-change#natural.
• United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). n.d. “What Causes Acid Rain?” Accessed November 15, 2023. https://www3.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_students/whatcauses.html.
• Vincent, Loyse. 2021. “THA officials say new ferries will be well maintained.” Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Accessed November 16, 2023. https://guardian.co.tt/news/tha-officials-say-new-ferries-will-be-well-maintained-6.2.1273438.298d2e4d1d.
• World Health Organization (W.H.O.). 2023. “Climate Change and Health.” accessed November 17, 2023. https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/climate-change-and-health/capacity-building/toolkit-on-climate-change-and-health/trainings. 

#Quaternaryiscool

#Keepingupwiththequaternarians