The United States is not experiencing favorable times climate-wise. The temperature is rising, and patterns of snow and rainfall are changing. Moreover, heavy rainstorms have become common. What are the reasons behind this climate change? Some of these changes in the climate are due to increasing levels of greenhouse gases. This increase in greenhouse gas is mainly due to activities of the man. EPA's indicators offer evidence of how climate is changing and how they are impacting the environment and people. The Environmental Protection Agency joins hands with a myriad of data contributors and thus compiles indicators that inform us about climate change in the United States. Let's find out what these climate change indicators are.
Climate Change Indicators:
- Greenhouse gases
- Weather Changes
- Ocean's influence
Greenhouse Gases:
The most significant driver of climate change is greenhouse gases from human acts, as observed since the mid-20th century. Greenhouse gas emissions arising out of human activities in the United States have decreased by 7 percent from the year 1990 to 2020. Since the year 2005, the total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States have decreased by a total of 20 percent. Carbon dioxide accounts for a majority of the country's emissions and the majority of the decrease since the year 1990. The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States is transportation. Electricity generation as a source of greenhouse gas emissions is the second leading source. In the last few years, however, emissions per person have seen a slight decrease.
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Weather Changes:
Global average temperature is on the rise and one of the factors boosting this rise is the widespread alterations in weather patterns. Studies point out the fact that widespread and extreme weather events like huge storms and heat waves are likely to get more frequent with human-led changes in the climate.
The average temperatures have increased across the neighboring 48 states since the year 1901, along with an escalated warming rate over the last 3 decades. Since 1998, the States has experienced nine of the top ten warmest years. A similar trend can be seen in the average global temperatures. The top 10 warmest years on record across the world have occurred since the year 2005. Temperatures in parts of the West, the North, and Alaska, within the United States, have increased the most.
Ocean's influence:
The oceans cover around 70 percent of the surface of the Earth. It is obvious that with such substantial coverage, the oceans of the world have a deep relationship with weather and climate. The oceans impact the weather on both global and local scales. Conversely, changes in climate can fundamentally change many properties of the oceans.
The heat of the ocean, sea surface temperatures, increase in sea levels, coastal floodings, and oceanic acidity are some of the ways in which oceans can have an impact on climate change.
The amount of heat trapped in the oceans has substantially increased since the decade of 1950s. Not only does the ocean heat content determine sea surface temperatures, but also impacts currents and sea levels.
Ocean surface temperatures too have increased worldwide during the previous century. While some year-to-year variations have occurred, the overall increase in the ocean surface temperatures can be studied very clearly. During the past 30 years, the sea surface temperatures have increased consistently.
Rise in the sea levels has also taken place at a rate of around six-tenths of an inch every 10 years since 1880. In recent years, the rate of increase has accelerated to more than an inch per decade.
Alterations in the sea level relative to the land vary from region to region.
Ocean acidity is also another factor. Over the past few decades, atmospheric carbon dioxide that dissolves in the water has increased, leading to oceanic acidity.
Flooding, too, is getting common along the coastline of the United States due to a rise in sea levels. An increase in coastal flooding can be seen in every site measured since the 1950s.
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