As Discussed In The Lecture: Global Climate Change Is Impact

As Discussed In The Lecture Global Climate Change Is Impacting Both O

As discussed in the lecture, global climate change is impacting both of the polar regions. Find two YouTube videos that discuss this issue. What are more impacts that are happening to these two areas that were not gone over in lecture? How is the change in these two regions influencing the global climate? Do you believe global climate change is human-made or an occurrence that happens naturally in Earth's life cycle? List the YouTube URLs in your response. Make sure to write at least 4 - 5 sentences in your initial response.

Paper For Above instruction

The polar regions of Earth, specifically the Arctic and Antarctic, are experiencing profound impacts due to global climate change, as highlighted in recent YouTube videos. The Arctic is witnessing accelerated ice melt, leading to rising sea levels and the loss of habitat for species such as polar bears and seals. In addition, permafrost thawing in the Arctic releases large quantities of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, further exacerbating global warming. Meanwhile, the Antarctic is experiencing ice shelf disintegration and melting ice sheets, contributing significantly to sea-level rise. These changes in the polar regions influence the global climate by disrupting atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns, which can alter weather systems worldwide, leading to increased frequency and intensity of storms and droughts globally.

Beyond the impacts discussed in lectures, additional effects include the decrease in albedo effect due to sea ice loss, causing more solar absorption and warming, and the displacement of indigenous communities due to the changing landscape. The melting polar ice also impacts ocean currents like the thermohaline circulation, which regulate climate patterns across continents. The loss of sea ice disrupts habitat availability for marine life, including phytoplankton populations that form the foundation of ocean ecosystems, which further impacts global carbon cycles.

The change in these polar regions influences the global climate by accelerating climate change itself; as the ice melts, it releases stored greenhouse gases and reduces Earth's ability to reflect sunlight, creating a positive feedback loop that intensifies warming. The rising sea levels threaten coastal cities worldwide with flooding, while altered weather patterns lead to unpredictable climatic events.

Regarding whether global climate change is human-made or part of Earth's natural cycle, the prevailing scientific consensus suggests that current climate change is primarily driven by human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes. The rapid rate of temperature increase over the past century correlates strongly with the rise in anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. While natural factors such as volcanic activity and Earth's orbital variations do influence climate, they cannot account for the magnitude and speed of recent climate change, which aligns closely with human industrial activity.

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