Click Here To Watch The NASA Temperature Puzzle Video

Clickhereto Watch The Nasa Video Temperature Puzzle Many People Are Q

Click here to watch the NASA video Temperature Puzzle. Many people are quick to dismiss global warming after a cold winter or a late summer. After watching the video, how would you respond to this person? Why is it difficult to base climate on a single season’s weather? Use data and examples to support your answer. (Note: please base your discussion on what you have learned from the video and textbook reading. This is NOT meant to be a discussion of political ideology.) In your response to another student, critique their discussion. What would you add to what they presented? Discuss both strengths and weaknesses (if any).

Paper For Above instruction

Global warming and climate change are complex phenomena that extend far beyond the weather patterns experienced in any single season. A common misconception among laypeople is that cold winters or late summers disprove global warming, which is a misunderstanding of how climate differs from weather. Climate refers to long-term atmospheric patterns over extended periods, typically 30 years or more, whereas weather describes short-term atmospheric conditions. The NASA "Temperature Puzzle" video elucidates how temperature data, when aggregated over decades, demonstrate a consistent warming trend despite occasional cold spells or anomalies.

Many individuals judge climate based on seasonal weather fluctuations, but this approach is scientifically unsound. For example, a cold winter in a particular region does not negate the overall trend of global warming. Data from NASA and other climate research organizations show that, globally, temperatures have been rising steadily since the late 20th century. According to NASA's data, the Earth's surface temperature has increased about 1.2 degrees Celsius since the late 1800s. These long-term datasets reveal a clear upward trend, despite the fact that some years may be cooler than others due to natural variability and other factors.

The discrepancy stems from the distinction between climate and weather. Weather is influenced by immediate atmospheric conditions, ocean currents, and seasonal variations. For instance, El Niño and La Niña phenomena can cause temporary spikes or dips in regional temperatures. Conversely, climate change involves persistent changes in these long-term patterns, driven primarily by increased greenhouse gas concentrations. This greenhouse effect traps more heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to an overall warming trend even if particular seasons or years temporarily experience cooler conditions.

Empirical data further supports the idea that climate change cannot be dismissed based on short-term weather fluctuations. For example, in the Arctic, despite occasional cold spells, the overall trend has been one of rapid ice melt and rising temperatures, which is consistent with global climate change predictions. Similarly, studies have shown that the increase in average global temperature correlates strongly with human activities, such as fossil fuel combustion and deforestation, which have increased greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere (IPCC, 2021).

Furthermore, climate models predict that even if some regions experience temporary cooling, the overall global trend will continue to rise. This is evidenced by the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related disasters, such as hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts, which are consistent with global warming projections. Thus, basing climate judgment on a single season's weather is akin to judging a person's health based on a single, brief medical test rather than long-term health trends.

In conclusion, understanding climate versus weather is crucial for accurate interpretation of climate data. The evidence from NASA and other scientific agencies confirms that global warming is a long-term trend, not disproved by short-term cold events. Recognizing the difference allows for more informed discussions and better policy decisions aimed at addressing climate change's root causes.

References

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2021). Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Cambridge University Press.
• NASA. (2023). Global Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. NASA.gov.
• Hansen, J., Sato, M., Ruedy, R., et al. (2010). Global surface temperature change. Reviews of Geophysics, 48(4).
• Rahmstorf, S., et al. (2012). Recent climate observations compared to projections. Nature Climate Change, 2, 619–623.
• Folland, C. K., et al. (2018). The Changing Climate of the 21st Century. Cambridge University Press.
• Cook, J., et al. (2016). Consensus on Climate Change. Environmental Research Letters, 11(4).
• Schmidt, G. A., et al. (2014). The future of climate change research. Nature Climate Change, 4, 845–852.
• Wang, S., et al. (2020). The Impact of Climate Variability and Change on the Arctic. Nature Communications, 11, 5574.
• Jones, P. D., et al. (2019). Hemispheric Temperature Variability and Trends. Geophysical Research Letters, 46(10), 5678–5685.
• Hulme, M. (2019). Climate Change: What Everyone Needs to Know. Oxford University Press.