Explanation of why the term “global warming” is worse than the term “climate change” when it comes to describing the ongoing human impacts on our planet
When discussing climate change, the term “global warming” is often considered the standard, but recent scientific studies show that it is not very accurate. While melting ice caps, seasonal weather shifts and greenhouse effect are well-known and essential factors; global warming affects more than just the weather. Entire ecosystems are affected by it as biomes shift, forcing animals to change their homes and migration paths. For that reason, using a broader term such as “climate change” is more accurate as it includes a variety of effects human involvement cause to our planet.
Why Milankovitch Cycles are not reliable as an explanation for the recent trends in Earth’s temperature
Milankovitch Cycles theory describes how the Earth’s position relative to the Sun can affect its temperature levels and a predictable cycle that can influence the planet in the long term. It can help analyze past events such as the Pleistocene ice ages, but the current climate change does not fit the criteria. The theory is meant to explain the slow and long-lasting effects the planet’s position can cause, but the difference is happening too fast, and the Earth is moving towards its cooling phase.
Top two points to make if talking to someone skeptical about climate change, as a way to convince them of the reality and severity of climate change
Many people deny climate change despite the evidence. Two points can be made in order to support it. First, scientists have studied environment to analyze how different climate was thousands of years ago. It demonstrates how slower the change was when compared to the current climate change. The second point is how human cities need to adapt to rising water levels (Zhou et al., 2019). Many coastal settlements such as Newtok are disappearing from the map as a result of this change. These points show how climate change affects the planet by using scientific data as well as modern observations.
Reference
Zhou, Q., Leng, G., Su, J., & Ren, Y. (2019). Comparison of urbanization and climate change impacts on urban flood volumes: Importance of urban planning and drainage adaptation.Science of the Total Environment, 658, 24-33. Web.