Trevor Bradley

Climate change is it a Natural Hazard or is it a Disaster caused by humans?

A large debate amongst observers of our atmosphere is our ever changing climate and
whether it has been an issue caused by humans or if it has been a result of a natural hazard. I
believe that climate change has always been a part of the developing cycle of our planet. In the
past, the climate of Earth has been going through long periods of hot and cold climates ranging
from the highs to the lows. This, in my opinion, leads me to believe that it is a Natural Hazard
rather than a man-made Disaster. There are a number of natural reasons why I think our climate
has been changing.
First, the orbit of the earth and the amount of energy that comes from the Sun. The earth
makes one orbit around the sun every year. One half of the year the northern hemisphere of the
earth is tilted toward the sun which gives us our summer and warmer temperatures, during the
winter the earth tilts away from the sun which gives us are winter and cooler temperatures. The
Earths orbit is actually somewhat elliptical, which by definition is, the distance between the
Earth and the Sun varying throughout the year. The earths axis actually changes about a half of
degree every Century, this has affected the earths-sun orbital relationship and has changed the
geographical distribution of the suns energy on the surface of the earth. I believe that the solar
output, due to changes in the earths orbit, has affected our climate directly by changing the rate
of solar heat on the earth and its atmosphere.
Second, is the changing in our Ocean currents, the oceans play a very big and important
role in our climate. They can absorb almost twice as much of the suns radiation compared to
what our atmosphere absorbs. But mainly, they help distribute the earths heat around the globe

by carrying it through currents. These currents can shift so that different areas become warmer or
cooler, which could contribute to warming of the oceans. Warm oceans are not able to absorb
CO as well as colder oceans; therefore, as the water temperatures rise more gases are released.
These gases collect in the earths atmospheres which maintain warmer temperatures and create
changes in our climate.
The Final reason I believe the earths climate is changing is continental drift. The earth is
not the same as it used to be, scientists believe that all of the landmass on earth was once all
connected. Over millions of years these continents have been drifting apart. Thats why if you
look at South America and Africa on a map they look like they could fit together like two pieces
of a jigsaw puzzle. These drifts have had effects on the climate because they have changed
features of the landmass their position and the positions of the water bodies. When the land mass
changes it changes the flow of ocean currents and winds which also affect the climate.
Continental drift is still happening as we speak the Himalayan Mountains are raising about 1 mm
every year because the Indian land mass is moving slowly towards the Asian land mass.
The earth has been going through climate change since the beginning of its creation and
will continue going through it as long as it is still around. I believe that this is just a part of its
natural cycle. The earth will always be changing whether these changes involve the planets orbit,
ocean currents or shifting and separating of its landmass. These occurrences will always result in
some type of change in the earths climate whether it is rising or falling temperatures they will
always create some type of change. I do not believe that the human race has had a big enough
impact on the changes in climate to point the finger our way especially with all the evidence
showing that earths climate has always been changing and will always be changing.