Lucy+C’s+2016+OpEd+Article

  **"Americans put 2 much water in americanos. Italians laugh at us. Plus: drought. This is where bad environmental policy & bad coffee intersect."** **-Ezra Koenig** Climate change is NOT a hoax! It is the direct result of the increasing accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Global warming is not a new concept. In 1861 John Tyndall explained the basic carbon dioxide theory which shows that climatic temperature change is accredited to the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are transparent to the sun’s visible radiation but when that energy is re-radiated by the earth’s surface as infrared energy, it is trapped by the carbon dioxide which acts as a blanket preventing infrared radiation from escaping. The trapped radiation then causes the atmospheric temperature to rise, thus creating environmental havoc. The greenhouse effect is somewhat similar to a car sitting in the sun on a hot day. Like the atmosphere, the car windows are transparent to the visible radiation which heats the upholstery and metal in the car. These materials then re-emit their heat as infrared radiation. The windows, like CO2, absorbs some of this radiation trapping the heat, which causes the temperature inside the car to rise. Documents from Exxon Mobil proved they knew the truth about fossil fuels and climate change, but they lied to protect their business model at the expense of the planet. Climate change is real. To disbelieve such an overwhelming scientific consensus is beyond absurd. Global warming conspiracy theories are numerous, however all have been disproven except the cherry picked data that is entirely irrelevant. For example, the claim that arctic ice growth has recovered is completely inaccurate. Right now the arctic ice is at the lowest it has ever been at this time of the year. The albedo effect is the percentage of incoming radiation reflected off a surface. When the planet’s albedo increases it has a cooling effect on the Earth because more sun is reflected into space. However right now the arctic’s albedo (reflectivity), is rapidly declining which contributes to the decrease of arctic ice. With less ice, more of the dark ocean surface is visible; the dark water absorbs the sunlight and becomes warmer, causing the ice to melt rapidly. All over the world people are experiencing the effects of climate change. Scientists predicted loss of sea ice, increased heat waves, and accelerated sea level rise. Many of the impacts of global warming are visible locally to us today. One of the major effects global warming is predicted to have on Southern California is increased drought. This January has been the hottest year worldwide since they began taking records in 1880. Even with El Niño, Southern California still has below average amounts of rainfall. It is essential that everyone does their part to decrease the rate of global warming. The root cause of global warming is the use of fossil fuels, which releases excess CO2 into the air. As the chart above shows, we have the ability to reduce global warming in two major areas. Transportation and electricity account for 60% of greenhouse gases produced. We must take the initiative now to reduce our carbon footprint. By driving less and driving smaller vehicles we will decrease emissions of CO2 into the environment. Using less energy and installing solar panels will reduce the amount of coal and natural gases that power plants consume. Climate change is the worst challenge humankind has ever faced. It is not a trick or a hoax and we must take action today. There is only one Earth. Climate change is on a global scale. Everyone is affected.