What is climate change?

Climate change is a significant and enduring change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns during
periods that have lasted from the last million years. It may be a change in average weather conditions, or the
distribution of time around average conditions (greater or lesser number of weather events). (See Wikipedia:
Climate Change)

Global warming responds to an increase in temperature and the environment of the Earth's climate system.
(See Wikipedia: global warming)

For some decades, the climate has been heating up on a global scale
Climate is a measure of the average pattern of variation in temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind,
precipitation, particle count in the atmosphere, and other meteorological variables in a given region over long
periods of time. The climate is variable, as shown by the lack of regularity in the seasons from one year to
another. (See Wikipedia: weather)

This variability is normal. It is due to the variation of ocean currents, volcanic activity, solar radiation and
other components of the climate system that we do not fully understand yet. Our climate also has extreme
events (such as floods, hail, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.), which can be devastating.

In recent decades, many of the indicators and studies have indicated that global warming has been alarming
worldwide.

What causes global warming? The temperatures on Earth are suitable for life thanks to a natural
process called the greenhouse effect. When solar radiation reaches our atmosphere, part of it is
reflected into space, and part of it passes and is absorbed by the Earth. This causes the surface of
the Earth to warm up. The heat is radiated outwards and absorbed by the gases present in the
Earth's atmosphere, the so-called "greenhouse gases". This procesos preventas the eat from
disappearing, causing the temperature to rise to + 15 ° C instead of -19 ° C

There are many greenhouse gases responsible for an additional heating of the atmosphere, which
are produced in different ways by people. Most come from the combustion of fossil fuels in cars,
factories and the production of electricity. The gas responsible for most of the heating is carbon
dioxide, also called CO2. Other contributors are methane expelled from landfills and agriculture
(especially from the digestive systems of grazing animals), nitrous oxide from fertilizers, gases used
for cooling and industrial processes, and forest loss from otherwise they would store CO2

Human influence on the climate system is clear. This is evident from the increase in
greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, positive radiative forcing, observed
warming, and understanding of the climate system. (...) It is extremely likely that human
influence is the dominant cause of warming observed since half of the 20th century. (...)
Continued emissions of greenhouse gas emissions Will cause greater warming and
changes in all climatic components of the climate system. Limitan climate change will
require substantial and sustainable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. (In this
Summary for Legislators, the term
Consequences
Climate change is changing our economy, health and communities in different ways. Scientists warn that if
we do not substantially curb climate change now, the results are likely to be disastrous. If the Earth warms up,
some of these important changes will occur:

The water expands when it is heated, and the oceans absorb more heat than the earth, the sea level will rise.
Sea level will also increase due to the melting of glaciers and sea ice.
The cities of the coast would suffer floods.
Places where it usually rains or snows a lot could heat up and dry out.
Lakes and rivers could dry up.
There would be more droughts, so it would be more difficult to grow corn.
There would be less water available for agriculture, food production, drinking or showering.
Many plants and animals would become extinct.
Hurricanes, tornadoes and storms caused by changes in temperature and evaporation of water would occur
more regularly.

WHY CHANGE THE CLIMATE?

The atmosphere, gaseous envelope of the planet, where we perceive the climate.
The hydrosphere, formed by oceans, seas, lakes, etc.
The lithosphere, solid crust emerging from the continents, where we live.
The biosphere, formed by all living beings, including man.
The cryosphere formed by the ice that covers part of oceans and continents.

From a broad point of view, climate is defined as the state of the Climatic System,
including its statistical properties. It is precisely this that relates this definition of climate to
the most classical, and restricted, consisting of considering it as a statistical description of
environmental variables
 Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through the depletion of resources such as
air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems; the destruction of the habitat; the extinction of wildlife; and
pollution. It is defined as any change or disturbance of the environment that is perceived as harmful or
undesirable.1 As indicated by the equation I = PAT, the environmental impact (I) or degradation is caused by
the combination of a human population (P) and in itself very large and growing, an economic growth or a per
capita wealth in continuous increase (A), and the application of technology that depletes and contaminates the
resources (T) .2 3

Environmental degradation is one of the ten threats officially noted by the High-Level Panel on the threats,
challenges and change of the United Nations. The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster
Reduction defines environmental degradation as "the reduction of the capacity of the environment to meet
social and ecological goals and needs" .4 Environmental degradation is of many types. When natural habitats
are destroyed, or natural resources are depleted, the environment degrades. Efforts to counteract this problem
include protecting the environment and managing environmental resources.

Water degradation
One of the main components of environmental degradation is the depletion of Earth's freshwater resources.
Approximately only 2.5% of all the Earth's water is fresh water, while the rest is salt water. 69% of fresh
water is frozen in layers of ice located in Antarctica and Greenland, so only 30% of 2.5% of fresh water is
available for consumption.5 Fresh water is an exceptionally important resource , since life on Earth ultimately
depends on it. Water transports nutrients, minerals and chemicals within the biosphere to all forms of life,
supports both plants and animals, and shapes the surface of the Earth with transport and deposition of
materials.6

The three main current uses of fresh water represent 95% of their consumption; approximately 85% is used
for irrigation of agricultural land, golf courses and parks; 6% is used for domestic purposes, such as indoor
bathing and the use of outdoor gardens and lawns, and 4% is used for industrial purposes, such as processing,
washing and cooling in manufacturing centers.7 It is estimated that one in three people around the world
already faces water shortages, almost a fifth of the world's population lives in areas of physical water scarcity,
and almost a quarter of the world's population lives in a developing country that lacks the necessary
infrastructure to use the water from the available rivers and aquifers. Water scarcity is a growing problem due
to many issues planned for the future, such as population growth, increased urbanization, improved living
standards and climate change

Temperature
Climate change affects the Earth's water supply in many ways. It is expected that the global average
temperature will increase in the coming years due to a series of forces that affect the climate, the amount of
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will increase, and both will influence the water resources; Evaporation is
highly dependent on temperature and moisture availability, which can ultimately affect the amount of water
available to replenish groundwater supplies.

The transpiration of the plants can be affected by the increase of the atmospheric CO2, which can diminish its
water use, but it can also increase its water use due to the possible increase of the leaf surface. The increase in
temperature can reduce the snow season in the winter and increase the intensity of the melted snow, which
leads to a peak of runoff, affecting soil moisture, flood and drought risks and storage capacity according to the
zone.8

Warmer winter temperatures cause a decrease in the snowpack, which can result in a decrease in water
resources during the summer. This is especially important in mid-latitudes and in mountainous regions that
depend on glacial run-off to replenish their river systems and groundwater supplies, making these areas
increasingly vulnerable to water scarcity. Over time; an increase in temperature will initially cause a rapid
increase in the melting of glacial water in the summer, followed by a retreat of glaciers and a decrease in
melting and, therefore, water supply each year, as the size of these glaciers is getting smaller and smaller.
The thermal expansion of water and the increase in the melting of oceanic glaciers due to the increase in
temperature lead to an increase in sea level, which may also affect the supply of fresh water from coastal
areas; as the mouths of the rivers and deltas with higher salinity move inland, the intrusion of salt water gives
rise to an increase in salinity in the reservoirs and aquifers. Consequently, sea level rise may also be due to
depletion of groundwater, since climate change can affect the hydrological cycle in several ways.9 Unequal
distributions of rising temperatures and precipitation throughout the world However, a global decrease in
groundwater suggests an increase in sea level, even after de-icing water and thermal expansion were
accounted for, which can provide a positive response to problems that sea level rise causes in the fresh water
supply.

An increase in air temperature results in an increase in water temperature, which is also very significant in the
degradation of water, since water would become more susceptible to bacterial growth. An increase in water
temperature can also greatly affect ecosystems due to the sensitivity of a species to temperature, and also to
induce changes in the system of self-purification of a body of water due to the decrease in the amounts of
dissolved oxygen in the water due to the increase in temperature.