The Real Natural Disaster is Caused by Human Choices
By: Madison Mulvania Class: Earth Science PHYS 100 Date: 10-22-2025
Hypothesis
Global warming is the leading cause of the Earths environmental destruction, largely due to human behavior and actions.
Definition
"Global warming is the unusually rapid increase in Earth’s average surface temperature over the past century primarily due to the greenhouse gases released by people burning fossil fuels." (Riebeek, 2010)
NASA (P.D) ALSO EXPLAINS THAT IN THE TOP !)) METERS OF OCEAN WATER HAS INCREASED BY 0.67 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW NOT ONLY IS THE EARTHS GEOSPHERE BEING IMPACTED BUT SO IS THE HYDROSPHERE.
DATA FROM NASA'S GRAVITY RECOVERY AND CLIMATE EXPERIEMENT" LOOKED AT THE RATE IN WHICH THE EARTH IS LOSING ICE THIS YEAR DUE TO GLOBAL WARMING. BETWEEN 1993 AND 2013 GREENLAND LOST 279 BILLION TONS OF ICE. ANTARTICA LOST 148 TONS OF ICE PER YEAR! (NASA P.D)
there has been a 2 degree farenheit increase in the average earth temperature primarly to carbon admissions and other human activites. It is notable that the last 40 years have been when a substantional amount of the warming has ocured with the two hottest years being on record happening within the last 7 years. (NASA, n.d.)
THOMPSON (2010) DISCUSSED MANY GLACIER RETREATS BUT HIGHLIGHTED THE IDEA THAT IN !(!) WHEN GLACEIR NATIONAL PARK WAS ESTABLISHED THERE WERE 100 GLACIERS AND NOW THERE IS WORRY THAT BY 2030 THERE WILL BE NONE LEFT.
NASA (P.D) REPORTED THAT OCEAN ACIDIFICATION HAS INCREASED SINCE THE INSUTRIAL REVOLUTION. IT STATES THAT "THE OCEAN HAS ABOSRBED BETWEEN 20% AND 30% OF TOTAL ANTHROPOGEENIC CARBON DIOXIDEEMISSIONS IN RECENT DECADES.
Global warming Is Impacting the natural processes of the earth and its systems
global warming impact on the natural processes of the Earth's landmasses
Average surface temperature change in the U.S. (1901–2023).Note. From Climate Change Indicators: U.S. and Global Temperature, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (September 11, 2025). https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-us-and-global-temperature
1. Glaciers and sheets of ice are melting, which is a threat to coastal erosion that will shape the mountain and landscape of a community(NASA, 2024). 2. There are increased droughts and heat waves, which "extend and intensify wildfire season" (NASA, 2024). Not only are wildfires more intense, but they occur more often than ever before. NASA reported that climate change stimulated by human activities has doubled the amount of forest burned (2024). 3. The dryer and warmer conditions due to global warming create challenges for plants and trees to bloom. With bloom times being earlier, the plant-pollinator relationship is being disrupted (NEEF, 2023). As a result, plants are not blooming in season, or they bloom and die off quickly. 4. With the melting of glaciers and sheets of ice, there is a direct effect on sea levels rising. NASA reported that since the 1880's when records were reliable, the sea has risen eight inches. There is concern that if our nation continues to move at the pace we are moving now, in 2100, the sea could rise anywhere from an additional foot to possibly six and a half feet. With sea levels on the rise, there is the risk of erosion and flooding to the surrounding environment. Not even considering the economic damage it could do to communities as well (NASA, 2024).
Annual average surface temperature change, U.S. and global, 1901–2023.
Note. From Climate Change Indicators: U.S. and Global Temperature, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2025, September 11). Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-us-and-global-temperature
Global warming is leading to an increase in ice sheet loss in Greenland and the Arctic. With the ice melting into our ocean, the sea levels are starting to rise, and as a result, many coastal communities are at risk. Thomspson (2024) points out a concern that with the acceleration of melting ice at the current rate, a major ocean current known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation could collapse. This current brings warm water to the North Atlantic, so if this current does collapse, it could drastically lower the temperature in the Northern Atlantic.
With greenhouse gases increasing, CO2 levels are also rising. Thompson (2024) points out in his article that the ocean will not be able to absorb as much CO2 because gases do not dissolve well in warm waters. Since the ocean is a major contributor to the Earth's water cycle, the heat could impact its circulation patterns.
How global waeming impact the natural processes of Earth's water and water systems
Due to global warming, the permafrost (permanently frozen ground in the Arctic) is melting at increasing rates and releasing massive amounts of carbon that have been absorbed/locked into the ground. "A 2024 study published in the journal PNAS found that permafrost dictates the flow of water, and its melting could lead to the formation and expansion of rivers, which in turn would release more carbon emissions" (Thompson, 2024).
Reference page
NASA. (n.d.). Evidence: Climate change is happening. NASA Science. https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/evidence/
NASA. (2024, October 23). The effects of climate change. https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/effects/
National Environmental Education Foundation. (2023, March 24). The Early Blooms of Spring: How Climate Change Impacts Growing Seasons and You. Retrieved from https://www.neefusa.org/story/climate-change/early-blooms-spring-how-climate-change-impacts-growing-seasons-and-you
Thompson, L. G. (2010). Climate change: The evidence and our options. Behavior Analyst, 33(2), 153-170. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995507/
PMC
Riebeek, H. (2010, June 3). Global Warming. NASA Earth Observatory. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/GlobalWarming
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2025, September 11). Climate change indicators: U.S. and global temperature. https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-us-and-global-temperature
Reference page
Thompson, H. (2024, May 16). Global warming is forcing Earth’s systems toward ‘doom loop’ tipping points. Can we avoid them? Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/climate-change/global-warming-is-forcing-earths-systems-toward-doom-loop-tipping-points-can-we-avoid-them
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Transcript
The Real Natural Disaster is Caused by Human Choices
By: Madison Mulvania Class: Earth Science PHYS 100 Date: 10-22-2025
Hypothesis
Global warming is the leading cause of the Earths environmental destruction, largely due to human behavior and actions.
Definition
"Global warming is the unusually rapid increase in Earth’s average surface temperature over the past century primarily due to the greenhouse gases released by people burning fossil fuels." (Riebeek, 2010)
NASA (P.D) ALSO EXPLAINS THAT IN THE TOP !)) METERS OF OCEAN WATER HAS INCREASED BY 0.67 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW NOT ONLY IS THE EARTHS GEOSPHERE BEING IMPACTED BUT SO IS THE HYDROSPHERE.
DATA FROM NASA'S GRAVITY RECOVERY AND CLIMATE EXPERIEMENT" LOOKED AT THE RATE IN WHICH THE EARTH IS LOSING ICE THIS YEAR DUE TO GLOBAL WARMING. BETWEEN 1993 AND 2013 GREENLAND LOST 279 BILLION TONS OF ICE. ANTARTICA LOST 148 TONS OF ICE PER YEAR! (NASA P.D)
there has been a 2 degree farenheit increase in the average earth temperature primarly to carbon admissions and other human activites. It is notable that the last 40 years have been when a substantional amount of the warming has ocured with the two hottest years being on record happening within the last 7 years. (NASA, n.d.)
THOMPSON (2010) DISCUSSED MANY GLACIER RETREATS BUT HIGHLIGHTED THE IDEA THAT IN !(!) WHEN GLACEIR NATIONAL PARK WAS ESTABLISHED THERE WERE 100 GLACIERS AND NOW THERE IS WORRY THAT BY 2030 THERE WILL BE NONE LEFT.
NASA (P.D) REPORTED THAT OCEAN ACIDIFICATION HAS INCREASED SINCE THE INSUTRIAL REVOLUTION. IT STATES THAT "THE OCEAN HAS ABOSRBED BETWEEN 20% AND 30% OF TOTAL ANTHROPOGEENIC CARBON DIOXIDEEMISSIONS IN RECENT DECADES.
Global warming Is Impacting the natural processes of the earth and its systems
global warming impact on the natural processes of the Earth's landmasses
Average surface temperature change in the U.S. (1901–2023).Note. From Climate Change Indicators: U.S. and Global Temperature, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (September 11, 2025). https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-us-and-global-temperature
1. Glaciers and sheets of ice are melting, which is a threat to coastal erosion that will shape the mountain and landscape of a community(NASA, 2024). 2. There are increased droughts and heat waves, which "extend and intensify wildfire season" (NASA, 2024). Not only are wildfires more intense, but they occur more often than ever before. NASA reported that climate change stimulated by human activities has doubled the amount of forest burned (2024). 3. The dryer and warmer conditions due to global warming create challenges for plants and trees to bloom. With bloom times being earlier, the plant-pollinator relationship is being disrupted (NEEF, 2023). As a result, plants are not blooming in season, or they bloom and die off quickly. 4. With the melting of glaciers and sheets of ice, there is a direct effect on sea levels rising. NASA reported that since the 1880's when records were reliable, the sea has risen eight inches. There is concern that if our nation continues to move at the pace we are moving now, in 2100, the sea could rise anywhere from an additional foot to possibly six and a half feet. With sea levels on the rise, there is the risk of erosion and flooding to the surrounding environment. Not even considering the economic damage it could do to communities as well (NASA, 2024).
Annual average surface temperature change, U.S. and global, 1901–2023. Note. From Climate Change Indicators: U.S. and Global Temperature, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2025, September 11). Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-us-and-global-temperature
Global warming is leading to an increase in ice sheet loss in Greenland and the Arctic. With the ice melting into our ocean, the sea levels are starting to rise, and as a result, many coastal communities are at risk. Thomspson (2024) points out a concern that with the acceleration of melting ice at the current rate, a major ocean current known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation could collapse. This current brings warm water to the North Atlantic, so if this current does collapse, it could drastically lower the temperature in the Northern Atlantic.
With greenhouse gases increasing, CO2 levels are also rising. Thompson (2024) points out in his article that the ocean will not be able to absorb as much CO2 because gases do not dissolve well in warm waters. Since the ocean is a major contributor to the Earth's water cycle, the heat could impact its circulation patterns.
How global waeming impact the natural processes of Earth's water and water systems
Due to global warming, the permafrost (permanently frozen ground in the Arctic) is melting at increasing rates and releasing massive amounts of carbon that have been absorbed/locked into the ground. "A 2024 study published in the journal PNAS found that permafrost dictates the flow of water, and its melting could lead to the formation and expansion of rivers, which in turn would release more carbon emissions" (Thompson, 2024).
Reference page
NASA. (n.d.). Evidence: Climate change is happening. NASA Science. https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/evidence/
NASA. (2024, October 23). The effects of climate change. https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/effects/
National Environmental Education Foundation. (2023, March 24). The Early Blooms of Spring: How Climate Change Impacts Growing Seasons and You. Retrieved from https://www.neefusa.org/story/climate-change/early-blooms-spring-how-climate-change-impacts-growing-seasons-and-you
Thompson, L. G. (2010). Climate change: The evidence and our options. Behavior Analyst, 33(2), 153-170. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995507/ PMC
Riebeek, H. (2010, June 3). Global Warming. NASA Earth Observatory. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/GlobalWarming
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2025, September 11). Climate change indicators: U.S. and global temperature. https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-us-and-global-temperature
Reference page
Thompson, H. (2024, May 16). Global warming is forcing Earth’s systems toward ‘doom loop’ tipping points. Can we avoid them? Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/climate-change/global-warming-is-forcing-earths-systems-toward-doom-loop-tipping-points-can-we-avoid-them