Humans Influence on Weather and Climate Change 1

Humans Influence on Weather and Climate Change

Darion Minnella-Warner

Plano ISD Academy High School

Humans Influence on Weather and Climate Change 2

ABSTRACT

Humans do influence weather and climate change which not only affects the

environment but human health as well.The reason this is important is because, people are

unintentionally changing weather by creating an alarming amount of pollution and dense

populations. Pollution is one of the most important factors in weather and climate change

issues. Air pollution affects weather and climate change through burning fossil fuels like coal,

oil, and gas, and emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. (eia) One of the ways that

humans influence weather change is through cities forming heat islands, which effects

thunderstorms and weather patterns.These things absorb heat all year round and create an,

insulation like effect. (Mersereau, 2016) There is also a study that says the heat islands in

cities are affecting thunderstorms and that about 60% of storms changed form, strength, and

structure over the Indianapolis area while 25% over the rural regions. (Niyogi 2010, pg 1129).

Another way that humans influence weather is when we create certain paved roads, which

changes flood strength and direction. Roads that are paved over earth that has holes which

liquid is able to pass through, and the pavement is made of asphalt or concrete which is

impervious and does not let water go through it, cause issues. This is a a major influence on

weather change because when it floods the water has nowhere to go and runs into places it

has not flooded before and makes the flood much more powerful.(Mersereau, 2016). Humans

also, affect weather change through just living our daily lives, we create a weather change,

weekly pattern with car pollution. We are more likely to have bad weather on weekends due
Humans Influence on Weather and Climate Change 3

to the increased amount of people driving. The reason this happens is because pollution

effects when it does and does not rain. (UCSB, 2017) Climate change is one of the major

ways that humans affect the earth and the environment. Nasa believes that climate change

will continue to make the temperature go up for the next 100 years. (UCSB, 2017). Climate

change not only affects the environment, but it also affects our health. For example,

premature death, different respiratory symptoms, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and

more visits to the hospital.(Fann, 2016). There are also arguments and ways that we do not

affect weather and climate change. One reason that people argue that we have no effect on

weather is because of religion and the belief that only god or a greater power could affect or

change the weather, climate, and natural phenomenons. (Finch, 2014). A way that we can

help solve these issues is by making more people aware of the climate and weather change

issues. The way we should do this is by creating colorful and 3D billboards that show what

humans are doing to affect the environment, then show how it affected the environment and

humans themselves. For example we could have a billboard with a glacier falling on top of a

polar bear. Then have text next to it saying, ¨Prevent this by only having one car per

household¨, or, ¨You can stop this from happening, drive less, save more¨. The reason we

should have this is to inflict pathos on the viewers and make them want to get involved

instead of just looking at the billboard. Some people might disagree with this idea because it

would distract drivers and cause more wrecks.

Key Words:
Humans Influence on Weather and Climate Change 4

Introduction

Humans do influence weather and climate change which not only affects the

environment but human health as well. The reason this is important is because, people are

unintentionally changing weather by creating an alarming amount of pollution and dense

populations. Previously people believed that no one could control weather and that it was

only possible in movies. There are many different studies that show there are many different

ways humans influence the weather change through heat islands, paved roads, and car

pollution. There are also many different ways that people influence climate change as well,

for example the major was are through pollution and global warming. People argue that we
Humans Influence on Weather and Climate Change 5

could not possibly have an affect on weather and climate change because we are insignificant

and only a higher power could do it. (Finch, 2014) There are different ways that we do and

don't affect the weather, that most people do not even know about.

Human Effect on Weather and Climate Change : Intro to Pollution

Pollution is one of the most important factors in weather and climate change issues.

The National Geographic defines pollution as, ¨the introduction of harmful materials into the

environment¨. The many different types of pollution are, air pollution, noise pollution, light

pollution, water pollution, and land pollution. (National Geographic, 2012) Although there

are many different types of pollution the type that most interferes with climate and weather

change is air pollution. Air pollution affects weather and climate change through burning

fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, and emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. An

example of this is driving a car uses gasoline, which is made from crude oil. (eia) Crude oil is

a fossil fuel, that when burned emits carbon dioxide and creates pollution. Carbon dioxide

affects climate change because it is one of the greenhouse gases contributing towards global

warming. (Platt, 2017) Global warming is where greenhouse gases are causing the earth to

warm up at fast speeds. (Richards, 2017) This shows how many people driving cars leads to

carbon dioxide emissions, which then leads to an increased amount of greenhouse gases. A

way that we can help solve this problem is by finding new and different ways to conserve and

create more energy, also to find different means of transportation. A consequence of this will

be less greenhouse gases, and a change in your daily routine.

Human Effect on Weather Change : Dense Populations

Humans Influence on Weather and Climate Change 6

One of the ways that humans influence weather change is through cities forming heat

islands, which effects thunderstorms and weather patterns. Heat Islands are, greatly populated

areas creating heat, by having an immense amount of people, and a ¨dense¨ amount of asphalt

roads, concrete sidewalks, brick facades, and tar roofs. These things absorb heat all year

round and create an, insulation like effect. (Mersereau, 2016) There is also a study published

by the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology that proves this accusation as well.

(Niyogi 2010, pg 1129) The study says that the heat islands in cities are affecting

thunderstorms and that about 60% of storms changed form, strength, and structure over the

Indianapolis area while 25% over the rural regions. (Niyogi 2010, pg 1129) This shows how

human interfere with weather by building big cities and living in dense populations. However,

this is not the only way that humans influence weather through construction, humans also

influence weather through paving roads, which is another big contribution to weather change

caused by human influence.

Human Effect on Weather Change : Paved roads

Another way that humans influence weather is when we create certain paved roads,

which changes flood strength and direction. Flooding is a very powerful part of weather

because of its effects on the environment and all of the damages it causes to the community.

The reason paved roads have an influence on such a powerful type of weather is because of

the material paved roads are made out of. For example, roads that are paved over earth that

has holes which liquid is able to pass through, and the pavement is made of asphalt or
Humans Influence on Weather and Climate Change 7

concrete which is impervious and does not let water go through it, cause issues. This is a a

major influence on weather change because when it floods the water has nowhere to go and

runs into places it has not flooded before and makes the flood much more

powerful.(Mersereau, 2016)

Human Effect on Weather Change : Car Pollution

Another way that humans affect weather change is through just living our daily lives,

we create a weather change, weekly pattern with car pollution. (UCSB, 2017) For example,

the NHTSA stated, that Saturday is the most common day for people to be out

driving.(Othcy, 2015) Which means that we are more likely to have bad weather on weekends

due to the increased amount of people driving. We will also have better weather on weekdays

because there are less people using their cars and giving of carbon dioxide. The reason this

happens is because pollution effects when it does and does not rain. (UCSB, 2017). As

shown by these many studies of heat islands, paved roads, and car pollution humans have

different effects on weather patterns. As shown by car pollution, one of the biggest influences

on climate change and weather change is pollution.

How Humans influence Climate Change : Intro to Climate Change

Climate change is one of the major ways that humans affect the earth and the

environment. Which is why many people should be aware of it and try to help fix this issue.

The first question people ask is, ¨What is climate change?¨. Well, climate change is a change

in the ¨Usual¨ pattern of weather a certain place usually experiences. Climate change has been

happening and changing all throughout history, but for the last mid-20th century it has
Humans Influence on Weather and Climate Change 8

become a problem caused by humans. The reason I say this is because people have started to

notice major changes like global warming and health issues caused by climate change and

humans.(NASA, 2017) Nasa believes that climate change will continue to make the

temperature go up for the next 100 years. Nasa also said that most scientists believe humans

can influence climate by driving cars, heating and cooling their house, and cooking food,

which all takes energy. Then to get that energy we burn coal, oil, and gas. Which creates

gases in the air that heat the earth and change the climate. (UCSB, 2017) Another way that

climate is affected by humans is through Heat Islands as mentioned before in the paragraph

called, Human Effect on Weather Change : Heat Islands. In that paragraph it discussed how

the buildings and concrete absorb heat creating an insulation like effect increasing and

affecting the temperature.

How Humans influence Climate Change : Effects on Humans

Climate change not only affects the environment, but it also affects our health. Climate

change caused by humans can increase ozone levels which can emit pollutants and create

health risks. (Fann, 2016) Climate change causes a chain reaction that affects our health. First

people create and increase carbon dioxide by doing things like deforestation and burning coal,

oil, and gas. Which then increases the climate temperature, leading to precipitation patterns

changing. Then this causes different extreme weather events to happen, which changes the

usual weather patterns in different areas. This can cause a higher pollen count, longer pollen

seasons, and worsing air that we breathe. Global Change.gov says that these factors can cause

many different health problems. For example, premature death, different respiratory

symptoms, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and more visits to the hospital.(Fann, 2016)
Humans Influence on Weather and Climate Change 9

How Humans do not Influence Weather and Climate Change

There are also arguments and ways that we do not affect weather and climate change.

One reason that people argue that we have no effect on weather is because of religion and the

belief that only god or a greater power could affect or change the weather, climate, and

natural phenomenons. (Finch, 2014) Another reason people argue that weather can not be

affected by humans is that they simply do not want to admit that humans could have done this

because we are too insignificant. (Finch, 2014) Another reason that people could argue that

humans do not affect weather is that they could blame climate change on other things.

(UCSB, 2017) Climate change is also caused by things like earth's distance from the sun, the

sun can give off more or less energy than usual, oceans might change, and volcanoes erupt

changing the temperature, and many other things. (UCSB, 2017) Mainly not many people

believe that humans are not the cause of weather and climate changes in the earth.(Finch,

2014)

Conclusion

There are different ways that we do affect the weather and climate change, that most

people do not even know about. Humans affect weather and climate change by creating heat

islands, paved roads, global warming, and car pollution. Some people believe that it is

impossible for humans to affect the weather because, we are too insignificant. Much research

shows the many different ways that humans influence climate and weather change. Pollution
Humans Influence on Weather and Climate Change 10

and global warming increases every day which is affecting not only the weather and climate

but also our health. Climate change and weather change caused by humans is a very

important subject because it not only influences our daily lives but also the environment, the

atmosphere, and our health. A way that we can help solve these issues is by making more

people aware of the climate and weather change issues. The way we should do this is by

creating colorful and 3D billboards that show what humans are doing to affect the

environment, then show how it affected the environment and humans themselves. For

example we could have a billboard with a glacier falling on top of a polar bear. Then have

text next to it saying, ¨Prevent this by only having one car per household¨, or, ¨You can stop

this from happening, drive less, save more¨. The reason we should have this is to inflict

pathos on the viewers and make them want to get involved instead of just looking at the

billboard. Some people might disagree with this idea because it would distract drivers and

cause more wrecks.

Humans Influence on Weather and Climate Change 11

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Humans Influence on Weather and Climate Change 12

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