What If Our Biggest Threat Is Already Here And Right In Front Of Us… By: Daniella Andreacci How hot will the Earth get before it’s too late?

Climate change is the long term change in the Earth’s weather patterns such as temperature, rainfall, and storms over a long period of time, and global warming is the cause of it. Global warming means the Earth’s average temperature is increasing, mostly because of human activities like burning fossil fuels e.g. coal, oil, gas. These burning of fossil fuels release heat- trapping gases out into the atmosphere. This is causing the environment and weather patterns to change and be often unpredictable. So if the planet keeps getting warmer, how much longer can we ignore it? 

I sat down with Mrs. Sirota, a science teacher here at BHS, who often finds herself interested in earth's climate change and the effects of global warming. She informs me of the difference between global warming and climate change. “Global warming is the increase in Earth’s average surface temperature, but climate change includes long-term changes in weather patterns such as an increase in hurricanes and floods”. She goes on to share how greenhouse gases can affect the earth and what greenhouse gases actually are. “Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor act like a blanket around Earth helping to keep our planet in a narrower temperature range. Without them, the Earth would be very cold”. I asked Mrs. Sirota how she thinks climate change can affect our daily lives in the future. It will depend on where you live and how the change in climate affects that area. There will be winners and losers. Some areas will become less desirable while other areas will become more desirable. But ultimately climate change isn’t the best thing for us. So for what the future will look like, it is hard to tell”.

Mrs. Sirota is teaching her metrology class about the effects climate change can have her and her students. 

As we continued to talk, Mrs. Sirota told me about what challenges might occur when trying to fix climate change. “Earth’s climate has always changed and will always change. Our actions contribute to adding greenhouse gases but even if humans disappear from the planet tomorrow, climate will continue to change. The main challenge is that humans want cheap and reliable energy and just because one country makes positive changes does not mean that others will. Possible effects on future generations are hard to predict. Time will tell. Humans will adapt by migration if necessary”. Climate change and global warming is a very pressing issue that many do not think about. During our interview, Mrs. Sirota told me about what the evidence scientists use to prove climate change is happening. “Scientists use a lot of different types of evidence to prove that climate change is real for a lack of better words. Scientists rely on temperature records, ice cores, ocean levels and temperatures, and weather patterns to monitor changes in climate. Many people don’t even know that climate change is occurring which is scary. Trying to prove to people that climate change is a pressing problem is hard without strong evidence to support it”. 

As we were concluding our interview, I asked Mrs. Sirota thinks the most effective ways to slow down climate change are. “I think it is hard to pick specific ways to slow down climate change, because almost everything we do affects climate change. However, some common strategies are to reduce CO2 by reducing the use of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas. Growing more trees to reduce the amount of CO2 in the air also helps”. My interview with Mrs. Sirota allowed me to understand what she thinks climate change and global warming truly are from a science teacher’s perspective rather than a student's. As for what the climate might look like in future, only time will tell.