By: Brady Brooks

Edited by: Ali Niefield

The existential problems with climate change have increased dramatically over the years. The warming of the planet is problem that many describe as the greenhouse gas effect. It’s an issue that has exponentially increased over the past several decades. About 30 percent of the solar energy from the sun is reflected back into space. Furthermore, about 70 percent of the other solar energy is passed through the atmosphere. This heat that is created by the sun is then absorbed by the earth’s space. This heat is then radiated back up in the form of invisible infrared light. The extra heat effects the earth’s land, oceans, and atmosphere.

For almost 800,00 years the concentration of greenhouse gases was between about 200 or 280 parts per million. The higher the concentration of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide in particular is causing extra heat to be trapped and global temperatures to rise. Unfortunately, over the past century the concentration to more than 400 parts per million. This has been increased mostly due to the human impact of burning fossil fuels.

Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor and fluorinated gases. These gases arise naturally and part of the make-up of our atmosphere. These greenhouse gases are essential for the planet, but humans have been interfering with the natural energy balance of our planet. The rising levels of carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere has been rising over the past decades. This rise in carbon emissions then causes the planet’s ozone layer to trap heat.

Earth Day 2021

Earth day is an amazing day for our planet and this is such an important holiday for humans to celebrate. Planet Earth has an objective beauty that is incredibly captivating, and she gives all the nutrients and resources we need to live a flourishing life with one another. This wonderful tradition has been going on since 1970 and is celebrated every year on April 22.