Floods, fires, heatwaves and storms. The news seems full to bursting with stories about natural disasters. Most recently, Storm Harvey has been causing havoc in Texas. This week we are asking a question that gets asked more and more often in the news; is climate change to blame?
What is climate?: When people talk about climate they mean the normal patterns in weather that occur in an area over a long period of time. For example, the desert has a hot, and dry climate. It could experience heavy rainfall for a few days a year but that would not change the overall climate.
Every living thing on this planet has adapted to its climate. When the climate changes it becomes more difficult for all living things to survive.
What is causing climate change? Heat from the sun is being trapped and this is warming the planet. Excess heat usually leaves our planet but it is being trapped because there is more carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide is a colourless gas formed during the combustion of any material containing carbon and is a significant greenhouse gas. in our
atmosphereThe layer of gases surrounding a planet or moon, held in place by that planet's gravity. Small planets and moons have weak gravitational fields, and therefore only a very thin atmosphere.. When this happens it is called the greenhouse effect. Think of it like a big duvet wrapped around the earth.
Since the 1970s human beings have been busier than ever using energy to build, move and make. To do this we have mainly burnt fossil fuelsFuels made from decomposing plants and animals, including coal, natural gas and oil. These fuels release carbon dioxide, causing global warming. which release carbon dioxide (Co2) into the atmosphere. In 2016 scientists announced there was more Co2 in our atmosphere than there has been in the last three million years.
Water absorbs most of the extra heat. Our planet is 70% water so oceans are taking the biggest hit. Oceans are getting warmer and sea levels are rising. This, in turn, affects the weather.
What proof do scientists have? Ice which froze hundreds of years ago, and coral or trees which are hundreds of years old read like a history book to scientists. They can see how much Co2 existed in the earth's atmosphere hundreds of years ago by examining them. They then compare that with the levels of Co2 we see in our atmosphere today.
Does everyone believe in climate science? Nope. This year the American president, Donald Trump, pulled America out of the Paris climate agreement. Some question the purpose of the Paris accord, an agreement signed by different countries to tackle climate change. Many question whether climate change is caused by global warming due to human activity.
Psychologists believe that the way the human brain works makes it difficult to accept climate change is real. Unless something upsetting it is directly affecting us, humans will seek out evidence which helps us to think positively instead. If it is a choice between believing climate change is a dangerous threat or believing that scientists are wrong, a lot of people will opt for the science being wrong.
Is the earth's temperature rising? Yes. We are currently in the cycle of an ice age, so our planet's atmosphere should be cooling. Instead of cooling though we are seeing it warm up at an alarming rate.
Earlier we mentioned that people have different views about climate change - and some people even believe that global warming is not a problem or is not caused by humans. These people sometimes say there is no need to stop burning fossil fuels because the earth has been hotter than this. They use this as evidence that global warming is natural and nothing to do with humans damaging the planet. They are not quite correct. Our planet has been much hotter and much colder than this before. The earth is billions of years old. In its lifetime it has been through greenhouse statesMeans warmer temperatures, little ice and more water on the planet. and icehouse statesAn icehouse state means a colder atmosphere and ice will form at both the north and south pole. We are currently in an ice age which should mean that we see temperatures getting cooler, but as we can see from the picture above, the earth is getting warmer.. This cycle has happened naturally in the past but human beings are definitely speeding up this change and it is definitely because we have damaged the planet.
What is a natural disaster? A natural disaster is an unavoidable natural event such as a flood, earthquake, or hurricane that causes great damage or loss of life. Storm Harvey is an example of a natural disaster.
Natural disasters have a huge impact on the people living in an affected area. Take a hurricane for example. These damage buildings and cause floods. Many people are left without homes for long periods of time. Farmers who need the land to grow food will not be able to work. It is harder to get food and disease can spread more easily.
So, was Storm Harvey was caused by climate change? Not exactly. It would be wrong to say there is a direct cause and effect between climate change and storm Harvey. This is what Katherine Hayhoe, a scientist, told The New York Times. Hurricanes often happen around August in the US. But climate change "can have a role in intensifying a storm that already exists."
There are several reasons for this. For one thing, global warming has led to higher sea levels. Strong winds raise the sea far above normal heights. This gives a storm more energy, causing it to surge. A warmer atmosphere also leads to faster evaporation meaning more water vapour in the air, this means more rain and more flooding.
"People always want to know is it climate change or is it not?" Hayhoe summarised. "The answer is it's in between."
What can I do? If human beings are causing climate change, this means human beings can affect it for the better too.
You can help by raising awareness of the damage climate change does. You can also recycle and get your energy from sources that do not burn fossil fuels.
Scientists are finding exciting ways to harness the earth's energy in different, harmless ways. Examples of this are wind, ocean currents and solar.
Carbon dioxide - Carbon dioxide is a colourless gas formed during the combustion of any material containing carbon and is a significant greenhouse gas.
Atmosphere - The layer of gases surrounding a planet or moon, held in place by that planet's gravity. Small planets and moons have weak gravitational fields, and therefore only a very thin atmosphere.
Fossil fuels - Fuels made from decomposing plants and animals, including coal, natural gas and oil. These fuels release carbon dioxide, causing global warming.
Greenhouse states - Means warmer temperatures, little ice and more water on the planet.
Icehouse states - An icehouse state means a colder atmosphere and ice will form at both the north and south pole. We are currently in an ice age which should mean that we see temperatures getting cooler, but as we can see from the picture above, the earth is getting warmer.
Natural disasters and climate change

Glossary
Carbon dioxide - Carbon dioxide is a colourless gas formed during the combustion of any material containing carbon and is a significant greenhouse gas.
Atmosphere - The layer of gases surrounding a planet or moon, held in place by that planet's gravity. Small planets and moons have weak gravitational fields, and therefore only a very thin atmosphere.
Fossil fuels - Fuels made from decomposing plants and animals, including coal, natural gas and oil. These fuels release carbon dioxide, causing global warming.
Greenhouse states - Means warmer temperatures, little ice and more water on the planet.
Icehouse states - An icehouse state means a colder atmosphere and ice will form at both the north and south pole. We are currently in an ice age which should mean that we see temperatures getting cooler, but as we can see from the picture above, the earth is getting warmer.