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 * // Topic 5: Describe how climate can be influenced by human activities //**

//For centuries humans have been using up fossil fuels and other natural resources to benefit them but not understanding the consequences these actions may have. However, since the turn of the century humans have began to witness unusual weather patterns in their region. This change of climate has people questioning the way they live and if their actions are causing these unusual changes.//

__**Greenhouse Effect**__ Having the Greenhouse Effect is important for survival because without it the earth would be frozen as it natural blankets the earth keeping it 33 degrees hotter then it would normally be. The greenhouse effect is when the sunlight that beams toward Earth is reflected by the outer atmosphere and scattered back into space. The rest of the sunlight reaches the planet's surface and is reflected upward again as a type of slow-moving energy called infrared radiation.

The heat caused by infrared radiation is absorbed by "greenhouse gases" such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone and methane, which slows its escape from the atmosphere. This would in turn cause the temperature of the earth to rise. However, humans are unintentionally manipulating this natural effect and making it more severe than it would normally be causing climate variation.

Here is an example of the Greenhouse Effect

The ozone layer is a layer in the earth’s atmosphere which contains high amounts of ozone. Located near the lower portion of the stratosphere this layer absorbs 97-99 percent of the ultraviolet light emitted by the sun protecting life on earth from this harmful ray.
 * //__ Ozone Layer __//**

This essential layer in the atmosphere had started to decline rapidly due to chlorofluorocarbons a manmade chemical which got released into the stratosphere and with chemical reactions tore through some of the ozone layer. This hole now being exposed does not directly alter out climate by since allows more Uv radiation to enter out atmosphere and this would change the way we live our daily lives.

Levels of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide gases are rising, mainly as a result of human activities. Carbon dioxide is being dumped in the atmosphere at a catastrophic rate. Since the Industrial Revolution humans have raised Carbon dioxide levels by a whopping 30 percent.
 * __// Humans Impact //__**

In our everyday lives We use coal, oil and natural gas to generate electricity, heat our homes, power our factories and run our cars. But, we do not know that these fossil fuels contain carbon, and when they are burned, they combine with oxygen, forming carbon dioxide which is released into our atmosphere increasing the greenhouse effect.

Deforestation is another major contributor the rising carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere. Deforestation is the process in which humans cut down large masses of trees for logging for lumber or using the land for other nonforest uses. This can be major issue due to the fact tress are natural carbon sinks as they absorb carbon dioxide, but as they are cut down less carbon dioxide can be recycled adding to the greenhouse effect.

This diagram illustrates the carbon dioxide increase in our atmosphere // I think Its about time humans realize what they're doing to the planet and notice that it's about time we make // // changes in the way we led our lives because if this trend continues our planet and all its inhabitants safety will be in jeopardy. //

//Bibliography// http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/04/humans-halfway-to-causing-dangerous-climate-change/ http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_human_activities_affect_the_greenhouse_effect http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_depletion#Effects_on_humans http://www.ecn.ac.uk/Education/climate_change.htm http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/society/greenhouse.htm http://www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/greenhouse_data.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change