Since I was a kid, winters have always been a magical time for me. The snow and cold weather have always suited me. As the snow falls, it creates a mystical aura that every kid loves. But have you ever wondered why these past few winters have been warmer and full of rain? Losing the aura that they once held as a kid? Climate change is a real phenomena that humans have not just created, but also continue to let grow and become something that will destroy the earth in the future. The atmosphere, once a protective layer, is now a blanket that is falling apart, allowing harmful UV rays to pass through, thus trapping the heat inside. As it warms the earth and changes the climate, the environment and humans are harmed. Although it is not immediately a danger, the climate will have effects that cannot be reverted if not prevented right now. 

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How has climate change started?

Climate change originates from the Industrial Revolution, with humans creating new ways to burn fuels and other factors. The Industrial Revolution started from the late 18th century to the early 20th century, with rapid growth after the American Civil War, approximately 1865 to 1900. The Industrial Revolution was the period when societies shifted from primarily agriculture and manual labor to ones powered by machines, factories, and fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are natural, non-renewable energy sources formed over millions of years from the decayed remains of ancient plants and animals. This is the primary fuel for many machines, industrial processes, and electricity generation. Before the revolution, people used wood and animal power for energy, but after, coal became the primary source for steam engines, factories, trains and ships. Factory expansion and urban growth is another main factor contributing to the warming of the Earth. Factories were built at scale, creating mass production of goods through the use of machines. This led to the growth of cities and the need for more constant energy, which is all powered by fossil fuels. The construction of roads, buildings, and different structures also required fuel and resources, leading to more emissions. Deforestation, an effect of the Revolution, is ironically a major contributor. According to The Nature Conservancy, “Trees not only absorb carbon dioxide from our air, they also store carbon in their roots, leaves and trunk. Trees in the Amazon rainforest hold 48 billion tons of carbon. So, when trees are cut down, it’s a double whammy on climate change—more carbon dioxide is released and less is absorbed.” The Amazon rainforest is one of the major deforestation projects that is happening currently, primarily for the land being used for other purposes. 

 

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Effects on Humans 

Humans are not safe from UV radiation either. People around the world are in the sun every single day, exposing themselves to the UV radiation. Some people willingly sit in the sun to tan themselves, while others are hit by the sun at their work; most, in fact, are a target of the sun simply while they drive. This - ultimately - does have to do with climate change; because the atmosphere is being torn apart by humans, more UV radiation is being let in, unblocked by the atmosphere. The effects of UV rays are substantial, from cancer to other serious health issues. Although sunlight can be beneficial with releasing vitamin D for humans to intake, it can pose some serious health risks. For example, The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports, “Sunburn is a sign of short-term overexposure, while premature aging and skin cancer are side effects of prolonged UV exposure. UV exposure increases the risk of potentially blinding eye diseases if eye protection is not used. Overexposure to UV radiation can lead to serious health issues, including cancer.” Ultimately, the damaging of the atmosphere has negative implications on day-to-day living for human beings. Ironically, we are only making this worse. What is more important is that we are aware of the fact that skin cancer is found to be the most common form of cancer in the United States. Typically, they form on the head, face, neck, hands, and arms because these body parts are the most exposed to UV radiation. People more at risk of skin cancer include people who spend a lot of time in the sun, have light colored skin, hair and eyes, take some types of oral and topical medicines, such as antibiotics, birth control pills, and benzoyl peroxide products, as well as some cosmetics; these medications may increase skin and eye sensitivity to UV in all skin types, have a member with skin cancer, and are over 50  (“Ultraviolet Radiation”). These risks listed are not for certain going to give you skin cancer, but pose more of a risk for getting it. 

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Another possible effect of UV radiation on humans is the development of cataracts in the eye. UVB radiation has been linked to an increased amount of cloudiness in the eye's lens. In fact, the World Health Organization “estimates that up to 20 percent of cataracts worldwide may be caused by overexposure to UV radiation. This means that up to one out of every five instances of cataracts could be prevented with proper eye protection or reduced exposure to sunlight” (Byrd). The fact that human beings’ daily activities are resulting in their own harm is becoming ironic. Humans are affected heavily by UV radiation and we have only just created the technology to really research the effects of UV on us. 

Humans have been the driving factor for destroying the only home we inhabit. More specifically, the consumption of fossil fuels and their CO2 emissions have been continuing to destroy the ozone layer and atmosphere, creating holes and more harmful exposure to UV radiation. UV radiation is one of the more abundant rays that the sun emits, including UVA, UVB, and UVC. The chart defines how these three forms are impacting the environment: 

 

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention chart, it is evident that there are many types of UV rays that can be seen on earth, thus impacting the natural environment. For instance, plants are heavily affected by the sun's UV radiation that breaks through the atmosphere. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “UVB radiation affects the physiological and developmental processes of plants. Despite mechanisms to reduce or repair these effects and an ability to adapt to increased levels of UVB, plant growth can be directly affected by UVB radiation.” The EPA states that harmful UV radiation can impact the environment in harmful ways by changing the nutrient intake and the way that it is distributed through the plant: “These changes can have important implications for plant competitive balance, herbivory, plant diseases, and biogeochemical cycles.”

The land is not the only place that UV affects, the ocean can also be harmfully affected by UV. After research done by scientists working for the EPA, harmful UV radiation has been found to affect and cause damage to early development of fish, shrimp, crabs, and other marine animals: “The most severe effects are decreased reproductive capacity and impaired larval development.” This means that the animals affected may have reduced ability to reproduce, resulting in less offspring, which can harm the species as a whole. At the early stage of the animal, the larvae can have deformities or can fail to mature properly. This all ultimately comes back to the Earth’s food chain because smaller animals could not be edible for the larger fish, making some species at risk of population decrease. 

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The Weather and Climate

“Rising global average temperature is associated with widespread changes in weather patterns. Scientific studies indicate that extreme weather events such as heat waves and large storms are likely to become more frequent or more intense with human-induced climate change” (Lindsey). According to the EPA, more extreme weather is prevalent with more climate change. This can be heat waves, cyclone activity, droughts, and seasonal temperatures increasing. Average temperatures have been rising in the U.S. since 1901. 9 of the 10 hottest years on record in the U.S. have happened since 1998. How are humans contributing to this with their activity and not being held accountable for such drastic changes in our Earth? In fact, Rebecca Lindsey’s article, “Climate Change,” reports that from 2014 to 2023, the Earth had its warmest decade ever. This is essential to consider, yet humans continue to put it off to the side because they feel it is not becoming an issue.  In the U.S., places like the North, the West, and Alaska have warmed the most, with temperatures going up a lot faster there than in other regions. While all seasons are getting warmer, some are heating up more than others. Since 1896, winter temperatures in the lower 48 states have increased by about 3 F. In New York alone, a place once inundated by snow, is now a winter full of rain. Spring has warmed by about 2 F, and both summer and fall have gone up by around 1.6 F. 

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Heat waves are also a massive problem now. In major U.S. cities, there are now about six heat waves per year, compared to only two in the 1960s. Typically speaking, New York summers have generally increased in the past decades. The season when heat waves can happen has stretched out by about 46 days, and the heat waves themselves are more intense and harder to deal with. 

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Rainfall is another factor of the effects of climate change. During rainstorms, of the rain that falls, it's coming in big, one day bursts. From 1910 to the 1980s, the number of these extreme rain events stayed about the same, but since then, they have increased a lot (Lindsey). Nine of the ten years with the most extreme single day rainfall events have happened since 1995. Total yearly rainfall is also hitting record highs more often. Also, hurricanes and other tropical storms in the Atlantic, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico have become stronger over the past 30 years. This increase in strength is linked to warmer ocean temperatures, leading to risks with marine life and the imbalanced temperature in the water. However, it's hard to say if more storms are happening overall, because the way we track storms has changed over time. Considering that technology in all areas have drastically improved, tracking storms and weather patterns has, in fact, been more concise. Thanks to this, it is evident that long term records say that the total number of hurricanes has not gone up, just the intensity. 

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Because of the increased precipitation, river flooding occurs more often. Flooding trends are different depending on where you look. Some areas like the Northeast and Midwest have seen more and bigger floods. Places like the west, southern Appalachia, and northern Michigan have had fewer and smaller floods. The Northeast, Pacific Northwest, and Northern Great Plains have especially seen an increase in large floods, while the Southwest and the Rockies have seen fewer. And lastly, droughts have also been on the rise. Droughts have come and gone throughout the U.S.’s history. The worst ones were in the 1930s and 1950s. Still, the western U.S. has been dealing with more droughts recently, while the midwest and northeast have gotten wetter. Places as such mean that they are experiencing less runoff from mountains, and such also more heat in the air. Also melting mountain caps that are full of snow. A newer way to measure drought shows that from 2000 to 2023, anywhere from 10% to 70% of the country was experiencing at least mild drought at any time (Lindsey). But because the tool is new, it's hard to compare it to older droughts. 

 

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Sea level rise is an entirely different issue that could pose the greatest threat to humans in the next coming centuries. Sea level rise is mainly caused by two things: melting glaciers and ice sheets, and the expansion of seawater as it warms. As global temperatures increase, ice - in places like Greenland and Antarctica - is melting faster, adding more water to the oceans. At the same time, warmer water takes up more space, which also raises sea levels. Rising seas can lead to coastal flooding, erosion, and damage to ecosystems like wetlands and mangroves. It also threatens homes, infrastructure, and freshwater sources in low income areas. As sea levels continue to rise, anything near the coast may face more frequent and severe impacts. According to Rebecca Lindsey, author for Climate.gov: 

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Global warming is causing global mean sea level to rise in two ways. First, glaciers and ice sheets worldwide are melting and adding water to the ocean. Second, the volume of the ocean is expanding as the water warms. A third, much smaller contributor to sea level rise is a decline in the amount of liquid water on land—aquifers, lakes and reservoirs, rivers, soil moisture. This shift of liquid water from land to ocean is largely due to people depleting ground water. 

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Her point is that sea level is going to keep rising through many ways if nothing is done. What humans need to begin thinking about is a way to preserve the glaciers and help to stop the climate from heating up. Or else the ocean will continue to get warmer and expand. In fact, this is even more important to consider because future sea level rise is said to be about 10-12 inches in the next 20-30 years in the U.S., while in the Gulf of Mexico, sea level rise is likely to be about 16-18 inches higher (Lindsey). This over time, cannot be sustainable. Sea levels will destroy the planet and put cities and houses underwater if the glaciers keep melting at this rate. 

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Climate change is no longer something that might happen, it's already happening, and we’re seeing the effects every day. From warmer winters and harsher summers to rising sea levels and damaged ecosystems, the world is changing fast, and much of it is because of the choices humans have made. While the science and data are clear, what really matters now is what we choose to do with that knowledge. If we continue ignoring the warning signs, the damage could soon be beyond repair. But if we act now, cutting emissions, protecting forests, and making sustainable choices, we still have a chance to protect the planet for ourselves and future generations. How do we do this? It must start with education. 

 

Works Cited

Byrd, Thomas. "Can Exposure to Sunlight Cause Cataracts." Byrd and Wyandotte Eye Clinic, www.byrdeyeclinic.com/eye-care-resources/can-sunlight-cause-cataracts

Cracked.com - America's Only Humor Site." Craked5.rssing.com, https://craked5.rssing.com/chan-3593216/all_p16.html

Lindsey, Rebecca. “Climate Change: Global Sea Level.” NOAA Climate.gov, 22 Aug. 2023, www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-sea-level

The Nature Conservancy. “Deforestation and Climate Change.” The Nature Conservancy, www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/latin-america/brazil/stories-in-brazil/deforestation-and-climate-change/

The New York Times. “Teach About Climate Change With These 24 New York Times Graphs.” The New York Times, 28 Feb. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/02/28/learning/teach-about-climate-change-with-these-24-new-york-times-graphs.html

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “Climate Change Indicators: Weather and Climate.” EPA, 26 Mar. 2025, www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/weather-climate

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “Health and Environmental Effects of Ozone Layer Depletion.” EPA, 2 Mar. 2025, www.epa.gov/ozone-layer-protection/health-and-environmental-effects-ozone-layer-depletion

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Ultraviolet Radiation." Radiation and Your Health, 15 Feb. 2024, www.cdc.gov/radiation-health/features/uv-radiation.html