1. Greenhouse gas takeover

Humans create a lot of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is one of the greatest concerns to our planet because it makes the warming faster than all other gases we release combined. Factories pump warm pollution into the air. The gases become trapped, and they are released into the air as heat. We also breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Even though trees take in carbon dioxide, it is not enough to stop the globe from heating up. You may not even be aware that you are emitting greenhouse gases into the air.

2. Rain rain go away

People are constantly destroying and building land, which can cause flooding and landslides. Although there are places on Earth becoming drier, overall rainfall is increasing globally. This means the rainy days are rainier. Flash flooding becomes a huge problem when this occurs. All of this is happening because of humans emitting so many greenhouse gases. Summers in Minnesota are usually not very rainy, but in the Summer of 2021 there were tens of storms. Those storms caused floods, broken trees, and plants dying due to over watering. Storms make driving conditions very unsafe and scary for some.

3. What the heck are anthropological droughts?

Anthropological droughts are droughts caused or made more intense by human activities. Demands on water have continued to increase, land use change and food production are a few ways humans have caused droughts to become worse. Living in Arizona, I have noticed the summers seeming to become longer and hotter. The temperatures are a lot hotter for a lot longer. Each year I feel as if I need to drink more and more water. Droughts are something I know a lot about considering my last name is Drought. I have heard the jokes and all, but in reality droughts are a big problem.

4. Turn up the AC!

Some say certain heat waves would be impossible if human activity was not causing temperatures to rise. Heat waves are supposed to continue and rise and will occur much more often than in the past. I have suffered from asthma for about 5 years, and when the heat waves come so does my asthma. This is the same for most of my friends. The hotter it is the harder it is to breathe for many of us. We are unable to do things we love or even be out of air-conditioning.

5. Fire, fire, fire

Since the 70s human-caused climate change has caused over half of the burning materials and fire risk. Fires are way more common and worse than they would be without climate change. Fires spread very quickly, and they don't have a clear path set out, so we don't know where they may spread. Of course, fires can happen by accident but also some people have started fires by being careless. People throw cigarettes or matches on the ground and, BOOM, big fire that may burn for weeks. My sister lives up in Flagstaff and this past summer she was very close to having to evacuate. This made me very frightened for my sister. The smoke was very strong and could have potentially hurt my sister.

6. Blizzards go brrrr

Yes, winters are shorter and global temperatures are rising, but the blizzards are more intense. Since humans are making the world warmer, the atmosphere will hold more moisture. The moisture will fall and result in worse storms. I am from Minnesota meaning snow and part of life. It snows about 7 months out of the year, but the worst winter we had that I could remember was in 2011. There was a huge blizzard. Cars could not drive on the road so people resorted to walking places. Some went out in the cold without the proper winter attire and got very hurt.

7. Stay in the eye of the storm

Humans burn fossil fuels which heat up the planet. Hurricanes get energy from the warmth of the ocean water. If the planet is heating up, so is the ocean. Global warming also has caused sea levels to rise which pushes more water on land and creates more flooding. I have never been near a hurricane, but I know people who have. Hearing about all of the damage from one huge tropical storm is devastating. People do not have enough time to clean up from one storm before another one arises.