Difference between climate change and global warming

Climate change is the modification that occurs in the meteorological patterns of the global climate . As mentioned, climate changes have been very frequent throughout the existence of the Earth. However, currently, due to the human consumption and production style, it is accelerating due to the increase in the greenhouse effect .

The greenhouse effect is a natural method of regulating the earth’s temperature. Thanks to it, a certain amount of heat is retained in the earth, allowing the presence of water in a liquid state and, therefore, the existence of living beings. However, the temperature it retains is increasing due to the increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with anthropic activity.

These activities are the causes of climate change , well, rather of its acceleration; these are:

• Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas).
• Deforestation.
• Fires produced by human activities.
• Large-scale livestock.
• Use of nitrogen fertilizers.
• Consumption of fluorinated gases.

We advise you to expand these notions with these other AgroCorrn articles about the Differences between the greenhouse effect and climate change and the causes and consequences of climate change .

Global warming corresponds to the increase in the average global terrestrial temperature due to natural causes. As it is emerging from an ice age, the global average temperature is slowly increasing. However, for the reasons already mentioned, it is increasing at an uncontrolled speed if we do not soon change our way of acting locally and globally. The causes of accelerated global warming are the same anthropological causes as those of climate change.

Here you can learn more about Global Warming: definition, causes and consequences .

Now let’s analyze both terms. The climate change refers to changing weather patterns of the global climate, while global warming only contemplates the average temperature increase global land.

The following question is also very common: what is the difference between global warming and climate variability? The climate variability corresponds to climatic fluctuations in short periods of time, about 10 years. It may be that for certain reasons there is a period of time in which it is warmer and that has nothing to do with global warming or climate change. Global warming corresponds to long periods of time and climate variability to shorter periods.

To learn even more about these concepts and their effect on the planet, we encourage you to read these other articles about How climate change affects us and How global warming affects living beings .

The relationship between both processes is that due to the increase in global warming , due to the anthropological effect, that is, due to how we carry out our usual activities and due to the type of activities that many of them are, climate change is accelerating to a speed that the Earth cannot self-regulate . Changes in the planet’s meteorology will generate the following consequences:

• Melting of the polar ice and retreat of the high mountain glaciers.
• Decrease in albedo due to melting of ice, raising the temperature.
• Sea level rise and associated damage due to flooding of coastal areas.
• Changes in marine currents due to the reduction in the volume of salt.
• Thawing of the permafrost and associated damage.
• Regional climate variability.
• Alteration in the water cycle and reduction of its quality.
• Famines related to crop problems.
• Increase in tropical diseases.
• Modification of ecosystems.
• Loss of biodiversity.
• Increase in fires.
• Uncontrolled flooding due to rains.
• Damage to infrastructures.
• Economic impact.
• Migrations and wars.

As it is a global problem, it is necessary to face it globally, with the consensus of all countries. If economically developing countries continue our current model of uncontrolled production, GHGs will skyrocket even further. We must take responsibility and cooperate with other countries and help them improve their quality of life in a more sustainable way, in addition to modifying ours. Generally, we live beyond our means, so we must deconstruct ourselves globally to rebuild ourselves in a sustainable way.

If you want to read more articles similar to Difference between climate change and global warming , we recommend that you enter our Climate Change category .