The Eagle Press October Issue | Page 18

T​ he Unnoticable Big Effects on Climate      W​ ith   the   rising   threat   of   Climate   Change,   it   seems   as   if   this   issue   has   not   been   broadcasted   globally.   It’s   a   very   important   issue   that   needs   to   be   tackled   together,   and   this   would   help   in   ​ REDUCING   the   severity   of   the   effect.   There   are   many   factors   that   can   influence   the   effect   of   climate   change.   One   of   these   factors is planes.     C​ ontrails   left   by   planes   last   only   a   few   hours.   However,   they   are   now   so   widespread,   that   their   warming   effect   on   climate   change   is   much   greater   compared   to   when   planes   emit   CO2   into   the   atmosphere.   In   addition,   according   to   a   study   by   Ulrike   Burkhardt   and   Lisa   Bock   at   the   Institute   of   Atmospheric   Physics   in   Germany   discovered   that   this   warming   effect is set to triple by the year​ ​ 2050.     M​ oving   on   to   the   science   of   the   issue,   all   aircraft   that   burn   fuel   leaves   a   trail   of   exhaust   fumes.   At   the   high   altitudes   that   these   planes   travel,   water   vapor   then   condenses   on   black   particles   composed   of   carbon   and   proceeds   to   freeze   to   form   a   cirrus   cloud   that   can   stay   for   hours   depending   on   the   weather.   However,   clouds   both   have   a   cooling   and   heating   effect   on   Earth.   Some   clouds   reflect   some   of   the   sun   rays   from   space,   but   some   block   heat   radiated   from   the   Earth’s   surface.   In   general,   cirrus clouds tend to have a warming effect.     C​ utting   down   on   this   issue   will   be   difficult,   airline   companies   are   ignorant   of   these   issues.   Inventors   don’t   seem   to   think   about   the   effect   on   their   consumers,   ​ but   rather   their   own   personal   gain​ .   Significant   figures   are   trying   to   put   additional   taxes   on   aviation   fuel,   however,   aviation   industries   are   also attempting to block these measures.     “All in all, we as a people need to come together to help save our  world for the good.”    ↑ ​ Wise words by Ken Bosah ​ ↑